Phantasm II

Writer-director Don Coscarelli says that he had been under pressure to film a sequel but could not come up with a story. Coscarelli considered the first film’s ending to be conclusive, and did not feel knowledgeable about writing sequels, but he had what he described as a breakthrough when he realized he could start the film immediately after the previous film’s final scene. He also added a [[road movie]] element in how Reggie and Mike combat the Tall Man, after which he described the process as straightforward.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/phantasm-remastering-a-classic/|title=Phantasm: Remastering a Classic|last=Miller|first=Donna Marie|date=2016-04-14|publisher=Creative Screenwriting|access-date=2016-04-14}}</ref> [[Universal Studios]], who took an interest in the film because they wanted a horror series, allocated three million dollars; this was the lowest budget of any of their films in the 1980s, but it was the highest budget of any ”Phantasm” film. [[Greg Nicotero]] and [[Robert Kurtzman]], later of K.N.B. EFX, were recruited for special effects.<ref name=savlov>{{cite news|last=Savlov|first=Marc|title=Sphere of Influence|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2000-03-31/76665/|access-date=2013-08-08|newspaper=[[Austin Chronicle]]|date=2000-03-31}}</ref> The studio exerted much control over the film, and they did not allow Coscarelli to include any dream sequences or ambiguity.<ref name=fortean>{{cite journal|last=Sutton|first=David|title=Don Coscarelli|journal=[[Fortean Times]]|year=2006|url=http://www.forteantimes.com/features/interviews/116/don_coscarelli.html|access-date=2013-08-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105114832/http://www.forteantimes.com/features/interviews/116/don_coscarelli.html|archive-date=2013-11-05}}</ref>

Writer-director Don Coscarelli says that he had been under pressure to film a sequel but could not come up with a story. Coscarelli considered the first film’s ending to be conclusive, and did not feel knowledgeable about writing sequels, but he had what he described as a breakthrough when he realized he could start the film immediately after the previous film’s final scene. He also added a [[road movie]] element in how Reggie and Mike combat the Tall Man, after which he described the process as straightforward.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/phantasm-remastering-a-classic/|title=Phantasm: Remastering a Classic|last=Miller|first=Donna Marie|date=2016-04-14|publisher=Creative Screenwriting|access-date=2016-04-14}}</ref> [[Universal Studios]], who took an interest in the film because they wanted a horror series, allocated three million dollars; this was the lowest budget of any of their films in the 1980s, but it was the highest budget of any ”Phantasm” film. [[Greg Nicotero]] and [[Robert Kurtzman]], later of K.N.B. EFX, were recruited for special effects.<ref name=savlov>{{cite news|last=Savlov|first=Marc|title=Sphere of Influence|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2000-03-31/76665/|access-date=2013-08-08|newspaper=[[Austin Chronicle]]|date=2000-03-31}}</ref> The studio exerted much control over the film, and they did not allow Coscarelli to include any dream sequences or ambiguity.<ref name=fortean>{{cite journal|last=Sutton|first=David|title=Don Coscarelli|journal=[[Fortean Times]]|year=2006|url=http://www.forteantimes.com/features/interviews/116/don_coscarelli.html|access-date=2013-08-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105114832/http://www.forteantimes.com/features/interviews/116/don_coscarelli.html|archive-date=2013-11-05}}</ref>

This is the only installment in the ”Phantasm” series that does not include the entire original main cast (Bill Thornbury and his character did not appear in this film), and the only one to re-cast a main character with another actor. Universal forced Coscarelli to recast the character of Mike, as they wanted a working actor.<ref name=fortean/> In an interview, Bannister said that LeGros’ casting was initially controversial among hardcore fans but has become more accepted.<ref>{{cite book|title=More Giants of the Genre|first1=Cristopher|last1=Hennessey|first2=Michael|last2=McCarty|publisher=[[Wildside Press]]|isbn=9787770047060|pages=83–84|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zOFEZr0ykk0C&pg=PA83|access-date=2013-08-08|chapter=The Phantasm Man}}</ref>

This is the only installment in the ”Phantasm” series that does not include the entire original main cast (Bill Thornbury and his character did not appear in this film), and the only one to re-cast a main character with another actor. Universal forced Coscarelli to recast the character of Mike, as they wanted a working actor.<ref name=fortean/> In an interview, Bannister said that LeGros’ casting was initially controversial among hardcore fans but has become more accepted.<ref>{{cite book|title=More Giants of the Genre|first1=Cristopher|last1=Hennessey|first2=Michael|last2=McCarty|publisher=[[Wildside Press]]|isbn=9787770047060|pages=83–84|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zOFEZr0ykk0C&pg=PA83|access-date=2013-08-08|chapter=The Phantasm Man}}</ref> [[Brad Pitt]] auditioned for the role of Mike Pearson but he was rejected.<ref>https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/entertainment/brad-pitt-once-auditioned-star-233947178.html</ref>

==Release==

==Release==