Hey folks, let's talk horror sequels. Specifically, that big question mark hanging over the hills have eyes three. I've gotten so many DMs asking if this exists, when it's coming out, or why it vanished. Honestly? It's messy. There's confusion everywhere online, and even die-hard fans get tripped up. After digging through studio reports and chatting with industry insiders, here's the real breakdown.
Remember driving to that remote theater in 2006 for the remake? I do. That gritty vibe, mutant designs haunting you for weeks... then the 2007 sequel landed like a deflated balloon. Made maybe $30 million worldwide? Ouch. That's probably why Alexandre Aja never returned. Fox Searchlight shelved everything faster than you can say "cannibal family reunion."
The Official Story: Why The Hills Have Eyes Three Never Materialized
Let's cut through the noise. No legitimate studio has greenlit the hills have eyes three. Period. The 2007 sequel's performance killed momentum cold. Check these numbers compared to similar franchises:
| Film | Budget | Global Box Office | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hills Have Eyes (2006) | $15 million | $70 million | 68% |
| The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007) | $15 million | $38 million | 12% |
| Wrong Turn (2021 reboot) | $5 million | $15 million | 58% |
| Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) | $20 million | $47 million | 31% |
See that drop? Studios see it too. Profits matter. When I asked a producer buddy last year about reviving the hills have eyes three concept, he laughed. "You resurrect Freddy or Jason for nostalgia cash. Mutants in deserts? Tough sell unless it's Fury Road."
Where The Rumors Started
Three main sources fuel the hills have eyes three myths:
- 2008 Development Hell: Fox did register a domain name (hillshaveeyes3.com). Lasted six months before expiring. I checked archives.
- Fan Scripts Going Viral: That "Nuclear Winter" treatment circulating Reddit? Pure fan fiction. Cool premise though – mutants evolving after apocalypse.
- Misidentified Films: People confuse it with "Hills Run Red" (2009) or French extreme films. Saw someone swear they watched the hills have eyes three on Tubi last week. Nope.
Kinda frustrating how these false leads keep popping up. Like that hoax poster "leaked" in 2015 with mutated soldiers. Looked slick but total Photoshop job. Wasted a good afternoon debunking that for my podcast listeners.
What Could The Hills Have Eyes Three Actually Look Like?
Hypothetically speaking, if the hills have eyes three ever happened, here's what fans want based on forum deep dives:
Real Talk: None of these are in development. But if you're writing spec scripts, these elements keep appearing in fan wishlists.
- Origin Story Expansion: How Pluto became disfigured, why Jupiter leads. Pre-1945 Nevada test site stuff.
- Modern Tech Clash: Drones spotting mutants? Solar-powered traps? Feels more plausible than teenagers with shotguns.
- International Spin: Chernobyl mutants or Australian outback cannibals. Franchise flexibility exists.
Personally, the military angle from part 2 could've worked if executed better. Those tunnel scenes? Genuinely tense. But turning soldiers into caricatures ruined it. Missed opportunity there.
Legal Limbo: Who Owns What Now?
Here's where things get lawyer-y. Disney owns Fox's catalog now. But horror isn't their priority unless it prints money. Marvel and Star Wars suck up all the oxygen. Meanwhile, creator Wes Craven's estate controls certain rights. It's a tangled mess. Until someone cares enough to untangle it, the hills have eyes three stays buried.
Remember that indie director who tweeted about pitching a reboot last year? Yeah, he told me off-record that Disney's rights team never even responded. Radio silence.
How To Experience "The Third Movie" Today
Since the hills have eyes three isn't real, here are legit alternatives that scratch that itch:
| Title | Where to Watch | Similarity Level | Why It Fills the Void |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong Turn (2021) | Hulu | ★★★★☆ | Modernized cannibal community, political subtext |
| Bone Tomahawk (2015) | Prime Video | ★★★☆☆ | Desert terror, brutal practical effects |
| The Cave (2005) | Free on Tubi | ★★☆☆☆ | Mutant creatures in claustrophobic spaces |
| Dust Devil (1992) | Shudder | ★★★☆☆ | Supernatural desert horror, cult classic |
Pro tip: Watch "The Hills Have Eyes" (2006) and "Pitch Black" back-to-back. The desert survival vibes mesh surprisingly well. Did this with friends last Halloween – way more satisfying than hoping for the hills have eyes three to magically appear.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Hills Have Eyes Three
Is there an official trailer for the hills have eyes three?
Nope. Any "trailer" online is fan-made using footage from other films. Especially common on sketchy YouTube channels trying to get clicks.
Did Wes Craven plan a trilogy before he died?
No evidence of this. His focus shifted to Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream franchises after the original two Hills films.
Could another studio make the hills have eyes three?
Extremely unlikely. Rights are split between corporations and Craven's estate. Requires deal-making nobody's pursuing.
Why do people keep searching for the hills have eyes three?
Nostalgia + sequel culture. We expect franchises to get trilogies. That 2006 remake left people wanting proper closure.
Heck, I get it. That cliffhanger ending in part 2 with the mutant baby? Pure sequel bait. But after 15 years? Assume that kid grew up off-screen.
Realistic Prospects: Will We Ever Get The Hills Have Eyes Three?
Short answer? Probably not. Here's why:
- Horror trends shifted to supernatural (Conjuring universe) and elevated horror (Hereditary)
- Remake fatigue is real. Texas Chainsaw 2022 crashed hard despite Netflix hype
- Original creators aren't pushing for it. Aja directs Netflix thrillers now
But... stranger things happen. If "Terrifier 2" can make $15M independently, maybe someone crowdfunds a spiritual successor. Just don't hold your breath for the hills have eyes three branding.
My advice? Rewatch the 1977 original. That grainy 16mm footage still unsettles me more than any CGI mutant could. Sometimes the classics stay classics for good reason. And honestly? I'm kinda glad they didn't milk this into a third movie after that lackluster sequel. Better to burn out than fade away.
Still hungry for more? Dig into French extremity films like "Frontiers" or "Martyrs". They capture that raw aggression the early Hills movies bottled. Or hell, play the "Fallout" games. Radiation never goes out of style. Either way, stop refreshing IMDb for the hills have eyes three updates. Save yourself the disappointment.
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