Director David Bruckner is totally game to explore more pleasure and pain in a Hellraiser sequel if the fans respond to his reimagining of Clive Barker's horror classic.

During a chat with Den of Geek, Bruckner made it clear that his professional career will feature more work with Hellraiser writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. And if the fans react favorably to his take on the world that Barker created, Bruckner would be on board to return for a sequel. The director said, "Should the fans respond to this, should there be a desire to go further with it? I would be absolutely honored."

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Bruckner is no stranger to the genre, having helmed 2017's The Ritual and 2020's The Night House. Hellraiser continues his work in the world of horror, and it's a creative space that the director said allows for more freedom. "Horror is the only genre in film where it is still permitted to be a bit surreal," Bruckner said. "Reality is agreed upon in a different way. There's a freedom to it, and you can get weird."

Clive Barker's Ultimate Nightmare Is Back

Bruckner's Hellraiser serves as a new adaptation of Barker's 1986 novella, "The Hellbound Heart," which was the basis of the 1987 film. This fresh take follows Riley (Odessa A'zion), a woman struggling with addiction issues that unwisely goes along with a plan hatched by her boyfriend Trevor (Drew Starkey) to burglarize a store unit. The excursion leaves her in possession of an ancient puzzle box and finds Riley unwittingly summoning the Cenobites, a group of supernatural beings from another dimension led by the sadistic Pinhead (Jamie Clayton).

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Clive Barker's Hellraiser went on to spawn nine sequels following its release in 1987. Bruckner's film, despite being a reimagining of Barker's original movie, is technically the 11th installment, and the director promises something different but also familiar about his adaptation. Bruckner said, "I think a lot of things are going to hit just a little bit different but you'll find that most of what you love about Hellraiser is there in the movie, and sometimes in slightly different ways."

Since a sequel has yet to be announced, Bruckner is looking at his work with this first installment and what he hopes the fans take from it. During an interview with CBR, Bruckner said, "I want people to watch our version even if they've never watched any of the originals, and they feel so turned on that they go back and watch the originals. It is such an iconic franchise, and Clive is such a genius. I'm so honored and chuffed to be part of his world and that he approves of me."

Hellraiser premieres Oct. 7 on Hulu.

Source: Den of Geek