‘Chronicle 2′ – Screenwriter Max Landis Describes the Rejected Sequel

'Chronicle' screenwriter Max Landis likes to talk. A lot. Any interview is a chance for him to talk about the "dozens" of projects he has in the works. Any podcast appearance is a chance for him to wear down the host with his thoughts on the state of Hollywood or genre filmmaking. And his Twitter feed? His Twitter feed is where everything else goes...and in this case, his Twitter feed is where he talked, in great detail, about his rejected pitch for 'Chronicle 2.'

To read over his ideas for the sequel to 'Chronicle' is to understand why the studio would be less-than-enthusiastic about his approach. While everything he has to say certainly sounds interesting, it sounds like such a departure from the first film that you have to wonder how if could really be considered a sequel.

Heck, it wasn't even called 'Chronicle 2.' It was called 'Martyr.' Here is everything Landis had to say on the subject, collected in one accessible (if occasionally incomprehensible and one giant sic) paragraph:

In retrospect, I’m not even sure if fans of the first film would’ve been ready or eager for my second instalment as originally written. Gone was the aspirational “what would you do,” gone were the pranks and bromance, gone were lovely tragic Andrew and hopeful, bright Steve. In their place was a dark, frustratingly unblinking stare into a complicated world that posed the question is it worth it to be a hero, old from the point of view of a heartbroken and insane woman who would martyr herself to the cause of being the world’s first villain. It was, in my estimation, a sequel that elaborated on the ideas and situations from the first to create a different genre of movie. In the best of worlds, in my optimistic but wildly prejudiced eyes, this could make it an Aliens, a Terminator 2…in the worst a Grease 2. So at the end of the day, maybe it’s better that Martyr never saw the light of day. Sad I didn’t get to do some of my other versions. The most frustrating thing is that I don’t know if I’ll get the opportunity to explain what MOGO was or what he was doing in that cave. Martyr also had two pretty cool robot suits in it. Sorta hyper realistic iron man stuff. Magnetic flight, sonic weaponry. Cool, cool stuff.

So 'Martyr' would have been a darker film than 'Chronicle'? Considering that the first film was a found footage superhero movie that slowly revealed itself to really be about a burgeoning supervillain, we have to wonder just how dark Landis was planning to go with this one. Everything he says sounds interesting (if completely batty), but the studio probably wants to stick with what works.

Landis also dropped this nugget, which may raise some eyebrows:

The multi-movie low budget Chronicle-based found footage superhero universe culminating in an Avengers type team up was a real good one.

Apparently, Landis envisioned a series of low budget, found footage superhero movies that would ultimately lead to a big team-up film in the style of 'The Avengers.' We're not sure if that's a great idea or a terrible idea, but hey, at least it's an interesting idea.

Landis is currently shooting his first directorial effort, 'Me Him Her' and 'Chronicle' director Josh Trank is hard at work on the 'Fantastic Four' reboot.