Summary
- The director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Selick, is open to the idea of a prequel, but he and Tim Burton have no plans for a follow-up.
- A prequel exploring how Jack became the King of Halloweentown might be interesting, but it risks taking away from the magic and mystery of the original.
- It is uncertain whether a prequel or sequel will happen, as Selick isn't particularly enthusiastic about one and Burton's blessing would be needed. However, Disney might still consider it.
The Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick has an idea for a prequel, which really doesn't need to happen. Tim Burton could scarcely have been a bigger name in the early '90s after the Batman films, so it when it came time for Disney to promote a stop-motion movie he wrote and produced, they labeled it Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Of course, this implied Burton also directed the movie, which is a misunderstanding that angered the actual helmer Henry Selick for many years, though in a recent 30th-anniversary interview with People, he states this no longer bothers him.
The film wound up grossing $91 million worldwide and has become both a Halloween and Christmas favorite for many. While there have been various offshoots in the years that followed its 1993 release - such as the video game Oogie's Revenge or YA novel Long Live the Pumpkin Queen - there has yet to be a movie sequel. According to Selick in the aforementioned chat, neither he, Burton nor The Nightmare Before Christmas' cast have any pressing desire to make a sequel, and nobody involved could come up with a great idea for one.
A Nightmare Before Christmas Prequel Would Make Jack Skellington & Halloween Town Less Special
While he might not want a direct sequel, Selick said a prequel might be the better idea, stating "There might be a more interesting story there about how Jack became the King of Halloweentown." In the original, Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) is the "Pumpkin King" of Halloween Town, a fantasy realm filled with famous Halloween creatures. It's only when Jack decides to step outside and explore other fantasy realms (namely Christmas Town) does he make a mess of things. Fans of the original might like another adventure returning to Halloween Town, but a prequel just doesn't sound like a worthy idea.
Part of the magic of the film is that Halloween Town and the associated characters just exist. There's little to no attempt to establish its origins or Jack's backstory, and a prequel exploring how its mechanics work in-depth would risk taking away from that. Likewise, it doesn't feel like there's much meat to a story that follows a young Jack as he faces off with the previous "King of Halloween," as the outcome is predetermined. The film could explore some of the other worlds mentioned (like Valentine‘s Day Town or Patrick’s Day Town), but again, leaving that up to viewers' imaginations is the better option.
How Likely Is The Nightmare Before Christmas Prequel To Actually Happen?
Even Selick doesn't seem particularly fired up about returning for a follow-up, so it might be a moot point. The film's legacy continues to grow each year, which includes concerts that feature all the classic Nightmare Before Christmas songs. If another film was to happen it would apparently need Burton's blessing too, which he appears unlikely to give after 30 years. That said, he's finally returning to helm Beetlejuice 2 after 35 years, which is another follow-up that once sounded impossible.
Disney isn't above dusting off a popular brand if they feel there's profit to be made either, and the enduring popularity of The Nightmare Before Christmas might convince them there's another story - or live-action remake - to be told. For now, Jack, Sally (Catherine O'Hara) and the residents of Halloween Town are being left in peace, but a prequel or sequel isn't as unlikely as it may have once been.
Source: People