Monster House 2 In The Works? Director Speaks Up On Sequel

“There might be another Monster House story. I haven’t had the idea in the years since. Also, it feels like that movie had such a complete story,” Kenan said of a potential Monster House 2. “The reason to revisit a film series is always characters. That is the reason to do it. And I am still friends with a lot of the cast from that film and stayed in touch, especially with the young cast from that film.”

“They’re all doing so well,” he continued. “It’s been amazing to watch them grow into adults.” However, Kenan does not entirely rule out the idea of Monster House 2. “Never say never… That was my first movie, and I feel like, for me, it was a tonal calling card as much as anything,” he continued, reflecting on his debut film.

Kenan explained that he sees Monster House as a tonal representation of his influences from movies like Ghostbusters, Gremlins, The Goonies, and Beetlejuice. According to the filmmaker, these movies are unafraid of exploring darker themes, which resonated with him as they explored the challenging aspects of growing up and navigating life.

Kenan also noted a trend in the ’80s where such movies were prevalent but lamented their decline in popularity since then. He emphasized his commitment to reviving this narrative style, particularly for younger audiences, to offer a more comprehensive portrayal of the human experience, fostering deeper and more authentic connections with films like the potential Monster House 2.

Monster House is a computer-animated supernatural comedy film directed by Gil Kenan from a script by Dan Harmon, Rob Schrab, and Pamela Pettler. It features the voices of Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Jason Lee, Catherine O’Hara, Kathleen Turner, and Fred Willard, who could return for Monster House 2.

The story revolves around DJ, Chowder, and Jenny, who discover that the house across the street from DJ’s home is actually a living, breathing monster. The house, owned by the crotchety old Mr. Nebbercracker, is possessed by the spirit of his late wife, Constance, turning it into an evil entity that eats anyone who comes near it.

 When DJ’s parents leave town for the weekend, the kids decide to confront the house and put an end to its reign of terror. Throughout the film, the kids face various obstacles as they try to unravel the mystery of the house and figure out how to stop it. Along the way, they learn about friendship, bravery, and the importance of facing their fears, themes that could carry over to Monster House 2.

Monster House was initially developed at DreamWorks Animation SKG, with newcomer at the time Gil Kenan pitching the concept. Fresh out of film school, Kenan struggled to succeed in previous projects. However, after impressing Dan Harmon, Rob Schrab, and Bennett Schneir with his vision, he secured a meeting with Robert Zemeckis, head of development at ImageMovers.

Subsequently, Kenan (now thinking of Monster House 2) pitched the idea to Steven Spielberg, showcasing his concepts through sketches and drawings. Despite initial interest, DreamWorks eventually passed on the project, leading Sony Pictures Entertainment to take over production in 2004. The film officially began production on August 23 of that year.

Monster House hit theaters in July 2006. The film received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success at the box office, earning over $142 million worldwide, recouping its $75 million production budget. It was even nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. However, it didn’t win, losing out to Cars and Happy Feet.

Source: ComicBook