The Green Inferno is a 2013 cannibal horror film directed by Eli Roth, who is known for his gory and violent films such as Hostel and Cabin Fever. The film follows a group of student activists who travel to the Amazon rainforest to stop a company from destroying it, but end up being captured and eaten by a tribe of cannibals. The film was inspired by and paid homage to the Italian cannibal films of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Cannibal Holocaust and Cannibal Ferox, which were notorious for their graphic depictions of violence, animal cruelty, and real deaths.
The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, who praised its social commentary, dark humor, and gore effects, but criticized its plot, characters, and acting. The film also faced controversy and delays due to its subject matter, distribution issues, and allegations of racism and cultural appropriation. The film grossed $12.9 million worldwide against a budget of $5 million, making it a moderate box office success.
The Announcement of the Sequel
In 2013, before the release of The Green Inferno, Roth announced that he was working on a sequel titled Beyond the Green Inferno, which would be directed by Nicolas Lopez, who had previously collaborated with Roth on the 2012 disaster horror film Aftershock. Roth said that he would produce and present the sequel, and that he had co-written the screenplay with Lopez and Guillermo Amoedo, who also worked on Aftershock and The Green Inferno. Roth said that the sequel would be bigger, darker, and scarier than the first film, and that it would explore the world of the cannibals and their mythology. He also compared the sequel’s tone to Aliens, the 1986 sci-fi horror sequel to Alien.
Roth said that the sequel would start filming in Chile and Peru in the spring of 2014, and that some of the cast members from the first film would return. However, he did not reveal any plot details or the names of the returning actors. He also did not specify if the sequel would follow the same characters from the first film, or introduce new ones.
The Silence and the Rumors
Since the announcement of the sequel in 2013, there has been little to no news or updates on its development or production. The sequel did not start filming in 2014 as planned, and no release date or trailer has been revealed. Roth has not mentioned the sequel in any of his interviews or social media posts, and neither has Lopez or any of the cast members. The sequel’s IMDb page has not been updated since 2013, and it still lists the film as being in pre-production.
The lack of information and communication has led to speculation and rumors among fans and media outlets. Some have suggested that the sequel has been cancelled or shelved indefinitely, due to various reasons such as the poor reception of the first film, the difficulty of finding a distributor, the legal troubles of Lopez, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2018, or the lack of interest or availability of Roth and the cast. Others have hoped that the sequel is still in the works, and that Roth and Lopez are waiting for the right time and opportunity to make it happen.
The Possibility and the Potential
As of 2021, the status and the future of Beyond the Green Inferno remain unclear and uncertain. There has been no official confirmation or denial from Roth, Lopez, or anyone involved in the project. It is possible that the sequel is still in development, but it is facing challenges and delays that have prevented it from moving forward. It is also possible that the sequel has been abandoned or scrapped, but it has not been announced or acknowledged publicly.
However, there is still some hope and potential for the sequel to happen, if Roth and Lopez are still interested and committed to the project, and if they can find a way to overcome the obstacles and make it happen. The Green Inferno has gained a cult following and a reputation as one of the most controversial and extreme horror films of the 2010s, and there is still a demand and a curiosity for a sequel among horror fans and critics. The sequel could also benefit from the recent success and popularity of Roth, who has directed and produced several acclaimed and profitable films and TV shows, such as The House with a Clock in Its Walls, Haunt, and History of Horror. The sequel could also explore and expand the world and the themes of the first film, and offer a new and different perspective on the cannibal genre and the environmental issues.
Beyond the Green Inferno is a sequel that many horror fans are still waiting for and hoping for, but it is also a sequel that may never happen. Until Roth or Lopez break their silence and give an update on the project, the sequel will remain a mystery and a possibility.