Clive Barker says Hellraiser: Revival has reignited ideas for the film franchise
Speaking to Dread Central after the release of Saber Interactive's Hellraiser: Revival game, Clive Barker said he has many ideas for the Hellraiser universe and plans to stay involved. He gave no concrete projects.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Hellraiser creator Clive Barker told Dread Central that the reception to the video game Hellraiser: Revival has made him want to explore new ideas for the Hellraiser franchise. The A.V. ClubLC “Speaking with Dread Central, Barker discussed the response to Saber Interactive’s survival horror game” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ DeadlineN “teased that he has “many ideas” of where to take the franchise next” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Barker called what the game achieved "a wake-up call to anyone who’s been involved in the making of a franchise like Hellraiser" and said: "I have many ideas that I’d like to see realized in the Hellraiser universe, and I’m planning to keep my fingers in that pie." DeadlineN ““I have many ideas that I’d like to see realized in the Hellraiser universe, and I’m planning to keep my fingers in that pie.”” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “calling it “a wake-up call” for the creatives who’ve worked on the franchise” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1The game, made by Saber Interactive in collaboration with Barker, is described by The A.V. Club as scandalizing gamers and getting YouTube channels shut down over its extreme gore and sexual themes. The A.V. ClubLC “is scandalizing gamers and shutting down YouTube channels for its extreme gore and sexual themes” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Left · 1Barker did not announce a specific project. According to The A.V. Club, he said a recent trip to Rome and the Vatican sparked ideas that could shape how Hell looks in future work, and that he would like to take the mythology further in films than in the new comic books. The A.V. ClubLC “Barker isn’t saying anything concrete about his future with Hellraiser.”“but I’d love to go further in the movies” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1Barker also criticised the franchise's past under the Weinstein brothers' Dimension Films, alleging that many sequels were made simply to hold onto the rights and that those rights were used as leverage against him over money he says he was owed. The A.V. ClubLC “There are many of the Hellraiser movies that were made by the Weinstein brothers that were created simply to hold onto the rights” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Centre · 1Barker wrote and directed the 1987 original, based on his novella The Hellbound Heart, which introduced Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and the Cenobites; Deadline says the franchise has since produced 11 movies, plus books, comics and games. DeadlineN “introducing audiences to Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and his Cenobites. The franchise has since sparked 11 movies” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2The outlets differ on when Barker regained U.S. rights: Deadline says 2020, while The A.V. Club says rights to the novella and first screenplay reverted after a legal settlement in December 2021. Deadline adds that he was a producer on the 2022 Hulu reboot directed by David Bruckner. DeadlineN “Barker successfully reclaimed U.S. rights to the Hellraiser franchise in 2020” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “reverted to Barker following a legal settlement in December 2021” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A.V. Club treats it as a playful fan-culture item, with a gothic tone about the Lament Configuration, and uses the interview to revisit Barker's grievances with the Weinsteins.
- Emphasis
- The game's controversy, Barker's complaints about Dimension Films and rights, and his Rome/Vatican inspirations.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 2022 Hulu reboot or the franchise's film count.
- Charged language
- “damnable Lament Configuration”“increasingly dreadful installments”
- For example
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“considering reopening that damnable Lament Configuration to “explore” new ideas for the franchise” — The A.V. Club
“Bob Weinstein’s Dimension Films oversaw several increasingly dreadful installments” — The A.V. Club
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline runs a short trade-style item built on Barker's quotes, presenting them as a tease of future film plans.
- Emphasis
- Barker's 'many ideas' quote, franchise background and his rights and producer role.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out Barker's criticism of the Weinsteins, the Vatican inspiration and the game's controversy.
- Charged language
- “Teases”
- For example
-
“Clive Barker is ready to explore pain and pleasure again in the Hellraiser film franchise.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Barker spoke to Dread Central about Saber Interactive's Hellraiser: Revival game.
- He called the game's achievement a 'wake-up call' and said he has many ideas and plans to 'keep my fingers in that pie'.
- No specific new project was announced.
Where accounts differ
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When Barker regained U.S. rights
- Left
- A.V. Club: rights to The Hellbound Heart and the first screenplay reverted after a legal settlement in December 2021.
- Centre
- Deadline: Barker reclaimed U.S. rights to the franchise in 2020.
Clive Barker person
Says the game's reception is a wake-up call for franchise makers, that he has many ideas and will stay involved, and that he wants to expand the mythology in films; he rejects the rights-driven dealings of the Weinstein era.
““I think what was achieved in the game is a wake-up call to anyone who’s been involved in the making of a franchise like Hellraiser,”” — Deadline
“I think Hellraiser is a mythology that could be given some real space to develop and expand upon” — The A.V. Club
Left1 article
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The Lament Configuration twitches as Clive Barker "explores" new ideas for Hellraiser
Mixed Wry, fan-oriented piece that pairs Barker's hints with his criticism of the Weinstein-era sequels.
Centre1 article
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Neutral Brief, straightforward report of Barker's quotes with franchise background.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 17 Oct 15:04 First The A.V. ClubLC The Lament Configuration twitches as Clive Barker "explores" new ideas for Hellraiser
- 18 Oct 00:25 +9h 21m DeadlineN Clive Barker Teases ‘Hellraiser: Revival’ Video Game Has Reignited “Many Ideas” For Film Franchise: “Planning To Keep My Fingers In That Pie”
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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