POLTERGEIST IV: What Could Have Been (My Idea)
Apparently MGM had considered doing a fourth film shortly after P3, but could never find the right script or concept. Ideas considered included a prequel, which would have told the story of Kane and his followers, or a sequel set years later, featuring an adult (recast) Carol Anne. Supposedly many writers submitted ideas/treatments/scripts.
Years later, Clint Morris at MovieHole.net was hired to write a draft called "Poltergeist: Kayeri." It would have featured Steven Freeling, as he battled the Rev. Kane once again, only this time with the help of an Indian friend (not Taylor), and a group of young people filming an EPK video in the mountains (the studio wanted to appeal to a "younger audience," sigh). Diane and Carol Anne would have shown up only in the last act as they are re-united with Steve, since writer Morris didn't feel that it was right to base an entire movie around Carol Anne (because people remember Heather O'Rourke so fondly for the role).
Original co-writer Michael Grais later wrote a treatment for a completely new story called "Poltergeist: In The Shadows." It would have had nothing to do with the previous three films except the title (he still would like to develop that script, without the "Poltergeist" name).
A few years ago, for fun, I actually wrote a script for a fourth film. It featured Carol Anne, grown up, as she attempted to find out why a new evil force was after her child. I went back to the suburbs, actually setting the story in a townhouse development near Atlanta. And yes, this time the evil forces entered the family's home via the computer. While I was proud of certain scenes, overall the script needed a LOT of work. It never went anywhere, and sits in a drawer in my hallway.
Going in a different direction, I kept coming back to the idea that Carol Anne's battle with the Rev. Kane needed one more entry, a final chapter that would tie up all the loose ends and fix the mistakes that P3 made (while keeping and expanding upon the few things that did work, such as the mirrors and the Chicago high rise).
But, I guess now that the remake will (eventually) be on the way, there won't be a "Poltergeist IV" anytime soon....
Apparently MGM had considered doing a fourth film shortly after P3, but could never find the right script or concept. Ideas considered included a prequel, which would have told the story of Kane and his followers, or a sequel set years later, featuring an adult (recast) Carol Anne. Supposedly many writers submitted ideas/treatments/scripts.
Years later, Clint Morris at MovieHole.net was hired to write a draft called "Poltergeist: Kayeri." It would have featured Steven Freeling, as he battled the Rev. Kane once again, only this time with the help of an Indian friend (not Taylor), and a group of young people filming an EPK video in the mountains (the studio wanted to appeal to a "younger audience," sigh). Diane and Carol Anne would have shown up only in the last act as they are re-united with Steve, since writer Morris didn't feel that it was right to base an entire movie around Carol Anne (because people remember Heather O'Rourke so fondly for the role).
Original co-writer Michael Grais later wrote a treatment for a completely new story called "Poltergeist: In The Shadows." It would have had nothing to do with the previous three films except the title (he still would like to develop that script, without the "Poltergeist" name).
A few years ago, for fun, I actually wrote a script for a fourth film. It featured Carol Anne, grown up, as she attempted to find out why a new evil force was after her child. I went back to the suburbs, actually setting the story in a townhouse development near Atlanta. And yes, this time the evil forces entered the family's home via the computer. While I was proud of certain scenes, overall the script needed a LOT of work. It never went anywhere, and sits in a drawer in my hallway.
Going in a different direction, I kept coming back to the idea that Carol Anne's battle with the Rev. Kane needed one more entry, a final chapter that would tie up all the loose ends and fix the mistakes that P3 made (while keeping and expanding upon the few things that did work, such as the mirrors and the Chicago high rise).
But, I guess now that the remake will (eventually) be on the way, there won't be a "Poltergeist IV" anytime soon....