• Trick or Treat 2 The film took over 15 years to make because director Michael Dougherty wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be a “crap” like some horror sequels.
  • Dougherty didn’t want to expand the story and risk an inferior sequel.
  • Bye Trick or Treat 2 is still in early development, Dougherty is focused on crafting a script that stays true to the original and maintains creative control over the franchise.

Although we are all happy about it Trick or Treat 2 is finally moving forward, we can’t help but wonder why it took so long – over 15 years – to make it. That’s why Collider Perry Nemiroff didn’t beat around the bush while interviewing the film’s director and screenwriter Michael Dougherty. It turns out the director had an equally straightforward answer when asked why the sequel took so long to make: He said, “Because I don’t want it to be crap.”

As funny as the answer is, it makes sense, as Dougherty expanded on his information during a Q&A following the screening of the original horror series Scary Perry. Horror hits, as we know, last a long time – we just recently released the 10th Saw movie, Insidious 5, And Scream 6to name a few – but they’re also known for pushing their limits quite a bit, and Dougherty didn’t want that to happen to his creation:

“I mean, I love all of our favorite horror franchise characters as much as any of us, but not all of them are good. And I know we’ve come to love even the smaller chapters of our favorite horror series. They always have cheese value, but if I’m going to make a sequel, I want it to be as good as the original, if not better, and good things take time. The last thing I want to see is Trick or Treat, Part 9: Sam Goes to Space, you know? Although I will say that it has potential.”

Trick or Treat 2 will meet a completely new audience

Sam in the movie Trick or Treat
Image via Legendary

While all of this is true, we must also consider the fact that Trick or Treat 2 will go into a completely different world, and if it’s as good or better than the first, fans will probably want more sequels – and they won’t want to wait another 15 years for it. Dougherty will also likely have to deal with streamers wanting to buy his intellectual property, something that wasn’t all that realistic in 2007. So he may have to stand his ground to maintain creative control of the franchise.

Trick or Treat 2 is still in early development, but Dougherty confirmed to us that he’s hard at work on the script. If the sequel follows the same structure as the original, we’ll definitely see interconnected Halloween stories centered around creepy little Sam. It’s also possible that the sequel will be completely different, as sometimes happens with horror franchises. At this point we can only speculate. Trick or Treat is available to stream on Max in the US.

Watch on Max

You can watch Nemiroff’s full interview with Dougherty below:

Trick or Treat

In a small town on Halloween night, those who break the rules of the holiday do so at their own peril and risk.

Date of issue
December 9, 2007

Director
Michael Dougherty

Throw
Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Rochelle Aytes

lead time
82 minutes

Genres
Horror, Comedy

Writers
Michael Dougherty