Column Chronicles: Film sequels that were never made

Film sequels that were never made

Frank Cotolo
May 25, 2023

Most movies that become classics (making millions) milk their success with sequels. However, others that become classics fail to release sequels even when they try. Here are some failed tries at sequels.

BETTERFELLAS

The forever popular "Goodfellas" movie could have been a trilogy. It was to be followed by "Betterfellas", which would spawn "Bestfellas". The ideas included following Henry, based on an actual person, and fictionalizing how he rebuilt his life to eventually became Pope. Other ideas included Henry meeting Indiana Jones to collaborate in the quest for Buddha's diet and another where Henry invents an artificial human brain.

E.T.R.

The title stands for Extra Terrestrial Returns and it was commissioned to be scripted by a team of writers. In one version, E.T. comes back to Earth because he needs testimony from Elliot to prove to his race that what happened to him on Earth was actually interesting enough to stay for as long as he stayed (he was to prove all the vital plot points of the original story or be hanged).

TITANIC TRAUMA

Fiction would have fueled a sequel to the blockbuster "Titanic". It's the story of ten survivors who are marked for death by the financers of the ill-fated ship because they fear the survivors might know the true flaws of the ocean liner, cheesy construction which was overlooked so the ship would sail on time.

THE NICE, THE NAUGHTY AND THE HOMELY

A follow up western to "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" was supposed to take place ten years after the good guy was being stalked by family members of the bad and the ugly he murdered. The good guy has turned into a nice guy and loses his gunslinging edge while he stalkers do worse things than bad and they are not as ugly as their relatives.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.