History of Halloween Kills in Timeline
"Halloween Kills", a 2021 installment in the long-running "Halloween" franchise, picks up where its predecessor left off. Michael Myers is back to terrorize Haddonfield, and its residents are now aware of his survival. Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Andi Matichak reprise their roles, joined by newcomers to the franchise such as Will Patton, Thomas Mann, and Anthony Michael Hall.
October 31, 1978: Frank Hawkins accidentally shoots partner
In "Halloween Kills," the backstory reveals that on October 31, 1978, a rookie cop named Frank Hawkins accidentally fatally shot his partner while trying to save him from Michael Myers.
1978: Tommy Doyle commemorates Michael's capture
"Halloween Kills" depicts Tommy Doyle commemorating the 40th anniversary of Michael Myers' capture in 1978.
1978: Supporting characters and their connection to Michael Myers
"Halloween Kills" features several supporting characters, some of whom have connections to Michael Myers' past, such as those who encountered him in 1978.
1978: Varying Critical Responses to "Halloween Kills"
Following its 1978 release, "Halloween Kills" was met with diverse critical opinions. Certain reviewers lauded the return of original cast members and the film's chilling atmosphere, while others criticized its brutality and perceived lack of depth.
1978: Lindsey escapes Michael's attack and reunites with others
In "Halloween Kills," Lindsey, having survived an encounter with Michael Myers in 1978, manages to escape his latest attack and is found alive by Tommy, Lonnie, Allyson, and Cameron.
1978: Archival footage and character representations from the 1978 film
The filmmakers incorporated archival footage and character representations from the original 1978 "Halloween" film into "Halloween Kills." Notably, P.J. Soles and Nancy Kyes appear as Lynda Van Der Klok and Annie Brackett, respectively, through archival footage.
1981: Repurposed footage from "Halloween II"
In "Halloween Kills," repurposed archival footage from "Halloween II" (1981) is used, showing Brackett encountering the deceased body of Annie.
June 2018: Initial plan for two back-to-back films
Danny McBride revealed in June 2018 that the original plan was to pitch two "Halloween" films that would be shot consecutively. However, they decided to wait for the audience's reaction to the first film before proceeding.
September 2018: Jason Blum states sequel depends on film's performance
In September 2018, producer Jason Blum indicated that a sequel to the "Halloween" film would be contingent upon its box office performance.
October 2018: Development of sequel begins
Following the success of the 2018 "Halloween" film, the development of "Halloween Kills" began.
October 2018: Early sequel development begins after successful opening weekend
Following the successful opening weekend of the "Halloween" film, McBride confirmed that early development for a sequel had commenced by October 2018.
October 31, 2018: Hawkins found by Cameron Elam
Forty years after his encounter with Michael Myers, on October 31, 2018, a wounded Hawkins is discovered by Cameron Elam, who calls for help.
2018: Impact of 2018 Massacre on "Halloween Ends" Characters
"Halloween Ends," explores the lasting impact of the 2018 massacre on its characters, showcasing how they cope with the trauma and the changing world around them.
2018: Characters from 2018 film reappear
Several characters from the 2018 "Halloween" film, including Oscar, Julian Morrisey, and Dr. Ranbir Sartain, make appearances in "Halloween Kills."
2018: Halloween (2018) release
The events of "Halloween Kills" directly follow the events of its predecessor, "Halloween" (2018), which was released in this year.
2018: "Halloween Kills" Receives Mixed Reviews
Upon its release in 2018, "Halloween Kills" garnered mixed reviews, reflected in its 39% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 42 out of 100 on Metacritic. While some critics appreciated its slasher elements, others found it lacking in terms of advancing the franchise.
February 2019: Scott Teems in talks to write the script
Collider reported in February 2019 that Scott Teems was in discussions to write the script for the "Halloween" sequel. Teems had prior collaborations with Blumhouse Productions and had already developed a story treatment for the film.
