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Halloween Returns Director Explains Title

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‘Halloween’ - the slasher horror series which arguably started it all back in 1978 - is set to return to screens once again, in the form of a new sequel entitled ‘Halloween Returns.’

A further outing for the hulking, William Shatner mask-loving serial killer Michael Myers has been on the cards ever since Rob Zombie’s ‘Halloween II,’ the divisive sequel to his already divisive reboot, in 2009.

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This past June saw Marcus Dunstan - director of ‘The Collector’ and its sequel ‘The Collection’ - confirmed as the new director of the latest ‘Halloween’ movie, as well as co-writer with his usual collaborator Patrick Melton.

Now, fan site Halloween Daily News have conducted a lengthy interview with the director regarding his plans for the much-loved horror series - as well as shedding some light on the curious choice of title.

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Dunstan says he wants to make ‘The Dark Knight’ of the ‘Halloween’ series - i.e. a series pinnacle which works within the chronology but also stands apart. He also promised a ‘Han and Chewie’ moment (i.e. “Chewie, we’re home”) for Michael when the first teaser trailer hits.

The director also hints that this film (which he previously dubbed a ‘recalibration’ rather than reboot) will disregard all but the original three ‘Halloween’ films - though this is a slightly odd declaration, as 1982′s ‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’ notoriously has nothing whatsoever to do with the other films in the series.

Regarding the title ‘Halloween Returns,’ Dunstan says it’s being presented differently to how he had originally intended it, though he has no objections:

“’Halloween,’ if you have a semicolon, ‘Returns,’ I think I put it in an email as a subtitle, but I think it was registered as ‘Halloween Returns,’ which is fine. I like that, and it works, it does function as what it means to say.”

It has previously been revealed that ‘Halloween Returns’ will see Michael Myers on Death Row, and centre on a new group of teens who lost loved ones in his killing spree who plan revenge when, inevitably, his execution goes wrong and he escapes.

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Dunstan elaborates, “If you commit a violent act, sometimes you get returns. What are the repercussions of being a violent entity? In that case, ‘Halloween Returns’ could mean a number of things.“

The director also stressed his desire to bring back “subtlety and suspense” to the ‘Halloween’ series (noting “Suspense isn’t expensive. A karate fight in a burning room is expensive”), yet did confirm that some scenes of extreme violence should be expected.

Casting-wise, Dunstan revealed they have shot “a couple motion tests of potential Michaels,” and seemed to confirm that actress Gillian Jacobs is in line to appear in the movie - or on the director’s wish list, at least:

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“I really like this actress Gillian Jacobs. She’s known for all this comedy on Community, and yet I didn’t know her from Community first, I knew her from a movie called ‘Gardens of the Night,’ which is one of the most wrenching dramas, and she’s excellent.

“I thought, 'I wonder if this great performer would do that again, would like to go there, and I think so.“

Outside of his directing work, Dunstan previously co-wrote parts IV, V and VI of the ‘Saw’ series, the ‘Feast’ trilogy, and ‘Piranha 3DD’ with Patrick Melton.

Though no release dates are yet confirmed, it seems likely that ‘Halloween Returns’ is aiming to hit screens around Halloween 2016.

Picture Credit: Dimension Films, Luigi Novi/Wikipedia, WENN