If it seems like Richard Linklater has been discussing a sequel to "Dazed and Confused" for quite some time, that's because he has been discussing a sequel to "Dazed and Confused" for quite some time. Word about a possible "spiritual sequel" to that beloved 1993 film has circulated in one form or another since 2009.
"I carefully called it a spiritual sequel to 'Dazed' cause it's not the same characters," Linklater revealed during a 2009 interview with Collider. "If 'Dazed' was my high school, this is my college. It's about a weekend in college in that time period. It's funny ... I think it's the funniest thing I ever wrote." That script, which was called "That's What I'm Talking About," was set in 1980.
Just as soon as Linklater announced the project, though, it fell apart. By the end of 2009, Linklater revealed "That's What I'm Talking About" was off the table because of business reasons.
"It's just sitting there," Linklater told The Playlist in 2010. "I even have it financed, I just have to get a distributor that would do it or would give me enough to make it."
Perhaps Linklater has found a business model that works for "Dazed 2." During a Reddit AMA chat on Wednesday, the director revealed that plans for a sequel to "Dazed and Confused" were back on. "Hoping to make it this fall, actually," he replied when asked about the project. "A college comedy. I feel like mixing it up with a big ensemble."
Whether that actually happens remains to be seen, but don't put it past Linklater -- especially now that he's talking about "Dazed 2" once again.
"I do Q&As about other films I'm doing, and maybe the last question is, 'If you don't mind me asking, I was just wondering if Jesse and Celine are ever going to ...' And I'll have to go, 'Well, I don't know,'" Linklater told HuffPost Entertainment when asked about fan interest in what would become the new film "Before Midnight," his sequel to "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset." "As we got closer, however -- when I was doing Q&As for 'Bernie' just a little more than a year ago -- I was getting that question and we did have an outline. My answer changed to 'I wouldn't be surprised if they showed up again.'"
[via Slashfilm]
