Tucker and Dale vs. Evil has taken its time to gain traction among audiences but has ultimately emerged as a beloved classic, injecting a refreshing twist into the horror-comedy genre that had not been seen since the iconic Shaun of the Dead. Although it did not initially perform well at the box office, the film has cultivated a devoted cult following over the 15 years since its release. The support for this unique film has been so overwhelming that there were once plans for both a sequel and a television adaptation. So, what exactly transpired in the journey of this beloved film?
According to director Eli Craig, who is currently promoting his latest work Clown in a Cornfield, the true adversary for the lovable hillbillies Tucker and Dale is not the evil they face but rather industry mogul David Zaslav – assuming there’s a distinction. In an interview with SlashFilm, he shared, “It’s always been a struggle, and then when we do set it up, and we get all the pieces together, it gets killed somehow. We almost did a TV show with it that was on TNT/TBS, and you’ll be happy to know that David Zaslav, the slayer of all cinema [laughs], came in and put the final nail in the coffin for Tucker and Dale as we were about to go to series, and just cancelled all production.”
The idea of a sequel to Tucker and Dale vs. Evil has been in discussions for quite some time, but it has faced numerous delays over the years. At one point, a script was even written, but currently, the prospects of its realization seem dim. As Craig poignantly remarked, “Honestly, Tucker and Dale 2 has died more deaths than the college kids in Tucker and Dale. We’ve had so many versions that have almost got off its feet or, for one reason or another, have gotten killed. It really does set us back that people can’t look at the box office, the actual box office, of the movie.”
In Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, the charmingly clueless protagonists, played by Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine, find themselves misjudged as sinister killers by a group of college students on vacation. As a series of unfortunate events unfold, the college kids begin to die in bizarre and humorous ways, leading Tucker and Dale to mistakenly assume that these incidents are part of a suicide pact. This film is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining and laugh-out-loud horror-comedies of all time – and yes, we are all eagerly awaiting a sequel!
Are you a dedicated fan of Tucker and Dale vs. Evil? Do you believe a sequel is still a viable option? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
