Screenwriting : How does this work?? by Jerry Doubles

As Peter said, you don't own the rights to that movie. If you don't have the rights owner's permission to come up with a take for a sequel, you may receive a "cease and desist" if you take active steps to pitch a sequel.

In other words, you'd have to get permission to pitch a take on a sequel, and permission may not be granted. If you have an agent, he can contact the financier/producer and ask if they are open to hearing your take for a sequel. But that's a longshot, as they will have their own intentions.

Here are the steps: 1) Write a stack of amazing original screenplay in the same genre as the movie. 2) Snag a manager with those screenplays. 3) Your manager gets those screenplays out into the market. 4) The producer who owns the rights to those characters and situations who is the only one who has the legal right to commission a sequel reads several of your screenplays and loves them and calls you in for a meeting as one of the many writers they are considering for this job. 5) You pitch your take (you cool idea for the sequel). 6) Out of all the takes they have heard, they like yours best. 7) They hire you to write the sequel... using your take plus their notes and ideas. 8) You write a draft or two of the screenplay and then are replaced by some other writer. 9) There's also a possibility that they hire 3 different writers to write 3 different takes of the sequel and then combine the best scenes of each into some sort of frankenscript... this is common. 10) Chances are all of this happened when the film was in rough cut and they thought it might be a big hit and spawn a sequel... long before you saw it.

Peter and Regina, thanks for that heads-up. Sincerely, considering the route, I will prefer not to try..it's quite a journey.

William, quite detailed surely, but the ladder seems like forever...a newbie should stick to his originals than try this stunt. Thanks for the hands-on.

What Regina said.:) Also, go on IMDb and see if they don't already have 3 more lined up (see "Avengers").

Timothy, ...instead of wasting one's time huh? Great eye opener...because even if you choose to walk up, it will definitely turn out long and difficult. Thank you.

Everything begins with originals. But everything is also climbing that ladder. I've been hired to write sequels and remakes, and pitched my take on all kinds of sequels and prequels and remakes. But they choose me, I didn't set out to write the sequels or prequels. I was just one of the people they thought might do a good job with that material.

Or as many people do and have done. Write it as a sample. You are not allowed to sell it. But creating it isn't illegal if it is just a creative exercise. Beware that it will probably be seen as fan fiction and lack credibility. George Lucas said he was sent hundreds of scripts for Stars Wars sequels by well meaning fans. Write to the rights holders. Ask if they plan a sequel. You may be able to start a ball rolling. Good luck.

Craig,.. oh! your words were soft, not HARD like the previous comments...I am looking at the situation differently. Well, i will give it a thought, thank you very much.

William, bottom line is "keep up writing originals, then perhaps a sequence gig may come knocking, hesitate not!" Noted...

Craig: Not true. Writing the screenplay itself, even if you have no intention of selling it, is copyright infringement. You do not have the right to copy the characters and situations (etc).

William there are exceptions for fair use, parody and other scenarios. There are numerous, if not hundreds of screenplays created prior to obtaining rights. It is a complete waste of time, but not an illegal possession. We are talking copyright not cocaine.

Still illegal if not one of those fair use scenarios. Last thing you want is for your massive cell mate to ask "What are you in for?" and your answer is "I wrote a Batman & Robin screenplay without owning the rights".

If you're not actively pitching a sequel you don't own the rights to, I don't think it hurts to write one for an exercise.

Actually, telling a cell mate you're a writer can be a pretty good deal. Last time I did that, I was writing everything from love letters to court pleadings for three years. My fee was an exchange for food, drinks and clothing items from the commissary menu. I ate like a king. I'm also an honorary member in five national gangs. If anybody needs anything illegal, we should talk.

In order to stay away from the eclipse of an unpredictable outcome... I will marry the words "don't try, it is not worth it". The conflicting judgements illustrated on this thread is pretty confusing. Truth be told, to call Johnson, John, I will resort to watching that amazing movie and turning my sequel idea off it with no intention of writing, except I want to do it for fun as Jean-Pierre suggested. Thanks y'all.

I Am repulsive from anything illegal... Craig et William.