With us deep in Cannes season, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on Southland Tales‘ wild ride.
Director Richard Kelly cashed in his good faith indie cred with this wild blockbuster, which debuted at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. After that premiere, the film would go on to make $374,743 off a reported $17 million budget.
The film starred the wildly 00s cast of Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, and Justin Timberlake and had some hostile reviews, but would later find a cult following. Since then, many have waited for more from Kelly as a filmmaker, and it seems like we’d never see the day.
Now, we have some movement on more from the director, as well as a bit on a Southland Tales follow-up. Speaking to Interview Magazine with Jane Schoenbrun, Kelly gives insight into his mindset.
The filmmaker explains, “Southland Tales is still unfinished. I’m still beating the drum to try and do that one day. I joked that I’m going to be in the Academy old folks home finishing Southland Tales.”
Adding, “That’s a big complicated thing, and it involves money and a lot of cast members. I’ve also been waiting for the technology to catch up in terms of licensing […] I’m hoping to expand and realize the full six chapters and the graphic novel. We’ll see. I’m going to keep banging the drum.”
Per Kelly, the Southland Tales story is a “six-chapter saga,” but the 2006 film only covers the second half. He hopes to eventually make this movie, which would serve as a sort of prequel covering the first three chapters.
As you’d expect with a project like this, Southland Tales 2 is looking for financing.
