James DeMonaco had been working on the script for The Purge for a decade, never expecting it to become the massive hit and genre juggernaut franchise that it is today. In an interview with Collider, DeMonaco discussed his original view of the film’s potential reach, admitting that he never believed it could find any kind of mainstream appeal.
“When I wrote it,” DeMonaco said, “I thought it would just play at the Angelika Film Center. We received around eighty passes because the script was so anti-American and we assumed it would be shown in a very small venue like the Angelika – which was my favorite theater when I went to NYU.”
Little did DeMonaco know that The Purge would go on to become an all-encompassing franchise spanning multiple films and a television show. It’s an undeniable success story, especially considering its humble beginnings.
The Purge franchise has become a cultural phenomenon since its original release 10 years ago, having spawned four sequels and a television series. Now, it looks like the series will add yet another installment, as James DeMonaco announced that he has finished writing the script for The Purge 6. Though the production of the film is delayed due to ongoing strikes from SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, DeMonaco promises it will delve into even more disturbing and relevant anti-American concepts.
In addition to this sixth installment in the franchise, DeMonaco is similarly working on an original “heavy horror” movie titled The Home with SNL star Pete Davidson. In this movie, Davidson plays a graffiti artist who finds himself sentenced to community service at a mysterious retirement home—a plotline that already has fans buzzing.
Only time will tell whether these projects will come to fruition as planned, but one thing’s for sure: James DeMonaco’s work promises to be captivating and thought-provoking no matter what.