Hellraiser (2022) star Jason Liles expresses interest in reprising his role of Chatterer, should the new film get a sequel greenlit. A reboot of the horror franchise of the same name, the new movie from director David Bruckner has already received some of the best reviews in Hellraiser history, along with high viewership numbers on Hulu. Reviews were particularly complimentary of the film's aesthetics and practical makeup effects.
At the core of the Hellraiser movies are the Cenobites, a group of deformed humanoids who demand sacrifices by those who solve their cursed puzzle box. Liles' character, known as the Chatterer, is one of the most popular characters in the franchise, ed for his distinct design and permanently exposed teeth. Midway through Hellraiser, Chatterer is sacrificed to the box after protagonist Riley injures him with it, causing him to be ripped to pieces in the manner customarily reserved for their mortal victims.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Liles expresses interest in returning for a sequel, despite his character's death in the first film. He mentions that Bruckner wants to make a Hellraiser sequel and says he'd want to be involved, whether playing Chatterer again or taking up another character. He also mentions that, since the fan response to Hellraiser has been so positive, there's now a demand for more from the franchise than there was before. Read his quote below:
I've talked with David about it, and I just told him, "Look, if Chatterer somehow comes back, let's make it happen. If he doesn't, I want to be something else. I just want to come back to this world." And I know David has said in interviews that he's ready to make a sequel. He's ready to make sequels, and the other writers have said that as well. Ben [Collins] and Luke [Piotrowski], they've been like, "Man, we would love the chance to do another one."
I think everybody involved in all their lanes of making this feel that they can do whatever they did on that one even better on another one. I learned a lot from it, and I know David's talked about that. It's a lot, having to juggle all these different areas; all these different departments, all the practical effects, and dealing with the timing of it. So, I would really love to see what David and the writers and the entire team come up with for the story. Hopefully, we get to come back and dive into that world a little bit more, now that fans are wanting a sequel. I think that'd be so much fun.
Will The Hellraiser Reboot Get A Sequel?
It's too early to say if Hellraiser will get the green light for a sequel, but early responses have indicated it could very well be in the cards. Hellraiser does not have a good track record when it comes to sequels, and while the reboot managed to find an interesting avenue back into the franchise, that could be more difficult to pull off the second time around. However, Liles' quote indicates that Bruckner and his team already have ideas for where the franchise could go next, which could lead to some more polished sequels in the future.
Though Hellraiser movies have never been particularly popular with critics, its unique design and interesting themes gave the franchise a long life, and many feel the reboot almost matches the quality of the 1987 original. Were a sequel to be made, it'd have its work cut out for it to keep bringing the sort of imagination that creator Clive Barker envisioned all those years ago. Hopefully Liles' wish can come true and Hellraiser will return for a sequel down the road, giving the actor the chance to shine again as one horror's most terrifying monsters.
