John Carpenter Teases His Return To Directing

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Legendary genre-film director John Carpenter teased the possibility of returning to the director's chair in the future. Carpenter exploded into mainstream popularity after the release of 1978's Halloween. The landmark film is largely considered to be one of the best horror films ever made, and Carpenter's distinct directorial style was heavily praised as one of the core reasons the film was so effective. Although Carpenter is largely known for his work in horror, his large filmography has covered many genres. Films like Big Trouble in Little China, Escape From New York, and Assault on Precinct 13 expand past horror, highlighting Carpenter's ability to craft a compelling narrative across genres.

Carpenter hasn't directed a film since 2010's The Ward. It is largely considered one of his weakest directorial efforts, and Carpenter has since drifted away from filmmaking to focus more on his music career. Before the release of The Ward, Carpenter had already taken a nearly ten-year hiatus from feature film directing. He cited burnout as the main reason for his step away from the director's chair - until directing two episodes of Masters of Horror revived his interest in the medium. However, that renewed interest seemed short-lived, as Carpenter has mostly stayed out of the filmmaking scene since The Ward came out.

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Carpenter revealed that he may be returning to the director's chair sooner rather than later. When asked if he would ever direct another feature film, Carpenter remarked that he's "working on a couple things." But, he also mentioned that they wouldn't happen in the immediate future, as he doesn't want to risk potentially catching COVID-19. Check out his full comment below:

I’m working on a couple of things. But I’m not doing anything for a while, until the world comes back and rights itself. It’s insane now. It’s nuts! I’m not going to go out there and get sick.

During Carpenter's decade-long hiatus, he's spent most of his time composing music. He released two standalone albums: Lost Themes and Lost Themes II. In 2018, he made his return to the Halloween franchise after, largely, not being involved with the sequels. When Blumhouse's Halloween reboot was announced, it was revealed that Carpenter was attached as an executive producer, and he would also compose the film's score. 2018's Halloween was generally well-received by critics and fans, with many citing Carpenter's score as one of the best parts of the film.

Carpenter's return to directing would, unquestionably, be welcomed by the filmmaking community. He's at the point in his career where he doesn't need to direct a film unless he actually wants to, so potential concerns about burnout aren't relevant like they were twenty years ago. His music career has gained significant traction after the release of Lost Themes, and he could probably spend the rest of his time composing if he so chooses. If he has something to express through the medium of film, it has to be because he's excited about the project. Because of all that, film buffs should be excited by the potential return of John Carpenter.