Flash Gordon Sequel Tease Unfulfilled for 45 Years: The Cult Classic’s Cliffhanger

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In another reality, the iconic sci-fi film Flash Gordon, known for its enduring cult status, could have had a follow-up. However, the tantalizing hint it left behind remains unanswered up to this point. A pioneer in the world of science fiction, Flash Gordon, one of the earliest spacefaring heroes, is astonishingly absent from a contemporary franchise. Among all Flash Gordon movies and series, the 1980 Flash Gordon film stands out as the finest. Unfortunately, despite its cliffhanger finale that promised more, a sequel was never made.

It’s unfortunate when movies that hint at sequels but never deliver one turn out to be excellent, and Flash Gordon is one of the select few that fall into this category. The narrative presents Flash Gordon as an ordinary football star who finds himself embroiled in a conflict against the tyrannical Emperor Ming, who wreaks havoc on Earth merely because he’s restless. It falls upon Flash, travel agent and romantic interest Dale Arden, and scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov to thwart Emperor Ming’s sinister schemes using whatever means necessary. The film initially met with mixed reviews when it was released in 1980, but has since garnered a dedicated fanbase over the years.

1980’s Flash Gordon Dropped A Huge Sequel Tease, But It Never Happened

Much To The Dismay Of The Film’s Cult Following

In a thrilling, climactic fight, Flash Gordon stabs Emperor Ming with the sharp tip of his distinctive rocket ship, leaving Ming vulnerable for the finishing blow. However, instead of yielding to Flash, Ming uses his power ring to blast himself, seemingly disintegrating into nothingness. Initially, it seems Ming has met his end. Yet, the last scene of the movie reveals an unidentified figure appearing and retrieving Ming’s ring from the ground, with Ming’s sinister laughter lingering in the background. This suggests that Ming may have orchestrated his own demise as a means to escape.

Despite the suspenseful ending suggesting a continuation, Flash Gordon ultimately stood alone as a single film without any sequels emerging to explore Emperor Ming’s escape. Although it didn’t become popular in the U.S. until its home video release, the movie was well-received in certain European countries like Italy, boosted by the presence of notable Italian actors such as Ornella Muti (Princess Aura). Despite not being a blockbuster, one might think it had earned enough to finance a sequel.

Why Flash Gordon 2 Hasn’t Materialized After 45 Years

There Are Many Factors At Play Keeping Flash Out Of The Big Screen

On several instances, the sequel for Flash Gordon seemed almost within reach. As stated by Sam Jones, the man behind Flash’s character, various script ideas were picked up multiple times by significant studios, but they ultimately failed to materialize over time (as reported by Zavvi)). More recently, Fox secured the rights for a sequel with Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman: The Secret Service) at the helm, offering fans renewed anticipation following years of waiting. Regrettably, after Disney took over the studio, Vaughn’s project was scrapped in favor of an animated production. However, Disney has since reversed its decision, announcing a live-action Flash Gordon sequel, with Taika Waititi set to direct.

Despite four years of development, there’s been little progress on transforming the project into a live-action movie, suggesting that Taika Waititi’s Flash Gordon film might join the ranks of other failed attempts to adapt the franchise. Maybe it’s due to some cultural changes causing Hollywood investors to prefer more realistic characters over flamboyant pulp heroes. Or perhaps a Flash Gordon sequel has stumbled so many times that no one is willing to take the risk on it today, after multiple rights holders have been involved.

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2025-05-10 22:09