Back in early 2014, fans of writer/director Eli Craig's growing cult horror comedy Tucker and Dale vs. Evil had the opportunity to celebrate, as it was officially announced that a sequel was in the works. Sadly, however, there hasn't been any news on the project since -- and it turns out there's a good reason why: according to stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine, there was a script that was put into development, but apparently it just wasn't any good. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con last week, the actors revealed,
Alan Tudyk: This is my answer for that, I'm sure you have one as well. We had announced, officially, Tucker and Dale 2, they hired somebody to write the script, and it wasn't any good. That's rude to the person who wrote it; I don't know who it was.Tyler Labine: No, no, no, they deserve to be spanked.Alan Tudyk: Did you get a chance to read it?Tyler Labine: No, but I heard the synopsis behind it, and the general reaction from Eli [Craig] was, 'No fucking way.'
Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are both set to appear in the upcoming second season of the BBC America series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, and while participating together in roundtable interviews at San Diego Comic-Con they provided an update about Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 2. At the very start of the conversation the duo was asked about the horror comedy sequel, and they bluntly explained that the project hasn't moved forward because the screenplay being written wasn't up to standards.
In Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, which was given a limited release in September 2011, Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine starred as the titular duo -- who are a couple of poor hillbillies trying to make the best of a dilapidated vacation house they've purchased in the woods. Serving as a parody of redneck horror movies, things go terribly awry when they encounter a group of remarkably clumsy college kids who are convinced they are serial killers. The movie didn't ultimately make anything at the box office following its successful festival run, but it has found an audience thanks to its availability on Blu-ray and Netflix.
Ultimately, it's the preciousness of that "cult" status that is really preventing Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 2 from moving forward. Both Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are proud of the movie that they've made, and they don't want to do anything to lessen that particular legacy. Said the actors,
Alan Tudyk: We don't want to ruin the first one by doing a crappy second one. That isn't usually the rule in Hollywood, but I'm glad we're following that path.Tyler Labine: The only thing that movie really has going for it is its integrity. It was not a huge release, it was not a big money maker. It's a long, slow grind on its way to becoming a cult favorite -- who knows. So then to go and do a weird, money-grabby sequel, just seems like a bad idea.Alan Tudyk: They're great characters, and we'd love to do them again. If I could figure out how to write the sequel, I would.Tyler Labine: It's hard, though! That's the thing. You can't even blame that writer. It's hard to make a sequel to that movie because of the joke. It's done! We told the joke! And if you do the same thing again... maybe it's just better. That being said, we'd love to do something!
So while we should give up hope on Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 2 coming out any time soon, the good news is that the project isn't entirely dead. If someone can come up with a proper idea so that the characters could come back, it sounds like Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are totally game to reprise the parts.
In the meantime, fans of the actors will next be able to see them both on Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Season 2, which is now filming and will start airing on BBC America this fall.
