Jeremy Renner and Tommy Wirkola comment on HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS sequel

WitchHunters

HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS was a fun, campy flick that was released last year by Paramount Pictures. The film ended up grossing $170-million internationally, a figure that must’ve made Paramount happy enough to greenlight a sequel.

Word on the sequel has been spreading through the news recently as both writer/director Tommy Wirkola and star Jeremy Renner have commented on the proposed film’s current state. While in Austin, Texas for Fantastic Fest, Wirkola had a chance to talk to site Shock Till You Drop:

I’ve written the script for it. I’ve given it to Paramount and it’s up to them now. But I don’t know what’s going to happen. Jeremy (Renner) is so busy these days, I don’t know how they’re going to juggle all of that, but it’s up to (Paramount). We’ll see. Hopefully, I’ll get to do another film first. They really liked the script I gave them. The first film was a learning curve for me working in the studio system and the script I wrote for the original was so different. We ended up taking a lot out and altering stuff that first time. I’m smarter now. I tried taking what I learned and still delivered a sequel script that’s an R-rated action film.

Apparently Wirkola’s quote got around because site Cinema Blend had a chance to catch up with Renner a day later and he gave his own update:

I don’t have any problem with it. Yeah. It was a lot of fun. It was fun to do that movie and just have a ball. It’s ultimately going to come down to – -I know they (Paramount) have a release date and they really want to get it out there — but I have to have the time. I’m only one man, right? And then also Gemma’s (Arteron) availability. It’ll come down to availability, I’m sure.

HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS was a pleasant surprise for me last year. It brought me back to the good ol’ days of action/horror when you grinned at all of the practical effects and costumes while cringing at the over-abundance of fake blood and gore. I’d love to see a sequel, so I personally hope that Paramount pushes their release date aside and properly waits for the availability of Wirkola, Renner and Arteron. A sequel wouldn’t be the same without them.

What are your thoughts? Did you enjoy the first film?

About the author

NINJA | Ken loves comics, video games, and film -- especially creature features and giant monster flicks. When he's not stalking the shadows as part of the Ninja Clan, he spends his time obsessively collecting ThunderCats, King Kong, and Pacific Rim memorabilia.