Could we one day see a sequel to The Phantom? If Billy Zane were to have his way, then we most definitely would. Back in 1996, Zane starred in The Phantom, a movie based on the comic character of the same name created by Lee Falk. Directed by Simon Wincer, the movie also starred Treat Williams, Kristy Swanson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and James Remar.
Perhaps a bit ahead of its time, The Phantom bombed in theaters as 1996 was not a time when superhero movies were anywhere near as popular as they are today. In subsequent years, the movie developed a cult following with its releases on home video. Now that there’s been a superhero movie boom that’s overtaken Hollywood, Billy Zane sees this as this perfect time to revisit The Phantom. In fact, as the actor recently told ComicBook.com, he considers The Phantom to be the one role from his past he wants to revisit the most, perhaps with a legacy sequel where he gets to pass on the torch.
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“To be honest, a Phantom return would be quite interesting. 20 years later, it’s a father-to-son business and a bit of a hand-off. And I dug him because he didn’t have superpowers, really. It was just kind of super-humane. Again, that moral compass could be a nice reminder. So, right out of the comic universe, I’d say that character would be a hoot.”
In The Phantom, “Billy Zane (Titanic) stars as The Phantom in this thrill-a-minute actioner based on one of the most successful comic series of all time! The story begins as an expedition lands on the island of Bengalla, seeking the legendary skulls of Touganda. Believed to harness an energy force of incalculable power, the skulls could spell disaster for mankind. And that’s exactly what ruthless tycoon Xander Drax (Treat Williams) has in mind… unless one man can save it. Now evil has met its match and great movie adventure has a new name – The Phantom!”
Billy Zane had originally signed on to star in two sequels to the movie, but those plans were shelved when The Phantom underperformed at the box office. In 2008, there were rumblings of a new sequel that evolved into plans for a reboot, but that iteration of the project never made any traction. Another reboot nearly happened in 2014 when it was reported that producer Mark Gordon was developing a new adaptation, but as with the previous attempts, this movie never saw the light of day.
The Phantom 2 might finally happen given the factors that seem to lean in its favor. It certainly helps that Billy Zane is so eager to sign on, as legacy sequels have become both trendy and highly profitable in recent years. The movie’s continued popularity with its cult following, coupled with the superhero movie craze, may also help the sequel’s chances. Throw in the fact that Paramount is looking to beef up their Paramount+ subscription service with exclusive content, and all of the right ingredients seem to be there to make this happen.
If you want to go back and check out The Phantom, the movie is currently streaming on Paramount+.
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Jeremy Dick
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Jeremy Dick has been writing for MovieWeb and Horror Geek Life for years, is the self-proclaimed biggest fan of Bob Saget, and doesn’t particularly like talking about himself in the third person.
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