Drew Goddard's meta-horror-comedy The Cabin in the Woods was a surprise hit when it premiered in theaters over a decade ago, but Cabin in the Woods 2 news is pretty scant. The original film followed five 20-somethings whose characterizations relied heavily on classic horror movie tropes as they ventured out for a getaway to a cabin in the woods. However, the friends get picked off one by one until only two remain, and Dana (Kristin Connelly) and Marty (Fran Kranz) soon realize that what's going on is actually much bigger than they initially thought.
As it turned out, the cabin was part of a much bigger system of scares run by Sitterson (Richard Jenkins), Hadley (Bradley Whitford), and The Director (Sigourney Weaver). Necessary blood must be spilled to appeal to the ancient gods and prolong an impending apocalypse. However, Dana and Marty decide to let the world burn, unleashing the titans on the unsuspecting human race. While the Cabin in the Woods ending left zero room for a second installment, that hasn't stopped audiences from asking for one. There isn't a ton of Cabin in the Woods 2 news to be had, but Drew Goddard has spoken out about a sequel in the past.
The Latest Cabin In The Woods 2 News
The latest Cabin in the Woods 2 news unfortunately isn't all that recent. In 2018, director Drew Goddard spoke to Fandango while promoting his film Bad Times at the El Royale. The interviewer mentions that at one point there had been talks for a sequel to Cabin in the Woods and Goddard its that there were. However, he and Cabin in the Woods co-writer Joss Whedon were grasping at straws, and weren't willing to do a sequel simply for a sequel's sake. While this is arguably the right choice, he did also point out that Hollywood is in a time of "never say never." His comments can be read below.
Well, you know, we sort of painted ourselves into a corner with the ending of Cabin in the Woods. It's not a thing that calls for an easy sequel, I'll tell you that much. [...] We had some crazy ideas but Joss [Whedon] and I both felt strongly that we didn't want to do it just to do it. Right? I'm very lucky that I get to keep making movies, I don't need to just go make a sequel for the sake of making a sequel. The only way we could do it is if we could do it justice, and the truth is, it's a hard one to do justice to. Every version of continuing the story undercuts the ending that we had in Cabin, and I just feel like that continues to be the perfect ending for that movie and I never want to undercut it. [...] I mean, look, I never say never, either. I've learned, tomorrow, that a bolt of lightning could strike, and you could think of an idea that does the first one justice, but I haven't quite had that idea yet, I haven't had the idea yet that makes me go, 'Oh, we have to drop everything and do that now.'
Cabin In The Woods 2 Isn't Confirmed
While Cabin in the Woods 2 news has blatantly stated that a sequel isn't confirmed, the first film's success and legacy certainly warrant one. First and foremost, Cabin in the Woods was a financial success. The film had a budget of $30 million, and made back more than double, grossing $70 million worldwide. Second, Cabin in the Woods has a legacy of being one of Hollywood's most imaginative and unique comedy horrors of all time. The film received outstanding reviews from critics and audiences alike (via Rotten Tomatoes), and the cast of newcomers — which was what Chris Hemsworth was at the time — were praised for their respective performances.
Cabin In the Woods 2 Cast
There is no Cabin in the Woods 2 news regarding a prospective cast. However, based on the events of the first film, the Cabin in the Woods 2 cast would probably be made from scratch, since the Ancient Ones wiped out the human race. The sequel's cast would wholly depend on the story itself. It's possible that Cabin in the Woods 2 could go the same route as something like Bird Box Barcelona, essentially telling the same story through a different cultural lens. If Cabin in the Woods 2 were to ever happen, studios would do well to follow the first movie's lead by casting relatively unknown faces.
Cabin In The Woods 2 Story
While the bombastic ending to Cabin in the Woods was quite final, there are a few avenues that the Cabin in the Woods 2 story could take. What people really enjoyed about Cabin in the Woods was the revelation that the events of the film were being run by a secret organization that housed hundreds of thousands of horrific monsters in boxes underground. A prequel film starring a younger Sitterson and Hadley beginning their careers at the lab working under the Director would do well with audiences. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford's characters had some of the best back-and-forths, and audiences would generally be intrigued by how the facility operates.
The other option that not everyone will be on board with is retconning the original ending. The Cabin in the Woods 2 story could see a loophole in the ritual, or it's possible that one of the other countries came in clutch and was able to complete the rite, forcing the Ancient Ones back into their subterranean layer. The Cabin in the Woods ending isn't as final as it may seem. While there's no Cabin in the Woods 2 news, the original film is still being talked about over a decade later because of how unique its premise was. Surely some of that uniqueness could be lent to making a sequel.
Cabin In The Woods Has Two Spiritual Successors (Even If There's No Sequel)
Cabin in the Woods 2 news looks relatively bleak, but there are, at least, two spiritual successors to the original film. The first is M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin. While the two films are completely unrelated, Cabin in the Woods share some stark similarities. First, both are set in remote cabins in the middle of the woods. Second, both films see their protagonists making sacrifices to prevent an apocalypse. In addition, the ending to Knock At the Cabin also serves up some commentary, though not about horror movie tropes, but rather, the nature of humanity itself.
Another surprising spiritual successor is the Jay Baruchal and Seth Rogen movie This is the End. The horror comedy sees the pair, along with James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride during an apocalyptic event. The film features monsters that would easily fit into the Cabin in the Woods universe, and the Armageddon event itself eerily mirrors the events of Cabin in the Woods when sinkholes start swallowing people whole. The monsters and the apocalypse probably brought this Cabin in the Woods/This is the End theory about. So, while there's no Cabin in the Woods 2 news to speak of, there is at least some follow-up stories.
