"Zombieland" earns itself a sequel with a $25m opening!

October 5, 10:29 AMDallas Comedy ExaminerScott Wampler

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That's right: sequel talk for "Zombieland" is already here.  And who are we to object? It rocked.

"Zombieland" was a massive hit this weekend at the box office, pulling in an estimated $25 million Friday through Sunday.  That's a huge haul for a movie that cost only $23m to make.  So, when's the sequel coming out?  The Comedy Examiner has some leads on that for you.  Read on, gentle Examiner readers...

"Zombieland" defied all estimates over the weekend, decimating the competition with over $25m in ticket sales.  Projections for the $23 film were right around $15-18m going into the weekend, so Sony and Columbia-- who released the film (that's the film studio Columbia, not the place that makes cocaine)-- must be very pleased.

And, as is customary with Hollywood successes, talk about a sequel to the film has already started.  We already know that the film was originally intended as a TV series for CBS, and-- if I may voice an opinion for a moment-- I'd love to see the continued adventures of Talahasse and Columbus on, say, FX or HBO (CBS or any other basic network wouldn't be as fun: you'd have to lose all the gore, profanity, violence, and various zombie-related shenanigans if ya went prime time there) instead of another film.  But, what the hell, the film was outstandingly entertaining, so I'll take more from these characters however I can get it.

In this article from About.com, the writer was interviewing "Zombieland" scripters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick when the President of Columbia Pictures happened upon the group.  The writer asked him point-blank about a sequel and he said:

Absolutely, emphatically, starting right now. Yes. I'm not shy. We'll make the deal tonight.

But we all know how good someone's "word" is in Hollywood, right?  While I find this information comforting to my desires to see more "Zombie" action, it wasn't enough.  So, the Comedy Examiner went digging for more quotes.  So, over on the Internet Movie Database they've got director Ruben Fleischer saying:

I love the possibility that there might be another movie," rookie director Fleischer admitted. "It would be fun to see what these guys get up to next.

Prior to the film coming out, star Woody Harrelson mentioned that of the films he's made, this is "the only one I've ever wanted to make a sequel to", but added:

I think one key thing for when they want to do a sequel is that the movie is successful.

Remember, that was before the film opened huge, so, nothing to worry about there, Woody.  Reese and Wernick are very busy out in H-wood right now, scripting movies left and right like "Earth VS The Moon" and a "Venom" movie (a spinoff for the little-seen Spiderman villain) for Marvel.  One imagines that the success of "Zombieland" is going to mean that they might add a sequel to their "to-do" list...or put some of these other projects on hold to get started on it.

What do you think, folks?  Did you see "Zombieland"?  What did you think?  That cameo sequence was one of the best sequences I've seen in a film all year, without a doubt-- what'd you think of it?  Do you wanna see more from these characters?  In a movie or on TV, where the show was originally headed?  Sound off below, you know the drill.

You may wanna hit the "Subscribe" button up top, which will mean that all the Comedy Examiner's articles will be delivered to your email box, free of charge, as soon as they're published.  We have a constant feed on "Zombieland" news here, delivered as post-haste as you've come to expect from the Comedy Examiner, so don't miss out on any of it: hit the "Subscribe" button today!

You'll also get his other articles.  Here's a selection of some recent pieces from the Comedy Examiner, including a review and preview of the "Seinfeld" reunion on HBO, some trivia about this week's "Zombieland" smash hit, and other bric-a-brac to keep you busy at work:

"Will the "Seinfeld Reunion" earns HBO more Emmy's?"-- "Curb" and "Seinfeld" coming together might spell Emmy gold for HBO, and here's why.

"The story behind that big, surprise cameo in "Zombieland"-- in which we get to the bottom of how (SPOILER EDITED) managed to find him/herself in this week's highest grossing film at the box office.  Good read!

"Jon Gosselin's lawyer: banned from practicing law!"-- in which we look at Jon Gosselin's dirtbag lawyer's shady history.  Has to be read to be believed, folks.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm Review: The Seinfeld Reunion"-- wherein the Comedy Examiner reviews the first part of HBO's unofficial "Seinfeld" reunion...so you don't have to!

"See some clips from the "Seinfeld" reunion here!"-- didja miss this episode of "Curb"?  Don't have HBO?  Check out this page for a few clips from tonight's episode...and order HBO from your cable provider!

"Did they film "Zombieland" in Garland?" and other trivia about this weekend's smash hit"-- where we look at some of the behind the scenes trivia from this weekend's blockbuster "Zombieland".

"Comedy Examiner Review: Jon and Kate + 8" hot sauce?"-- that's right.  Click the link.  You know you want to.

"What do we know about Jon Gosselin's "Divorced Dad's Club?"-- in which we get to the bottom of Jon's potentially-maybe-gonna-get-made show with Lindsay Lohan's dad.

"More cast changes to SNL"-- plus, find out who's hosting this week!

"The Jay Leno Show" drops off by 39% in Dallas"-- in which Leno's ratings plummet in the Dallas area.

"What are other talkshow hosts saying about Letterman?"-- find out by clicking the link!

"Comedy Review: ZOMBIELAND is one of the best comedies of the year!"-- in which the Comedy Examiner reviews this "Zombedy".

"Are "The Jay Leno Show" and "Parks and Rec" getting canceled?"-- check out their ratings here!

"Brutal Legend"-- a video game for those that love comedy, Jack Black, and Metal"-- in which the Comedy Examiner looks at the upcoming video game that's funny AND fun to play

(Photo: Sony/Columbia)