Today, we interview legendary ‘Final Destination’ creator Jeffrey Reddick.
Im curious: In your version, are there any survivors at the end?
In my version, the same thing happened…
New Line Cinema / Joseph D’Urso
Her and Alex were in love, they had sex, and so she was pregnant.
Death obviously couldnt claim her, because she had a life inside of her.
You cant help setting that up.
So I definitely saw it as a franchise.
The studio was kind of nervous.
But I was very confident that it would be, hopefully, at least one or two movies.
I had no idea that it would turn into the kind of zeitgeisty thing that it did.
So, yeah, I knew it would be a franchise.
I didnt think it would become the phenomenon that it is, though.
That really took me by surprise.
In my version Todd still hung himself.
Got hung, but it was through mechanisms that he set up himself.
Hes at a subway station, and she shows up to him.
Then she starts throwing up revealing that she was bulimic, trying to stay skinny for him.
Kind of a little homage toGates of Hell, she starts puking her intestines up.
He sees this, and hes so terrified that he throws himself in front of a subway car.
I always thought that would have been a really awesome scene to pull off and see in a film.
We dont actually see it personified.
It was just kind of this shadowy, undulating figure in the shadows that started taunting Alex.
Feel free to tell me my fantasy script writing sucks here [laughs].
Jeffrey Reddick:Regarding the end ofFinal Destination, I never planned on killing Alex.
In my draft, Alex definitely was alive.
So, I immediately started writing the sequel, and Alex and Clear both came back for the sequel.
So, never planned on killing him off at all.
Yeah, I was not happy to see him being unceremoniously killed in the second movie.
But its so funny, because Ive had this argument with fans to this day.
We didnt see the officer and Kimberly die at the end ofFinal Destination 2.
There was some DVD extra a newspaper clipping that they died but its not canon.
So, she doesnt say, I saw Alex die in front of me, or anything like that.
In my brain, we dont know if hes dead for sure or not.
Thats still what I say after all these years.
I think as we expand theFinal DestinationUniverse withBloodlines, we may see ways that that can happen.
Thatd be very exciting.
One of Tony Todds final roles will be shown inFinal Destination Bloodlines.
Already a bona fide horror legend, he became such an important part of theFinal Destinationlore.
What do you consider to be Tonys greatest addition to this franchise and your fondest memory of him?
Jeffrey Reddick:I remember seeing him inCandyman thats one of my top five favorite movies of all time.
So, we were very blessed to get him forFinal Destination.
I think he is such an integral part of the franchise.
Its so sad that we lost him.
I became really good friends with him over the years.
He was just a wonderful actor and a wonderful friend.
So sad to see him pass.
Like I said, some people think hes Death, or hes Deaths right-hand man.
How does he know all this stuff?
Yeah, hes an important part of the films.
Hes the guy that seems to have some answers, but we dont know exactly how or exactly why.
The final question aboutFinal Destination(ha!
): Do you still have anotherFinal Destinationstory in you?
Something that you know could change the franchise altogether.
Jeffrey Reddick:I have lots of ideas.
Its interesting, because the studios obviously dont want to stray too far from the formula.
If its not broke, dont fix it.
And Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein really did a great job directing it.
Im just really excited.
In terms of your current activities, I know you have written more movies and directed too.
Is there anything youre working on right now that youd like to plug?
Jeffrey Reddick:Over the last couple of years, its been very interesting.
I worked on a show calledMidnight Texasfor a season, which was a lot of fun.
So I hope that tradition continues.
Only time will tell.
Its a supernatural horror film that Im really excited about.
I produced an indie film calledThe Otherthat we shot in Texas.
You should start seeing some posters and announcements for that coming up in the near future.
Im from Kentucky, and P.J.
Starks and Eric Huskisson are two filmmakers that I really love from the state.
So keep an eye out forThe OthersandNew Fears Eve.
Anyway, I really appreciate you championing the film and for being fans.
Again, there would be no franchise without all the wonderful fans out there.
The interview has been edited for clarity.
