Killer Klowns From Outer Space Returning In 3D

A long-awaited major cinema event is slated to occur in 2012: the 3D sequel of the 1988 sci-fi classic from Charles, Stephen and Edward Chiodo, Killer Klowns from Outer Space with its rocking Dickies soundtrack. This epic about a horde of alien clowns terrorizing a small town and its hapless police force has a script and a commitment for funding. Only the lack of a distribution deal is holding up the start of principal photography on The Return of the Killer Klowns from Outer Space in 3D. (The filmmakers are referring to the 3D project as a “requel,” the hybrid baby of a reboot and a sequel.)

“That's where we are--talking to distributors,” said Grant Cramer, who played Mike Tobacco in the original film, in an interview posted at Freddy In Space. “As soon as that final piece comes into place we should be pretty much good to go,"

Trailer for The Return of Killer Klowns from Outer Space 3D

Cramer, who will again play Mike Tobacco, wrote the script and will be producing alongside the Chiodo brothers, with Stephen Chiodo returning as director.

The Q&A with Cramer includes these tidbits:

How involved will the Chiodos be with the film?

Cramer: The Chiodo brothers are involved in a huge way. The original was their baby and though this one is a little bit more collaborative than the first being that I’m writing and producing with them, it's still their brainchild and I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing it without them. Stephen will be directing, Ed producing and Charlie bringing all his wonderful creative genius as he always does.

Can you share any plot details with us in regards to the film? Will it be a totally new story or will it be connected to the first?

Cramer: Well, I don’t want to say too much about the story at this early juncture, but I will say that it is connected to the first movie and my character will be the mentor to the two new young leads that have to try save the world from the Klowns when they return. They're also trying to save themselves because the bad stuff the Klowns do at first gets blamed on them.

Will the original Klowns be returning or will we be treated to a new batch this time around?

Cramer: Definitely we’ll have a whole new batch of Klowns. I just left the Chiodo Bros.' studio and they are dreaming up some great new Klown faces as we speak.

An anthology of memorable scenes from the original Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Posted at YouTube by SnLatDSC

One of the things that made the first film so iconic was the catchy score. Have there been any talks with the Dickies about them returning?

Cramer: No, not at this point as far as I know but that doesn’t mean we won’t at some point in time. We’re going to do what’s best for the project now so we may listen to a lot of songs and composing ideas before making a final decision. There are also a lot of cool artists that are fans of the movie so you never know how that will work out.

Why the decision for it to be in 3D and will it actually be shot in 3D? And I gotta ask, will the popcorn gun shoot popcorn at us in three dimensions?!

Cramer: I’m not a fan of 3D for its own sake but I do think it's amazing when it's used in the right movie; and I can’t think of a better movie for 3D than Killer Klowns. We really want to have the feel of the original 3D movies too, so yes, the popcorn will shoot right out at us and so will the cotton candy and all sorts of other fun stuff. We definitely won’t be like Avatar where all the 3D is going on in the background. That’s fine for some movies but not KK’s!! We want to be right in your face!!

Asked what Killer Klowns fans can do to support the killer requel, Cramer urged those die-hards to get their friends “to like our Return of the Killer Klowns From Outer Space Facebook page, our trailer on YouTube (see above), all that stuff, just helping to get the buzz going.”

Timeless dialogue from the original Killer Klowns from Outer Space:

Debbie: "Dave, it was not a circus tent--it was something else!"

Dave: "What? What?"

Mike: "It was a spaceship, and there was these things--these Killer Klowns--they shot popcorn at us! We barely got away!"

Officer Mooney: (whistles) "Killer Klowns from Outer Space...holy sh*t!"