As a devoted fan of the twisted and thought-provoking “The Purge” franchise, I’ve eagerly followed its evolution since its inception over a decade ago. The concept of a dystopian America where all criminal activities are legal for 12 hours each year has kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t get enough!
It’s been over a decade since James DeMonaco suspended law and order with The Purge franchise (almost every entry of which is now streaming on Peacock), which takes place in a dystopian version of America where all criminal activities (murder, theft, arson, kidnapping, you name it) are legal for 12 hours once a year.
The government’s rationale is fairly straightforward: allowing humans to purge themselves of their baser urges allows for a more civilized society. Cool motive, still murder. Co-produced by Universal Pictures and Blumhouse, The Purge series currently spans a total of five films (all of which have collectively grossed over $530 million worldwide) and two seasons of television on USA Network.
In July 2021, the latest movie in the series titled The Forever Purge (directed by Everardo Valerio Gout) was released in cinemas. It earned around $78 million worldwide, which is the smallest box office gross for the entire franchise. Given the impact of COVID-19 on theater attendance, this outcome isn’t entirely unexpected.
On the front of “The Purge”, things have been relatively quiet since then, yet producer Jason Blum is eager to broaden the scope of the chaotic lore.
In 2021, he shared with Discussing Film that there’s an endless supply of stories. So, he believes The Purge saga might persist. He mentioned James has stated this is the last film (referring to Forever), but he plans to persuade him for another installment after this. He thinks the series could run for a considerable time. There are plenty more films that can be produced from The Purge, he suggested.
Blum expressed his desire for the narrative to unfold globally, suggesting a possible expansion of “The Purge” concept to different nations. However, he noted, “Ultimately, it’s James’ decision.” He further mused, “Imagine how intriguing it would be to witness ‘The Purge’ unfolding in various countries worldwide. Could there be a global ‘Purge’? It’s an intriguing thought!
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Speaking at New York Comic Con 2023, Blum expressed his enthusiasm about reviving “The Purge” series, being moved by the Halloween Horror Nights event themed around the franchise. “Indeed, I believe that,” he further stated.
In a chat via Zoom with SYFY WIRE towards the end of 2021, shortly after the launch of The Forever Purge, DeMonaco shared an exclusive detail: he has a draft for a sixth Purge movie all set and waiting to be put into action.
Should the cinema deities favor it, and if the viewers are keen for more, I believe we’re equipped. I find it enjoyable… It’s a bit awkward to call it a ‘fun’ Purge, but it certainly leans towards what films 2 and 3 offered. I mention this because there’s a possibility that I could direct [this one], as Grillo might reappear. However, we don’t know what lies ahead in the future… It’s difficult to predict, but the script is written, and everyone seems pleased with the chaos it presents.
In an interview with ComicBook.com back in April, Grillo hinted that the upcoming film could potentially be the last installment of the franchise.
The actor mentioned that the story revolves around Leo Barnes, and this could potentially be the final installment in the series. Although James has only directed the first three films, he wishes to direct this one as well. However, Universal and Blum have not yet moved forward with it; they’ve put it on hold for now, despite initial interest.
Grillo gave another update while catching up with ScreenRant on the red carpet of his new action movie, Lights Out (no relation to the David F. Sandberg horror movie of the same name) in February 2024. “The script is done. It basically centers around Leo Barnes, my character,” he said. “It would be the last of the last of the last, it’s like the guy who keeps retiring. James DeMonaco is going to direct it, if it happens, and it’s a matter of money. It’s a matter of how big they want the movie to be, how much money they want to spend on the movie, considering they’ve done a lot in this franchise. But it’s a great script.”
Last year, as Variety celebrated the tenth anniversary of the original film, writer-director DeMonaco indicated that The Purge 6 would share similarities with its predecessors but also present a fresh take on the dystopian U.S. context. In The Forever Purge, America has fallen apart and is now divided along lines of sexuality, religion, and ideology, forming separate states. With the state of discord at an all-time high, we delve into The Purge in this fractured world.
Additional reporting by Stephanie Gomulka
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2024-10-29 18:46