Despite reports it would be a reboot, those involved with Final Destination 6 say it won't reset the canon and erase the original movies. Raking in $657 million total worldwide on budgets never topping $40 million, the Final Destination franchise was one of the 2000s' most successful. However, as with many horror franchises, the law of diminishing returns eventually caught up to it. While 2011's Final Destination 5 was a welcomed upturn in quality, the damage had already been done, as the film took a steep fall from the prior entry's box office.
Still, no one ever really doubted that Final Destination would one day be resurrected, as there's nothing more valuable in the current Hollywood climate than a pre-existing property with an established fanbase. While Final Destination may not be as iconic as Halloween or Friday the 13th, it's still a franchise with a proven track record of (mostly) success, and the fact that it's been gone for almost a decade likely means fans will be happy to get reacquainted with it.
In January 2019, it was first reported that a Final Destination 6 was in the works, which was said to be a re-imagining of the franchise. Things have been quiet since then, at least until a recent oral history on the original movie from Digital Spy, in which creator Jeffrey Reddick and producer Craig Perry provide more details.
Final Destination 6 Is Set In Original Movie Canon
Jeffrey Reddick: "The horror geek in me is excited they're doing a new one, I really like those writers a lot. I've been talking to Craig and the concept behind it is unique. I think reboot is probably too strong of a word, it makes it sound like they're going to change everything, but it's definitely a Final Destination movie. Craig is the master of coming up with crazy openings and set pieces. He's told me a couple of things that happen in this one and it's going to be a lot of fun. It's not going feel like a cash-grab Final Destination film."
Craig Perry: "We're toying with having it take place in the world of first responders: EMTs, firemen and police. These people deal with death on the front lines every day, and make choices that can cause people to live or die. We rely on their good judgement, expertise and calm demeanour. So why not put those people in the nightmare situation where every choice can bring about life and death – but now for themselves? We're thinking that world might be an interesting way into a Final Destination movie, and one which can also generate unique set pieces in a very credible way. The last thing I'll say is, I don't think anybody will look at a revolving door in the same way again..."
Judging by the above comments from Reddick and Perry, it seems safe to say that Final Destination 6 won't be a reboot, or at least not in the sense that it erases the first five films from continuity. However, that doesn't necessarily mean any characters will return, or that it'll have direct narrative connections to the other movies. It's quite possible Final Destination 6 - or whatever it ends up being called - will be a Jurassic World or Spiral: From the Book of Saw type continuation, a movie set within the established universe and canon, but with little tie to its past specifics.
The idea of writing duo Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan centering Final Destination 6's story on the world of first-responders is very intriguing, as it would enable audiences to see a Final Destination scenario from a new perspective. In prior films, those trying to survive were almost always normal, everyday people thrust into an insane situation. Having Death target people trained to handle adversity would possibly level the playing field, or at least as much as it could while still having humans face off against Death itself.
Source: Digital Spy