It was only last week that writer and director Tommy Wirkola announced that the script for HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 2 was completed. But now it appears that Wirkola is leaving the project for somebody else to direct. Speaking to Fangoria magazine, Wirkola said:
I’ve just decided to not direct HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 2. I have been lately attached to a few more things. It’s just a matter of time and priorities. I did DEAD SNOW 1, then HANSEL & GRETEL (WITCH HUNTERS) 1, and then DEAD SNOW 2. I want to do something a little bit different now and not just do sequels. I did write the script and I hope to be involved in it. But yeah, I won’t be directing it.
This is completely understandable from a creative point of view. DEAD SNOW 2 rocked this year’s FrightFest, and was absolutely astonishingly awesome, so it’s a shame Wirkola won’t return in the director’s chair but at the same time it is monstrously exciting to see what he comes up with next. Although supposedly green lit, HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 2 is still awaiting a chance to return Renner to his role, and since the man is busy in Marvel, Mission Impossible, and Bourne movies, that could be quite some time. Hopefully sense is seen and Wirkola’s script is still used. It could be that another upcoming horror director is given a bigger sandbox to play in.
Source: Fangoria
