Movieweb caught up with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters producer Adam McKay, who talked about Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 2, which he promises will be insane, even though it’ll “probably” be PG-13. Okaaay?
Like it or not, the Gary Sanchez production, directed by Tommy Wirkola, and released by Paramount Pictures, performed extraordinarily well for an R-rated horror film. Thus far, it’s surpassed $225M worldwide, and is doing gangbusters on home video. With a $50M production market, as well as P&A, if the film had been PG-13 it would have been massive. Here’s where the story continues…
“I’m really excited about the second one. Because he [Wirkola] didn’t steer the behemoth off the road on the first one,” says McKay. “You are going to get to see even more slack on his leash with the second one. He is really going to get to roam free on this. I’ve already started to hear some of the ideas he is working on, and its pretty insane. This could be one of those instances where the sequel does go further than the first one.
“The funny thing is…I think Paramount regrets it,” McKay continues referencing the film’s R-rating. “I think they are worried that they left some money on the table with that one. There is some discussion about how we’re gong to handle that with the second one…”
We’re a horror site and ratings are a huge deal, but it should be noted that studios are in the business of making money. An R-rating really does hurt a film, but my perspective has always that the film should be what it needs to be to be great. So, forcing a PG-13 to make a buck doesn’t make me happy. Not at all…
with hate in their blood for all things popular)
