Well, since then, it seems that he’s only gotten more into it. He returned to ComicCon last year. And, last month, he posted this really funny video.
He will again be roaming the aisles of ComicCon this year. And this week he announced that he will be joined by none other than… The Master! He posted this video to announce it. (Note the interesting spin they are putting on The Master character — he is a manipulator of hands, or “manos”).
You can see there’s some wit — and some film-making talent — there, so we were delighted to hear that Rupert et al are now in the planning stages of creating a sequel to “Manos: The Hands of Fate.”
Even more exciting is that he has been in touch with some of the surviving cast members — and family members of cast members — from the original film, and is charming them back in front of the camera. One who has agreed to be in it is Jackey Raye Neyman Jones (Debbie from original movie, RL daughter of The Master, Tom Neyman).
Rupert tells us:
Jackey saw our productions. She told us that through the years, she has seen every ToRgO and Master, shtick, bit, film, play, comic, etc. come down the chute, but she thought they were all…(sorry to anyone out there)…unworthy. But she felt our “style, humor, intelligence, and love/respect for the characters” resonated with her, and she wanted to participate in some way! We told her we would like to do a feature length sequel to “Manos” with as many of the original cast and their families as possible. … We want to do it in a contemporary style (40+ years later), that still captures the spirit, awkwardness and magic of Manos.”
He’s also prepared to answer potential critics:
We realize we will receive much grief and criticism at every move… but at the end of the day, we hope that everyone respects that we are trying to do this in a way that really resonates and brims with the style, scope, eroticism, weirdness, grooviness and evil polygamy goodness of everyone’s favorite polygamist cult… and with the “blessings” of the only survivors of the original… which in our books validates our efforts! So any potential doubters, haters, etc. Go make your own film and do it your way!
Bernie Rosenblum, who played the guy making out in the car, has also agreed to appear in the movie. The plot and story are set.
They project a release date some time in 2013. We’ll update you on the progress of the production as it goes forward. You can keep up with them at TorgoLives.com.
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Could there be some Manos related extras in future dvds coming? :smile:
Could be interesting interviews with Debbie and Guy-making-out-in-car.
Love the new version of the song.
Oh, I bet they’ll “capture the awkwardness” all right. Put me in the nay-sayer column I guess. Not the hater column.
The two videos were great, and I enjoyed them both. I can’t wait to see how their sequel turns out. :D
It can’t be worse than “Hobgoblins 2”. Plus the people behind this have a love for the original, so I doubt that they will destroy the image of it (like with how Hobgoblins 2 turned out).
They just don’t get it, IMHO.
Why don’t they look?
I don’t know. If the movie ends-up being anything like “The Master Returns” video on their site, it might be worth watching just to see the sheer absurdity of it all. It would be great if they could the MST3K crew (either CT or RiffTrax or both) to do a special audio commentary, too, but I won’t hold my breath for that.
oh-kay. When I downloaded the ‘unMSTed’ version of Manos, I also found “Hotel Torgo” (basically, a ‘making of’ documentary) to add to the DVD I burned. (3 parts, on YouTube).
I remember years ago, talking with a friend, he wondered if there was going to be a sequel… the first hint there might be…
J/P=?
I assume this sequel is going to be made in El Paso…right :?:
Undoubtedly, this guy loves “Manos.” I’m glad that someone who has a genuine affection for this movie would be making the sequel. But I think that without the bizarre psychology of Hal Warren (and his love for female wrestling, 36-hour make-out sessions, being pawed while unconscious, voyeurism, Satanic cult polygamy, and–most icky of all–Debbie) no sequel could truly catch the spirit of the original.
But he should keep the YouTube videos coming. I loved them both (especially the new version of the haunting Torgo theme).
This is going to be awesome! Go for it guys! Can’t wait to see it!
This will be:
EPIC
Rubert rocks! Count me in
This is the greatest and worst thing I have ever heard.
I eagerly anticipate what should be the greatest cinematic achievement since Innerspace.
Has anyone from RT or CT expressed an interest in riffing on the sequel? I’d have to think that they’d view it as either a golden opportunity, or something to run away from, terribly fast.
It will be great to finally know what became of Torgo after getting his hand burned off.
This will likely be horribly, and just as likely be seen countless times by me.
I’m overjoyed to learn of this new development. I love the YouTube videos and really, lets face it, could this sequel possibly be any more or less wonderful than the original? To Rupert I say, go for it! If this sequel becomes a purchasable item I for one will be purchasing it.
How do you make a sequel to Manos without it turning into parody? There really is a creepiness about the original that can’t be captured again. I hope they able to at least shoot the movie on film, perhaps some Super 16mm, rather than video.
It would be more authentic if he repeated dialog more. It would make it more authentic.
I’m not so sure about this. How do you take a movie like that, and make a sequel? And why would anyone want to?
I like the look at Torgo without his hat and shoes in “The Master Returns.”
I wish Rupert and Crew success in this project. The videos provided suggest they will be treating this as a comedy. While the original was comedic, due to lack of experience or illicet meds. I think they wewre trying to make a straight horror film.
I will be eagerly waiting for the DVD.
I hope the Robert Palmer girl makes it into the movie.
How could anything that that is so wrong sound so right?! Good luck to the film makers, this sequel idea seems like it might be fun.
