There are many classic films with David Fincher’s name on them. From Gone Girl to Fight Club, there is not a movie he has made that managed to escape the hearts of fans. The range he has provided brings about the idea of possible sequels he could look back to at some point in Fincher’s career. In the direction Hollywood has recently been taking, there are more sequels than there are original films.
Out of all the films that the director has made, there is one that he would do the worst over if it meant to make a sequel. Some projects are best left as is and he understands that more than anything. One mustn’t milk the cow beyond its capabilities.
Se7en Almost Got an Ei8ht
When David Fincher’s Seven was first released, the success that came out of it was one that New Line Cinema also sought out to be extraordinary. A new script came into their hands, one by the name of Solace. The premise follows a psychic doctor who then turns into a serial killer relying on his abilities. While as a standalone the script seemed fine, it was the idea that came thereafter that messed things up.
The idea proposed later was to turn the script into a possible sequel for Se7en. The script would essentially be the same, so much so that the plans also included a possible return of Morgan Freeman. There was even a tentative title ready as a placeholder, Ei8ht.
He was to replace the doctor. In the long run, this idea would not have worked at all, catching fans off guard at the sudden change of character.
David Fincher Said a Big Fat No
The film was later reported (via Movie Hole), falsely at that, to be a mixture of Hannibal and Se7en in one. As wild as that may sound, that was nowhere near the truth. Later on, it was reported furthermore that Anthony Hopkins was to take on the lead role with the film taking on its original stance away from all the chaotic mixtures.
“I would have less interest in that than I would in having cigarettes put out in my eyes.”
Later on, in an interview with David Fincher per Geeks, the director stated that the idea was far too bizarre for anyone to even contemplate going forward with it. The glory that had been set up through the film would diminish the moment a sequel would even be attempted.
As a result, Fincher claimed that he would rather do something as horrid as have cigarettes in his eyes than go forward with a sequel to Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt’s masterpiece. Anthony Hopkins’ film, however also made it into theatres but under a different name. After Fincher refused to let the sequel be made, the script was later turned into what became 2016’s Solace.
Se7en is available to watch on Apple TV.