Nightmare Before Christmas Prequel Actually In The Works?
Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick would love to do a prequel to the 1993 stop-motion animated film. “There might be a more interesting story there about how Jack became the King of Halloween,” the filmmaker told People. However, he isn’t too enthusiastic about a follow-up because of how much work went into the first movie.
“[It’s] a perfect movie [that] came out of the perfect time, only to grow into something far bigger over the years. I think Tim [Burton], in particular, feels like, why mess with that? Selick explained. “He certainly doesn’t need to make more money from a sequel. He has had so many other successes, and so far, nobody’s come up with a great idea for a sequel. And I still think that Tim gets to decide. I don’t think there’s any idea that would convince him.”
“There might be a more interesting story there about how Jack became the King of Halloween.”
The Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick
The Nightmare Before Christmas revolves around Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who becomes tired of scaring people every Halloween. One day, he stumbles upon Christmas Town and is captivated by the holiday’s joy and cheer. Jack decides to take over Christmas and puts a Halloween twist on the holiday.
Jack enlists the help of the residents of Halloween Town to work on their own versions of Christmas presents and decorations. But their creations turn out to be eerie and unsettling rather than joyful and heartwarming. As Jack continues with Christmas preparations, he fails to understand the true spirit of the holiday, and his actions inadvertently lead to chaos.
Realizing the unintended consequences of his actions, Jack must find a way to set things right and save Christmas, Santa Claus, and the real world from the frightening versions of Christmas he has unleashed. At the end of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack learns the value of embracing who he truly is and the importance of appreciating each holiday independently.
“He [Tim Burton] certainly doesn’t need to make more money from a sequel. He has had so many other successes, and so far, nobody’s come up with a great idea for a sequel.”
Henry Selick on another Nightmare Before Christmas film
The film is known for its innovative stop-motion animation. The detailed process involved creating intricate puppets and sets, with each frame of the film being meticulously shot one at a time. The result is a visually stunning and unique cinematic experience. The Nightmare Before Christmas also features a memorable soundtrack composed by Danny Elfman, who also provided Jack Skellington’s singing voice.
Upon its release, The Nightmare Before Christmas received critical acclaim for its groundbreaking stop-motion animation, distinctive characters, memorable songs, and enchanting musical score.
The Nightmare Before Christmas can be traced back to a poem Tim Burton wrote when he was working as an animator at Walt Disney Productions in 1982. After the success of his short film Vincent, Burton toyed with developing his poem into a short film or a televised special, but these ideas failed to materialize. Nevertheless, the concept continued to linger in Burton’s mind over the years.
In 1990, Burton struck a deal with Walt Disney Studios to advance the project. Production on The Nightmare Before Christmas began in July 1991 in San Francisco. Disney, initially concerned that the film might be deemed too dark and scary for kids, chose to release it through their subsidiary, Touchstone Pictures.
Upon its release, The Nightmare Before Christmas received critical acclaim for its groundbreaking stop-motion animation, distinctive characters, memorable songs, and enchanting musical score. While it initially achieved moderate box office success, it has since evolved into a beloved cult classic. Walt Disney Pictures subsequently reissued the film with annual re-releases in Digital 3-D from 2006 to 2010.
Thirty years after the initial release of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Disney is planning limited screenings of the film in theaters across the United States and Canada starting on October 20. Additionally, the timeless holiday classic will be presented in a 4D format at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