Shades of Coleman Francis, Ed Woods and Roger Corman! Although we enjoy the fun, I think most of us here have an underlying respect for these folks who had the fortitude to try to create something meaningful and entertaining. Best of luck to these folks.
It’s well documented that Hal Warren left Torgo’s fate ambiguous because he planned to do a sequel that involved his return. I’m not sure if he ever wrote any kind of script or story for it. I wonder if the people involved in this film will be attempting to make it similar to the plans of El Paso’s favorite fertilizer salesman. To actually make it authentic, the material would have to be taken a lot more seriously than what is portrayed in those YouTube videos. This guy certainly has a genuine love for Manos, even using clips of the bit that was cut from MST3K. But he doesn’t seem to have the hubris of Hal Warren, who left the painting of the Master and his dog up in his living room and dressed as the Master every Halloween until he died and never was willing to acknowledge that Manos was anything he should be ashamed of. Regardless, he has my attention.
will they CGI Torgo’s legs?
The videos are kind of fun but they should find some actors to play the actual roles. I know that sounds like a ludicrous idea considering the movie we’re talking about here but anything worth doing is worth doing right, even if that is making an intentionally bad movie. A light parody of what is still a seriously obscure film, especially one noted for being so hard to watch, will just seem feeble like a maraschino cherry after a bowl of chili. Funny that they mention Tarantino because that seems like exactly the style they should go for. And these guys don’t seem to fit the bill. Of course it’s their money, so I’ll just wish them good luck.
I thought the “Make out car” guy Died 4 years ago. Must of been someone else.
Interesting. Can’t wait! Will this be straight to DVD? Limited release?
David J (#26): “and never was willing to acknowledge that Manos was anything he should be ashamed of”
I think it’s kind of charming, in a slightly cracked kind of way, that he was willing for so many years to be the proud papa of his odd, odd brainchild.
Soon the christian god will fall then the hindu and then the muslim god will fall and Manos will rule the World! Or something like that,I have smelled the future and it has many fingers of fate!
I think that this could very easily turn out to be excellent, as long as it’s inspired, and not coming from a “let’s make a sequel or a remake of this cultural artifact and people will see it just because of the name” type thing (see all of the recent Michael Bay horror re-makes for examples). Considering it’s a sequel to “Manos”, how could it be anything but a labor of love?
There’s a lot of different angles one could approach it from, the most likely (judging from the videos) being that of affectionate satire. Really, once you junk the idea of doing a straight up sequel in the spirit and conceit of the original, there’s a ton of possibilities.
I had a similar reaction to news about “the Brady Bunch Movie” before it came out–then after I saw it I realized they were actually coming at it in a very creative way, gently mocking the camp and absurdity of the source and underlining it’s unintentional comedy by putting it in a modern context.
I think we as MSTies will be the bread and butter of the filmmaker’s audience, and therefore should support this venture and not judge until the final product is in front of us. If not I’ll leave a piece of chewed gum on all of your pillows. ;-)
i’d be more interested in a remake… maybe one by J.J. Abrams…
This inspires me to do a sequel to Red Zone Cuba…watch for it!
Griffin Runs to Hell!
Oh yeah..Manos II (Electric Boogaloo?). Thaw me out upon release in 2013.
It’d be great if all of Bernie Rosenblums’ scenes required him to be making out in a parked car.
I’m big on continuity.
Red Zone Cuba II: The Cactus Jack Story,
wherein Cactus Jack is kidnapped and waterboarded
by a former Vice-President (and NO, don’t suggest Al Gore :twisted: )
to get CJ to lead a Freedom Flight to liberate Cuba.
Climax is when CJ uses a clever ruse to escape from detention.
I was thinking of a different title. “Red Zone Cuba 2: Revenge of the Fallen.”
Monster A-Go Go Part Douce: That is Not a Typo
i think it was Cherokee Jack.
pretty sure he was the “jack” in RZC…
maybe i’m wrong…
Yep. It was Cherokee Jack.
Oops. :sad:
On the bright side, the initials still work.
Now if want a movie with Mick Foley and the startling revelation that Cactus Jack was, in fact, the son of Cherokee Jack…
As some others have said, the original’s creepy, awkward tone which was the result of its insane slapdash production would be mighty hard to recreate. And even if you could, as poster #21 said, why would you want to? More power to ’em and I hope they have fun making this, but until I see more I’m filing this under the Hobgoblins 2 category for now.
(1) I will see this without hesitation. (2) I will pray some enterprising soul does the same for The Creeping Terror.
This SOUNDS like a great and hilarious idea. However, all due respect to Rupert, I hope it doesn’t become another “Darkstar” or “MST3K Cd-Rom”. Call me a cynic (there’s a softball for someone), but I’ll believe the sequel when I see it.
All the luck, Rupert!
Now, I have to go whistle the Torgo theme a million times…
I don’t think it’ll be an “authentic” sequel like so many people who’ve posted are hung up on. The original never had anything intentionally humorous in it; this sequel almost certainly will.
Nevertheless it can still be good. And I still want to see it.
I don’t know why they put the release date so far into the future though. It’d have more of a “Manos” feel if the filming was rushed like the original.
ck (#39): “Red Zone Cuba II: The Cherokee Jack Story”
klisch (#40): “Red Zone Cuba 2: Revenge of the Fallen”
“Red Zone Cuba II: The Legend of Curly’s Tungsten”