Josh Brolin doesn’t know if Goonies sequel 'would ever happen'

The actor explained why he feels it isn't necessary for there to be a follow-up to the 1985 classic

USA.  Josh Brolin  and Corey Feldman  in a scene from ©Warner Bros. film: The Goonies (1985). Plot: A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure.  Ref:  LMK110-J6911-271020 Supplied by LMKMEDIA. Editorial Only. Landmark Media is not the copyright owner of these Film or TV stills but provides a service only for recognised Media outlets. pictures@lmkmedia.com
Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman in a scene from The Goonies in 1985, reflecting on the possibility of the franchise returning the actor said he doesn't see why it's necessary. (Warner Bros.)

Josh Brolin doesn't feel like The Goonies needs a sequel, despite there being talk within the entertainment industry for some time about the possibility of returning to the world.

Speaking to Yahoo as part of his Role Recall interview, the actor admits that he couldn't see the benefit in bringing back the franchise where he made his onscreen debut. The reason, he argues, is because it's not necessary to sully the legacy of an already iconic movie.

The Goonies follows its titular group of plucky heroes as they go in search for One-Eyed Willy's treasure, and Brolin took on the role of Brand, Mikey's (Sean Astin) older brother, who follows on their adventures. It also stars Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Jeff Cohen, and Kerri Green.

When asked about the possibility of there being a sequel in the future, Brolin responds: "Personally, why? Do you know what I mean? I don't like it.

Ke Huy Quan, Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen,
Josh Brolin argues it's not necessary to sully the legacy of an already iconic movie, and that it 'exists in a really wonderful way' on its own. (Warner Bros)

"The movie exists in a really wonderful way, generation after generation I get to see that. I just got a text the other day of a guy who had showed his daughter the movie for the first time and then he kind of regressed into seeing it for the first time, it's so wonderful.

"I mean, it's such a wonderful thing that exists that you get to see affect people, and why do you need to weigh it out with something else? Tell me, what would it be like?"

Read more: Josh Brolin on Goonies 2, Jonah Hex and falling in love with Austin Butler on Dune 

The actor suggests some amusing possibilities for a potential follow-up to the 1985 classic, such as Brand being an old biker who joined the Hell's Angels and now wears a colostomy bag, and whose grandchildren have become the new Goonies that embark on their own adventure. He adds that he simply "doesn't know" what could work as a new story to such a beloved film.

The Goonies (Credit: Warner Bros)
Josh Brolin adds that Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus wrote some scripts for a sequel but 'they felt [they] weren't good enough'. (Warner Bros)

Despite his reservations he admits that plans were in place for some time for a sequel, saying: "We've been talking about it for so long, and I know that [Steven] Spielberg had a couple of scripts and Chris Columbus had a couple of scripts that they felt weren't good enough.

"And now it's far enough away that I don't know if it would ever happen."

There have long been rumours of near-misses and false starts for Goonies 2 over the years, but director Richard Donner's death in 2021 has meant these plans are likely not going to come to fruition. Feldman, for example, has previously said a Goonies sequel would only work with Donner involved.

Speaking with Yahoo Entertainment in 2017, Feldman claimed time was running short for a sequel. He said: "Every day it becomes much less likely that it will happen, because unfortunately the director, Richard Donner, who we all know and love is like, 87, now I believe. God bless him, but that's a lot of pressure to put on a man of that antiquity."

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There has been talk of a Goonies sequel for some time, but following director Richard Donner's death in 2021 it seems unlikely one will come to be made. (Warner Bros.)

The director had previously said a sequel would happen, but it seemed he was unable to find financiers for a new film, and though Adam Goldberg wrote a script it wasn't green-lit.

Read more: Josh Brolin admits he’s been 'disrespectful' about Jonah Hex in the past

But though the director's death means a sequel isn't likely, Spielberg last spoke about the possibility of one in a 2020 reunion special hosted by Josh Gad. He said: "[We’ve] had a lot of conversations about [a sequel]; every couple of years we come up with an idea, but then it doesn’t hold water.

"The problem is the bar all of you raised on this genre. I don’t think we’ve really successfully been able to find an idea that is better than The Goonies we all made in the ‘80s. Until we do, people are just going to have to look at this 100 times."

Watch Josh Brolin discuss The Goonies, Thanos and Dune: Part Two