Released on June 15, 2025,Darkmanshowcased that directorSam Raimicould handle more than a low-budget endeavor as he unleashed a different kind of superhero film to the masses. The project was his first major studio picture after thrilling horror movie fans and critics alike with 1981’sThe Evil Deadand its 1987 sequel,Evil Dead II.Darkmanwas a modest success at the box office, one that spawned two direct-to-video sequels that didn’t live up to Raimi’s creation. Given the fact thatDarkmanhas gained a larger cult following in the years since its release, it’s about time that this character is given the proper theatrical sequel that he deserves.
Directed by Raimi from a script he co-wrote with Ivan Raimi, Daniel Goldin, and Joshua Goldin,Darkmanfollows a scientist namedPeyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), a man whose life is turned upside down when he is attacked, disfigured, and left for dead by mobster Robert Durant (Larry Drake) and his band of thugs. Durant and his gang target Peyton’s residence after his girlfriend, attorneyJulie Hastings (Frances McDormand), inadvertently comes into possession of a document that could spell trouble for her boss, Louis Strack Jr. (Colin Friels). Following the attack, Peyton becomes consumed with vengeance as he continues his scientific research, which can restore his former identity as well as use it to bring down the men who ruined his life.
But Weren’t There Already ‘Darkman’ Sequels?
Made for $14 million,Darkmangrossed $48.8 million worldwide and currently holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Given its modest success in theaters and further exposure when it landed on home video, Universal saw some value in the property by going forward witha direct-to-video sequelin 1995. According to reports, the studio wasn’t enthusiastic about a theatrical follow-up toDarkmanbecause the first film wasn’t a big enough hit. Despite this,Darkmanwas a success on home video, andit was Blockbuster Videothat suggested Universal make a direct-to-video sequel to continue its success in that market.
Darkman II: The Return of Durantbecame the first live-action direct-to-video release under the Universal banner, andwhile Drake returned as Robert Durant, Neeson and Raimi were not involved in the production, replaced by Arnold Vosloo and director Bradford May, respectively. The second and third films were given a slim budget of $4 million, which resulted in visual effects that looked incredibly low-budget compared to their theatrically released predecessor.The downgrade in quality was evidentto critics, with the second film earning 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the third installment saw a tiny uptick to 33% on the aggregator site.
Over the years, the originalDarkmanhas increased in popularity, thanks in large part to a second life that allowed it to thrive on home video. Despite a modest budget,Darkmanwas a visual wonder on the big screen and showcased Raimi’s flair for action set pieces. It’s something that Raimi built on with his Spider-Man trilogy, which only drives home the notion thatDarkmandeserves a proper big-screen sequel with a bigger budget and full studio backing.With the proper marketing campaign, aDarkmantheatrical sequel could resonate with an audience hungry for a superhero that isn’t Batman or Superman.
Liam Neeson, Sam Raimi & Other Creatives Are Open to a Proper Legacy Sequel
The increased popularity of the main players could make a properDarkmansequel a hit. At 73, some might think Neeson is getting too far up there in age to do action films, but he’s still cranking them out, and what a great callback it would be for him to step into Darkman’s fedora and black trenchcoat again, since it was his first action film as a leading man. Back in 2022, he didn’t shoot down the prospectof doing a sequel toDarkman, although his response was short and sweet, saying, “I would be very interested in reading the script. Very.” At least he seems open to the idea of playing in this universe again.
Then there is Raimi, who that very same year said that Universal Pictures had actually beenconsidering doing a sequel toDarkman, even attaching a producer to the project. In the wake of legacy sequels proving to be successful at the box office, it’s not surprising that Universal was mulling over the idea of moving forward with one forDarkman. At the time, even though Raimi had heard talk of a legacy sequel, he had been too busy with work onDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessto find out more about the sequel’s prospects of actually happening.Since the comments made by Neeson and Raimi in 2022, there have been no official plans to make a proper follow-up.
Several other filmmakers have expressed interest in doing aDarkmansequel, showing that it’s an IP that is of major interest to other creatives in the business.Director Josh Ruben, who recently made the well-received horror filmHeart Eyes, is a hugeDarkmansuperfan, even going the extra mile to record a fan commentary for the Scream Factory 4K release.He pitched an ideaof a legacy sequel in 2024, which took inspiration fromA Nightmare on Elm Streetand the remake ofThe Invisible Man.
“I wanted to start this…reimagining? Like something else. Darkman is a wild concept and we need a reset, a fresh (new) way in. So…I wanted to position this movie like a paranoid thriller about a sweet young woman tortured by recurring nightmares of a disfigured man. She gradually grows convinced that her nightmares may be manifesting into her real life. (It would be) nightmarish, trippy, colorful, fun, weird. Thing is, our lead is going to find out that her nightmare doesn’t just live in her head. She’s drawing on the real thing. Something tied to her childhood. Her mom tells her all about a paranoid era from her formative years. Kinda like Summer of Sam. Satanic Panic. The “Stranger Danger” epidemic.”
Another team of creatives, who previously worked with Raimi on the Quibi series50 States of Fright, also wanted in on aDarkmanlegacy sequel. DirectorsBrian Netto and Adam Schindler have saidit would be a dream project to do a sequel to the cult classic. Back in 2024, Schindler said, “If we’re talking Sam-related, it’sDarkman. We talkedDarkman[with Sam Raimi]. We’ve got a love and an affinity forDarkman.” Netto continued by saying, “Darkmanwas my favorite film for a good portion of my life. It wasthemovie, soDarkmanwould be really interesting.”
Whether it’s Raimi or new blood willing to step back into theDarkmanuniverse,it’s an IP that deserves another shot on the big screen. 35 years later, its popularity has only grown, and it’s worthy of a legacy sequel that isn’t banished to direct-to-video obscurity. A sequel would offer something a little different in the superhero landscape and maybe prove that he should’ve been given the theatrical sequel treatment years ago.
