Reader Question: Is it okay to pitch a story with an open ending that implies a sequel?

Is trying to tap into Hollywood’s franchise frenzy a smart idea or not?

Question from @CollinJones15

Is it okay to pitch a story with an open ending that implies a sequel?

I’m reading the subtext here as this:

I know that Hollywood is supremely rabid about finding franchise material. Big tentpole movies which can spawn multiple sequels. So what if I craft a story that has a built-in sequel?

On the one hand, that assessment of the current mindset in offices from Culver City to Burbank is pretty much spot-on. Franchises are hugely valuable to studios for a variety of reasons:

• Sequels, as long as they’re good, generally do more business than the origin movie.
• It’s easier to market franchise movies compared to one-offs because the former have heightened brand awareness due to their previous exposure.
• For a risk averse business model, it’s a comfort knowing they can slot in The Amazing Spider-Man 6: The Wicked Web We Weave for May 2022 or Star Trek 9: The Search For Spock’s Ears for June, 2025. Those franchise films become the backbone for the studio’s entire acquisition, development, production and marketing scheme, everything based on the assumption that if there are any movies that can be considered to be foolproof at the box office, it’s franchise films.

However if you look at the list of the big, successful movie franchises, you’ll notice one thing: Almost all of them are based on preexisting content: Comic books, novels, video games, TV series, characters. Few original movies evolve into certified franchises.

One area where they do is animation: Kung Fu Panda, Despicable Me, Ice Age, for example. But those are exceptions to the Batmans, Harry Potters and Hunger Games of the world.

Looking at the original movies that do go on to become franchises, do any of them have an “open ending that implies a sequel?” Alien. Beverly Hills Cop. Die Hard. Home Alone. Men In Black. Not really. The specific plot of each original movie has a clear resolution. In some cases, like Halloween wherein Michael Myers appears to have survived the fall out the window, that leaves the door wide open for a sequel, but there is still a resolution to the plot in that Laurie defeats the Nemesis.

The simple fact is, if the movie is a hit, Hollywood will find a way to make a sequel out of it, even if the original film has a closed ending.

So my advice: Make sure you craft a story that works in and of itself. Focus on selling that. And part of that sale is a deeply satisfying resolution. I would be concerned if you pitch a story that does not have a clear ending, that might leave buyers hanging… and not in a good way.

Readers, what are your thoughts: Would you pitch a story with an open ending?

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