No franchise plans for THE RING

Producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald discuss the possible future of THE RING

By Jennifer H. Tomooka     October 07, 2002

Surprisingly, producers Walter F. Parkes (MINORITY REPORT, ROAD TO PERDITION) and Laurie MacDonald (THE TUXEDO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN) announced in an interview to promote THE RING that DreamWorks currently has no plans to transform the thriller into a franchise.

"You know, the idea is to hope the first movie works," MacDonald says. "And if it does, it's a very challenging franchise to create because I don't think, at least in initially looking at the other RING sequels [made in Japan], there's an obvious story to take. I don't think any of them were nearly as good as the original. We hope the movie's a success and it leaves itself open to some interpretation for a second, but we would start at the beginning, creatively saying, 'Is there a story worth telling?'"

Parkes echoes his partner's feelings.

"You know, its odd," says Parkes. "You're first attracted to this video tape that causes your death in seven days. But that [becomes] the least of it. It was merely the starting off point of something that I find far more interesting. In our test screenings of the movie we're finding that audiences are very surprised that the movie goes in a more complex and a different direction than what is suggested by the premise alone. I think because this videotape is out in the world does suggest, '[Yes] there'll be a sequel' but actually, it would not work for us merely to exploit that aspect of the story."

If a sequel were given the green light for THE RING, director Gore Verbinski (MOUSE HUNT, THE MEXICAN) would only return if the story was firmly in place.

"It would depend," says Verbinski. "[DreamWorks] would only make a sequel if the movie was successful and I would only direct it if it was a good story."

THE RING opens October 18.

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