It’s not uncommon for studios to look for inspiration in throwaway lines from popular movies and franchises to create sequels or spin-offs. For example, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, A Quiet Place: Day One, and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice have all been inspired by lines or references from their original source material.
One such example is the 1976 movie King Kong, where a line about the Vatican suppressing knowledge of Skull Island for centuries could be the basis for an intriguing story. Imagine a religious political thriller where Catholic imagery is used to explore the existence of an island filled with unique megafauna, challenging the beliefs of the church in a world where exorcisms and the supernatural are popular themes.
Another potential sequel idea comes from The Matrix Reloaded, where it is suggested that every supernatural story in history is the system responding to illegal activity on the internet. This concept opens up the possibility for a second Matrix trilogy or a monster-of-the-week police procedural series, exploring the idea that creatures like werewolves and vampires are actually programs gone rogue in the simulated reality.
The RoboCop series also presents an interesting concept with the mention of the “Amazon War” in RoboCop 2 and 3, where a nuclear facility explosion leads to a conflict in the rainforest. This setting could be the backdrop for a brutal war film set in an irradiated rainforest populated with mutated flora and fauna, combined with corporate-sponsored U.S. mercenaries for added intrigue.
Rollerball, a post-apocalyptic movie set in a world ruled by corporations, could also be a source of inspiration for a new movie exploring the consequences of corporate warfare and the use of violent games to distract the population from the harsh realities of the world.
Lastly, the sequel to 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, introduces the idea of a mother and daughter being immune to the “Rage Virus” due to a genetic abnormality. This concept could lead to a post-apocalyptic world where celebrities with similar mutations become the new rulers, sparking conspiracies, religions, and power struggles among survivors.
These are just a few examples of how seemingly insignificant lines from movies and franchises can inspire compelling sequel ideas. What lines or references have stuck with you from your favorite films or TV shows? Feel free to share your sequel ideas in the comments!
