Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein took a unique approach to their pitch for Final Destination 6 that shocked New Line Cinema producers. Rather than presenting a typical pitch, the duo decided to fake one of the director's deaths during a meeting on Zoom.
The duo was already on the shortlist for directing the Final Destination sequel but sealed their fate to direct the film with this bold approach to their final pitch meeting. The Zoom call with New Line execs and producers started off just like a normal pitch meeting.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, towards the end of the call, the fireplace behind Lipovsky and Stein became engulfed in flames. The duo quickly got up and extinguished the flames, much to the relief of everyone involved. That relief did not last long, as immediately after they sat down, a ceiling fan broke off and decapitated one of the directors. The execs and producers then realized it was part of the pitch and the tension in the air was immediately replaced with all-out laughter. The duo used a combination of pre-recorded footage and video effects to create the frightening scene, which ultimately secured their position as directors of the film.
This will be the first installment in the franchise since Final Destination 5 came out in 2011. Alongside the directors, the production team includes an array of experience. Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor, the original franchise producers, are teaming up with Jon Watts (director of the Tom Holland Spider-Man Movies), and Dianne McGunigle (FX's Atlanta). So far, details about the plot have been kept under wraps. However, Final Destination creator Jeffery Reddick said that the film is going to diverge from the classic formula the franchise was built on. In an interview with Dread Central, Reddick teased, "I will say that it’s not just going to be another kind of ‘we set up a group of people, they cheat death, and then just death gets them.’"
Regardless of what direction they choose to take on the project, it will be exciting to see a fresh take on this widely successful horror franchise. The Final Destination franchise has grossed approximately $667 million worldwide, and after such a long wait, fans should be thrilled to see a remake of the now nostalgic franchise.
Based on the creativity of their pitch alone, it seems fair to say that Lipovsky and Stein will be the ideal directing duo to revamp this series. The directors burst onto the Hollywood scene in 2018 with their debut film Freaks, which was one of the biggest sales at the Toronto International Film Festival and was on Netflix's Top 10 list. Their experience and ingenuity will help bring a unique angle to the latest Final Destination installment.
Final Destination 6 is in development.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Dread Central