Movies
Japan Plans Own ‘Ring’ 3-D Sequel: ‘Sadako 3D’
While DreamWorks continues to develop the English-language The Ring 3D, Japanese Kadokawa Pictures made a major announcement for fans of the original 1998 Ringu.
Arriving in Japanese theaters in 2012 is Sadako 3D, featuring the creepy black-haired character from the Ring horror series that started the J-horror craze.
Sadako, identified by her long black hair covering her face, has become an iconic character in the Japanese horror genre. Koji Suzuki, the author of the original “Ring” novel series, indicated that the new 3D film will include a scene of Sadako coming out of a television set, similar to the original.
Suzuki wrote a completely new story for the movie. The director and the cast have not yet been revealed.
For those of you keeping tally, there have been four Japanese films based on Koji Suzuki’s popular Ring series including Ringu, Rasen, Ringu 2, and Ringu 0: Birthday. Then there are the little known Japanese TV Series: “Ring: The Final Chapter” (12 Episodes) and it’s sequel “Rasen” (13 Episodes). And then there’s the Korean remake The Ring Virus alongside the two U.S. remakes. WOWSA.
Just three years after Evil Dead Rise set the box office on fire with a $147 million worldwide haul, Evil Dead Burn was unleashed into theaters this past weekend. Unfortunately, the opening weekend for Evil Dead Burn wasn’t quite as strong as the debut for its predecessor.
Evil Dead Burn debuted in 3,004 theaters across North America and scared up $13.7 million in its domestic debut, about $10 million less than Evil Dead Rise‘s $24.5 million opening.
Worldwide, Evil Dead Burn debuted with $25 million. Given the film’s production budget was somewhere in the ballpark of $20 million, all is certainly not lost for Evil Dead Burn. That said, Warner Bros. and New Line no doubt hoped that Burn would top or at least match the domestic opening of Rise, but instead we’re looking at a case of diminishing franchise returns.
The good news for fans? Next installment Evil Dead Wrath has already wrapped production for expected release in 2028, so there’s no danger of the franchise ending with Evil Dead Burn.
Evil Dead Wrath from director Francis Galluppi (The Last Stop in Yuma County) is currently set for theatrical release on April 7, 2028, though that could change in the coming months.
Will the Evil Dead franchise be taking a break after Evil Dead Wrath? That all depends on how Wrath performs at the box office. But for what it’s worth, the post-credits scene at the end of Evil Dead Burn suggests that the franchise’s creators are hopeful for a bright future ahead.
The critical reception for Evil Dead Burn was a bit less positive than the reception to Evil Dead Rise, with Rise hitting 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and Burn currently sitting at 71%. It’s interesting to note, however, that the “Popcornmeter” on Rotten Tomatoes is a bit higher for Burn than it was for Rise, with Burn‘s currently at 80% and Rise‘s sitting a tad lower at 76%.
The site’s “Popcornmeter” scores are decided by users, rather than verified movie critics.
Which do you prefer? Evil Dead Rise or Evil Dead Burn? Sound off below.
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