MGM's 2019 remake generated lots of controversy but here's why Child's Play 2 didn't happen. The early 2000s saw a sharp increase in the number of remakes of classic horror movies. Some of these remakes worked surprisingly well like Zack Snyder's Dawn Of The Dead, while many others floundered, but for a long time, one major franchise that bucked the trend was Child's Play. In fact, unlike so many other long-running series, Child's Play hadn't even retconned any of its installments out of existence and most of its sequels like Child's Play 2 or Bride Of Chucky are fan favorites.
That all changed in 2019 when MGM and subsidiary Orion Pictures embarked on a remake of Child's Play. In this case, the circumstances were quite odd. While most remakes happen after a franchise has worn out its welcome or stagnated, the well-received Cult of Chucky - which saw Chucky possess multiple dolls - had come out only two years prior, and Chucky creator Don Mancini had made it clear he intended to continue the story. Yet, despite Mancini's public protests, MGM pushed forward.
While many Child's Play diehards were against the remake, siding with Mancini, more casual moviegoers had no such qualms, simply thinking it was a new Chucky movie to see. At the end of the day, Child's Play 2019 came and went without much fanfare, but also didn't end up the disaster so many thought it might. It made money too. However, what little success the remake had wasn't enough to really justify a Child's Play 2019 sequel either.
The 2019 remake of Child's Play didn't cost much to make by Hollywood standards, sporting a $10 million production budget. Its worldwide box office total was $45 million, and even considering marketing costs and other incidentals, probably made MGM a few million in profit. At the same time, that's hardly a very impressive a haul. Critically, Child's Play 2019 did just okay, barely earning a fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes with 64%. However, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score drops down to 57%. Again, not awful numbers, but far from glowing ones either; they also don't bode well when it comes to hype for a potential Child's Play 2.
Plus, as much as MGM and Orion might have tried to ignore the backlash against the remake, it's likely they were left wondering just how much that negative perception played into the Child's Play remake's underwhelming box office. With the main Chucky franchise continuing via the killer doll's self-titled TV show, and Brad Dourif back providing Chucky's iconic voice, the announcement of a Child's Play 2019 sequel would likely draw even more of an internet firestorm. While the 2019 remake's director Lars Klevberg has said he has ideas for a Child's Play 2, it's unlikely MGM will greenlight the project anytime now.
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November 08, 2021 at 12:00AM
