Genre legend John Carpenter expresses interest in developing a sequel to his classic extraterrestrial body horror film, The Thing. Panned by critics upon its release in 1982, The Thing is considered a masterpiece today for its impressive practical effects, terrifying atmosphere, and powerhouse ensemble cast. It is derived from the 1938 novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr. and is the second adaptation of his work, following a 1951 adaptation titled The Thing from Another World.
Unlike a couple of other iconic titles in Carpenter's filmography, primarily Halloween and Escape from New York, The Thing never received a proper live-action sequel. A 2011 film, also called The Thing, looked to be a continuation of Carpenter's work but turned out to be a prequel that follows a different Arctic research team at the same station, directly leading into the opening scene of the 1982 film. The possibility of a new The Thing project has floated around for some time, most recently coming from Blumhouse and Universal Studios, which confirmed an adaptation of the unearthed full-length edition of Campbell Jr.'s novella titled Frozen Hell. To that end, the film appears to be a more traditional reboot, not a sequel.
In an interview with THR, Carpenter gave a vague answer when asked which of his creations he wished had a sequel, saying, "I would like to do a sequel to The Thing, or a continuation, something like that. But I don't know. See, there are a lot of things in this world I don't know." It is unclear what Carpenter means by "a continuation" and how that would be distinct from a movie sequel, but he could be implying a TV series. Just like his potential involvement with Blumhouse's reboot, the director seems unsure at the moment.
Various factors could play into a Thing sequel, which could be why Carpenter is hesitant. Perhaps the most obvious is present-day criticism of legacy sequels like 2018's Halloween (Carpenter's most famous franchise) and Netflix's Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which have drawn the ire of many horror fans online. Such an endeavor could fail if viewers perceive an inability to capture the essence of what made the original film great. The next could be his age; at 74 years old, Carpenter could find the directing process difficult—after all, his last effort was 2010's The Ward, which received less-than-stellar reviews. Finally, there is the ending of his 1982 film, with MacReady and Childs suspicious of one another as the alien creature that terrorized them remains at large. Many consider this cliffhanger ending perfect when factoring in the themes of paranoia and distrust, but it would also make for a logical place to pick up a sequel that sees the alien taking over new hosts.
Regardless of these factors, The Thing remains one of the most influential and beloved horror films of all time. Alongside its growing cult status over the years, audience interest in a follow-up project has also grown and continues to do so the longer the property remains stagnant. And despite the Blumhouse and Universal reboot, such a sequel could gain massive favor in the horror community over yet another iteration of the same story. That rings especially true if Carpenter is involved in any significant creative form.
Source: THR