February 2019: Scott Teems hired to co-write screenplay
Scott Teems was hired in February 2019 to co-write the screenplay for "Halloween Kills."
July 8, 2019: Sequel Announcements and Release Dates
On July 8, 2019, it was reported that the studio was considering not only filming two Halloween sequels back to back, but also releasing them both in October 2020.
July 2019: "Halloween Ends" Announced
In July 2019, a sequel to "Halloween Kills," titled "Halloween Ends," was officially announced. The film was initially planned to share the same timeline as its predecessors but was later set four years after the events of "Halloween Kills."
July 2019: Film title officially announced
The title of the film, "Halloween Kills," was officially announced to the public in July 2019.
July 19, 2019: Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends Announced
On July 19, 2019, Universal Pictures announced the titles and release dates for two sequels: Halloween Kills, set to be released on October 16, 2020, and Halloween Ends, set to be released on October 15, 2021.
July 26, 2019: Nick Castle Returns as The Shape
On July 26, 2019, it was confirmed that Nick Castle would return for some scenes as Michael Myers in both sequels, with James Jude Courtney playing Myers for the majority of the films.
August 2019: Casting Call for Extras
A casting call for extras in Halloween Kills was announced in late August 2019.
August 26, 2019: Anthony Michael Hall Cast as Tommy Doyle
On August 26, 2019, it was announced that Anthony Michael Hall would join the cast as Tommy Doyle.
August 30, 2019: Kyle Richards to Reprise Her Role
On August 30, 2019, it was announced that Kyle Richards would reprise her role as Lindsey Wallace.
September 5, 2019: Robert Longstreet Joins the Cast
On September 5, 2019, it was reported that Robert Longstreet would play Lonnie Elam.
September 2019: Principal photography begins
Principal photography for "Halloween Kills" commenced in September 2019 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
September 16, 2019: Filming Begins
The movie commenced filming on September 16, 2019 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
September 27, 2019: Nancy Stephens to Return as Nurse Marion Chambers
On September 27, 2019, Nancy Stephens, who portrayed Nurse Marion Chambers in the original film and its sequels, was confirmed to be reprising her role.
October 16, 2019: Additional Filming
Additional filming for Halloween Kills occurred on October 16, 2019.
November 3, 2019: Filming Wraps
Filming for Halloween Kills concluded on November 3, 2019.
July 2020: Release Date Delayed Due to COVID-19
In July 2020, the release of Halloween Kills was delayed to October 15, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 16, 2020: Halloween Kills Initial Release Date
Halloween Kills was initially scheduled to be released on October 16, 2020.
May 2021: Thomas Mann Joins the Cast
In May 2021, it was revealed that Thomas Mann would appear in an undisclosed role.
September 8, 2021: World premiere at Venice Film Festival
"Halloween Kills" premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2021.
September 9, 2021: Peacock Streaming Announcement
On September 9, 2021, it was announced that Halloween Kills would also be streamed on paid tiers of Peacock for 60 days in addition to being released in theaters.
October 14, 2021: Soundtrack Release on iTunes
The soundtrack for Halloween Kills was released on iTunes on October 14, 2021.
October 15, 2021: Theatrical release in the United States
On October 15, 2021, "Halloween Kills" was released in theaters in the United States. It also became available for streaming on Peacock.
2021: Halloween Kills theatrical release
"Halloween Kills," the twelfth installment in the Halloween franchise, was released in 2021.
January 11, 2022: Extended Cut Released on Physical Media
The Extended Cut of Halloween Kills was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on January 11, 2022.
October 14, 2022: Release of sequel, "Halloween Ends"
The sequel to "Halloween Kills," titled "Halloween Ends," was released on October 14, 2022.
2023: John Wick: Chapter 4 Breaks Box Office Record
Halloween Kills held the record for the best opening for an R-rated film amid the pandemic, but the record was later broken by John Wick: Chapter 4 which opened to $73.5 million in early 2023.
