Origins of Final Destination Traced Back to X-Files Conception by Its Creators
Title: Final Destination turns 25, with a fresh spin on the lucrative franchise 'Bloodlines'
Hey there! 🙌 Twenty-five years ago, Final Destination graced our screens, and it's still going strong, with the upcoming "Final Destination: Bloodlines" this spring. This standout flick from the early 2000s teen-horror era offered chilling, imaginative death scenes, all stemming from the premise that Death isn't a masked slasher - it's a relentless pursuer for those who have dodged their appointed demise. Fascinating new insights about the flick's background, including its connection to the iconic series, The X-Files, have surfaced in a fresh oral history.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, the brainchild behind the series, writer Jeffrey Reddick, shared how a magazine article about a woman eluding a plane crash by heeding a premonition ignited the concept of Death seeking vengeance on those who cheated their fate. Intrigued, Reddick pondered an ideal platform for such a tale - and guess what? You got it - The X-Files at the peak of its original run sounded perfect! "I wrote that idea as an X-Files [spec script]... so it was quite coincidental that our film ultimately ended up in the hands of James Wong and Glen Morgan, who were, and still are, two of my all-time favorite writers", Reddick marveled.
Diving deeper, Reddick elaborated that the initial narrative was heavily inspired by A Nightmare on Elm Street, with Death tormenting the survivors' guilt or past secrets to drive them to despair. At the time, Reddick's script concentrated on adult characters, but the studio, influenced by the success of Scream, opted for high school students in the final film.
James Wong, who directed the original Final Destination and shares a screenplay credit with Reddick and Morgan, dished a bit about the Final Destination that could have been, had it continued as an X-Files episode: "Emphasis would be on Mulder and Scully, examining their reaction to these mysterious deaths, and their survival."
However, Wong emphasized, the story was ultimately better suited for the big screen. "As a movie, the key factor is the opportunity to produce something breathtakingly spectacular that draws the audience in and provides the unexpected, which is nearly impossible in a television show", Wong asserted.
For the complete story, including fun anecdotes about crafting the creative death scenes and changes to the original ending, hop over to Variety.
Wanna know more about the latest news on your faves? Check out predicted releases for the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek franchises, the next steps for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the inside scoop on the future of Doctor Who. Stay tuned! 🤘
- In an unexpected twist, the initial concept of the 'Final Destination' series was first envisioned as an 'X-Files' episode, according to its creator, Jeffrey Reddick.
- As a movie, 'Final Destination' offers breathtakingly spectacular sequences that would be nearly impossible to create in a television show, asserted director James Wong, who was originally focused on building the story around Mulder and Scully.
- The upcoming 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' is making headlines, with a fresh oral history piece in Variety, detailing the origins of the franchise and the connection to 'The X-Files'.
- If you're a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and futuristic topics, IO9 magazine is the right place to keep up with predicted releases for franchises such as Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC, and Doctor Who, along with insights on the role of technology in the future of these iconic worlds.
