Emilio Estevez Reveals He Wrote a Wild Sequel to Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive

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Emilio Estevez discloses that he penned an outrageous screenplay for a follow-up. Released in 1986, this adaptation of Stephen King’s work saw King himself directing. The film, titled Maximum Overdrive, features Estevez as Bill Robinson, one of several survivors who unite when machines start killing people, with Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, and J.C. Quinn also in the cast. Despite its poor reception at the time, both critically and commercially, the movie has since gained a cult following, and discussions about a possible Maximum Overdrive 2 have persisted.

In a recent chat with Josh Horowitz on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Estevez disclosed that he penned a script for “Maximum Overdrive 2” during a period when Hollywood was on strike. However, it’s uncertain whether he’s referring to the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 or one from the past. The actor hinted that the sequel would have woven AI into its narrative, creating an “insane” world and including a cameo by popular chef Guy Fieri.

The project did not materialize due to the fact that the intellectual property owner, the late producer Dino De Laurentiis (or his production company), declined the concept. Here is Estevez’s account of the situation below:

The project never came to fruition because Dino De Laurentiis (or his production company) rejected the idea as they held the rights for the franchise. Below you will find Estevez’s recollection of the events:

And in a more conversational tone:
Turned out that the project wasn’t able to move forward since the owner of the franchise’s rights, Dino De Laurentiis (or his production company), decided not to pursue it. Here is what Estevez has to say about it:

Due to advancements in computer technology and AI, I began contemplating a follow-up to Maximum Overdrive. During the strike, I penned one down. I started with page 1, initiated an idea, and now I’m on page 10, then moved to page 20, currently it’s 50 pages, and I can’t seem to halt my writing progress.

Dino De Laurentiis holds the copyright for Maximum Overdrive. I devised a wild scenario where the protagonist runs a diner, has a child, and is surrounded by his loyal staff. Incidentally, Guy Fieri was scheduled to visit for an episode of ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’, but on the day the world implodes and machines start rebelling. It was an intriguing concept. The screenplay was excellent, truly! However, De Laurentiis rejected it, stating that they already own the rights to this project and intend to develop something on their own. I reluctantly agreed.

What This Means For Maximum Overdrive 2’s Chances

Will A Sequel Ever Happen?

It’s the De Laurentiis Company that holds the rights to any potential sequel, which means they decide whether one gets made, who writes it, and directs it. Unfortunately for Estevez, his specific script concept may not be used, but a sequel isn’t necessarily off the table. As Estevez himself mentioned in his previous comment, De Laurentiis indicated that they are exploring their own ideas for a new venture within the franchise. This could potentially be a sequel or even a reboot of the King adaptation.

King has distanced himself from “Maximum Overdrive”, but in a 2020 interview with Mick Garris on “Post Mortem With Mick Garris”, his son Joe Hill hinted at the possibility of rebooting the concept centered around autonomous vehicles. However, Hill’s comments were more playful than serious indications of an ongoing project. Given the original “Maximum Overdrive”‘s disappointing performance across all aspects, it remains uncertain if the franchise will expand, despite regular releases of new King adaptations.

Our Take On Estevez’s Maximum Overdrive 2 Script

Why A Reboot Makes More Sense Than A Sequel

Although Stephen King’s concept for another round of “Maximum Overdrive” seems captivatingly bizarre, it’s hardly astonishing that it never materialized. Producing a sequel featuring the original cast members would be a considerable financial gamble, as it could prove difficult to generate enthusiasm among a substantial audience. Given that only a small number of people watched “Maximum Overdrive” initially, and even fewer seemed to appreciate the film, there’s little reason to expect a second installment would find success.

In the hypothetical scenario where the world of “Maximum Overdrive” returns, it seems a reboot would be the most logical course. Picture this: instead of friendly transformers, imagine them turning into bloodthirsty machines. It’s an intriguing twist on the classic Transformers narrative. As for whether we’ll see more of “Maximum Overdrive”, that remains uncertain. However, Emilio Estevez appears to have a script at the ready, just in case someone knocks on his door with a proposal.

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2025-04-18 23:27