John Carpenter says Halloween Kills could release on streaming & in theaters

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Halloween Kills was initially supposed to open in October of 2020 but it became one of many films that had its release delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The release date was shifted a full year with the film expected to hit screens on October 15, 2021. That date seems safe enough to ensure that the film will see a crowd that's ready to go back to the movies as movie theaters begin to reopen again but if 2020 taught us anything, nothing is certain when it comes to this pandemic. Due to the continued uncertainty over the status of the movie theater business, John Carpenter, producer, and director of the original Halloween, believes that it's more than likely than not that Halloween Kills will debut on streaming as well as theaters. 

Carpenter was speaking about release plans for Halloween kills in an interview with "NME" and he was asked if the film would get a simultaneous release in theaters and on streaming, similar to the release pattern for Wonder Woman 1984 and The Little Things, and here's what Carpenter had to say:

"Sure. Halloween may be shared that way because theaters are dead. It's just the reality right now. And it's a tragedy, but it's true. We just have to face it. The studio did contact David [Gordon Green] and I, and they had us put off the new one by a year in the hope that things got better. So we're still hoping it will get better… It's done. We're just waiting on the world to be a little bit more sane and a little safer before we release it."

At least the option for theatrical viewing is there just in case fans want to take a trip to the theater to see Michael Myers wreak havoc on Haddonfield. October does seem far enough away that a simultaneous streaming and theatrical debut wouldn't be necessary but many of us thought we wouldn't be dealing with the pandemic and its on-going side effects for a year. In March it will be a full year since movie theaters shuttered nationwide and as of this writing, 60% of theaters remain closed. This also includes the central box office hubs in Los Angeles and New York City and these are the two locations studios are waiting on to reopen before risking releasing their huge tentpole films into the marketplace.

One thing that is clear is that we're getting Halloween Kills this year no matter what. Blumhouse Productions head honcho, Jason Blum, previously stated that the film would not be moved again and that we're getting the sequel on October 15, 2021, as promised:

"No, if this is still going on next Halloween? No, we're not holding it. Halloween Kills is coming out next October come hell or high water, vaccine or no vaccine. It is coming out."

Jamie Lee Curtis returns in Halloween Kills as Laurie Strode and judging from the teasers we have seen so far, it looks like it picks up right where the 2018 film left off. Also returning for the sequel is Judy Greer as Laurie's daughter Karen and Andi Matichak as Karen's daughter Allyson. Joining the fright is Anthony Michael Hall, taking on the role of Tommy Doyle from the original film, and Kyle Richards, reprising her role as Lindsey Wallace from the first film.

Do YOU think Halloween Kills will get a simultaneous streaming and theatrical release?