Movie sequels are a part of the cinematic landscape these days. But every now and then, the powers that be decide to continue some iconic storylines not on the big screen, but in a novel, or a video game, or a comic.
Here are seven strange story-sequels that you've probably never heard of, and for the most part, are better off without.
1. E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet
Steven Spielberg's horror-influenced E.T. The Extra-Terrestial movie sequel Nocturnal Fears may never see the light of day, but a novel was published in 1985 to continue the story. Written by William Kotzwinkle, who was the author of the movie's novelisation, it follows the 10-million-year-old (yup!) after he returns home to his planet Brodo Asogi (and is allegedly based on a story by Spielberg).
Disturbed by his psychic link to Elliott – who is now, naturally, an unhappy, pubescent boy – ET eventually sets about breaking all the laws of his planet until his people send him away. Remind us why he wanted to go home again?
2. Scarface: The World is Yours
The ending of Scarface leaves no doubt as to the fate of Al Pacino's Tony Montana. None whatsoever. The video game sequel subtly subverts this by having him shoot everyone before they can do him in.
Tony goes into hiding and quits cocaine, then emerges to rebuild his criminal empire, and basically everything goes his way and he lives happily ever after. Pacino gave permission to use his likeness. He thought his voice had changed too much to act in it, but personally selected voice actor André Sogliuzzo to replace him.
3. Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Ghostbusters: The Video Game is something of a real life miracle in that it managed to do what a proposed Ghostbusters III could not and reunited the main cast of Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson (as well as other actors including Annie Potts and Max von Sydow).
The story centres around a mad architect who is retconned to have been involved in the plots of the two films and gives the game a chance to revive all of your favourite Ghostbusters monsters. Ramis and Aykroyd assisted with the script, with the latter saying that "this is essentially the third movie".
4. The Thing from Another World
Dark Horse Comics has had a lot of success with licensed continuations of popular movies (including Alien and the now-defunct Star Wars Extended Universe). In the early '90s, it turned its attention to John Carpenter's The Thing, beginning with a miniseries that reconnects with Kurt Russell's RJ MacReady and witness (surprise surprise) another outbreak of alien doppelgangers.
Two more series followed and then – confusingly – a fourth that disregarded the other three and restarted the sequels again. In 2002, a separate video game sequel was also released, following a green beret sent to check out what happened at the Antarctic outpost. Guess what happens.
5. The Godfather Returns/The Godfather's Revenge
Mario Puzo refused to write any more Godfather novels, but was strangely totally cool with someone else doing it after his death. Novelist Mark Winegardner stepped in to continue the story of Michael and the other Corleones.
While technically a sequel to the novels, Returns runs concurrently with The Godfather Part II, referencing events in that film, and Revenge deals with the fallout of the movie. Part III is ignored, and we're okay with that.
6. Wanted: Weapons of Fate
Weapons of Fate follows mere hours after the end of the Wanted movie, following Wesley Gibson (not voiced by James McAvoy, alas) and delving into the mystery of his mother's death.
It centres around his conflict with the other chapters of the villainous fraternity, and draws on Mark Millar's original Wanted comic (which bears almost no resemblance to the movie) by adopting Wesley's masked costume. The alternate ending which sees him urinating on someone's face isn't entirely at odds with the tone of the comic either...
7. Aliens: Colonial Marines
It might be considered one of the worst video games of all time, but 20th Century Fox also declared that it's canon, so sorry about that. Colonial Marines is set 17 weeks after the events of Aliens and Alien 3. Somehow, Corporal Hicks is retconned to be alive, which is bad news for him as xenomorphs are everywhere and the Colonial Marines are now at war with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
Of course, if Ridley Scott ever continues his story past the events of Alien, Colonial Marines days as canon are probably numbered.
