Director James Wan on Developing Abandoned The Trench Movie Plans

Director James Wan on Developing Abandoned The Trench Movie Plan

There have been few filmmakers in recent decades who have proven as ambitious or imaginative as James Wan

[{"selector":"#anim-3ecf821f-d3ee-4e28-a485-3f9734dd2c0d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.34426%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e69e2a2-a7a5-439f-8b8a-bb39e80101d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b64200d6-a228-47e7-b773-8858d26bafc0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc70cffc-178d-4b03-b590-7b2cdc345e84 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.49902206414911%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

who began his career in horror with Saw , Insidious , and The Conjuring before relocating seamlessly to big-budget blockbusters like Fast 7 and Aquaman

[{"selector":"#anim-b177be02-1062-4770-8c8d-d26f073dc666","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100.73711%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c9abb4a-1905-422b-bd95-216166f2bf04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37b0574f-2e5a-4d4b-a612-b50e1a373b97","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee5335b7-e6c6-49c4-ab84-0712ee765c71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6979d7e0-341d-4d05-ab57-d2b0eb55ce87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.43421%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a42fd21d-8b1f-4634-9589-2cfdd9f3fd88 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(25.260416577780525%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Despite his talents, some behind-the-scenes shifts saw the planned Aquaman spinoff The Trench be scrapped

[{"selector":"#anim-305a4032-ab08-4664-9bdb-631752b8913d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0d98507-5a93-4c4f-b1d6-30074457062d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c99a075-62f4-4c23-a141-24ab64e82b63","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-feccf218-c013-4897-b4d7-83cde423c3c3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.20673067339782%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-a393d84d-dda4-4e6d-8cb5-74fa7aa0f8e2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.08833%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c6fb596-08bd-44be-955f-d1a046f41afa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17cc91da-cb01-45d3-a2de-f86976a989d5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] which was set to be a horrifying interpretation of DC Comics lore, and while that project might have been abandoned

Wan doesn't rule out that some of those concepts may be reimagined as another unsettling experience. Now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is Wan's latest film, Malignant .

[{"selector":"#anim-7c109377-ae3b-4647-a250-f4ccaf70ce3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.87301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d51e6df-1580-40e1-b329-aee92b984c59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9420d47-437c-4ec9-9f2a-6f9d42d7e7ed","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc6c2727-953a-4422-8176-06683ccff2d8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.51574%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0299e599-ce4e-4f1b-9a73-8e12b71db1cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0aa511c7-de14-4b24-9353-4de3eadc28a3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba522f55-bf68-4c48-8ccf-f4bcd60f342f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(64.76562490400296%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

IF I come up with a concept that I don't end up using, then that doesn't mean I can't use it in a different way," Wan shared with ComicBook.com when asked about reviving concepts from The Trench.

[{"selector":"#anim-52104e05-3007-4d58-8893-bfc140fea0c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de8ec0af-9829-43b0-9327-3b586b6556df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d92b6be-59a5-4835-ab1f-b91f79e458ac","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32d2d768-3dee-4059-a702-52adc1657edc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.234374910402764%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

That's my problem, because I come up with so many ideas and I have so many ideas just percolating, but I can't use them all

[{"selector":"#anim-f99de115-1d08-458f-bdab-5a465afd1b98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84903a37-c5ca-4d2a-a864-ee1e72d0a377","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d297034d-cd87-4946-bbbb-20e91a6766d2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43cc4532-096e-4314-8ffb-48a9d54ffc9c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(46.45921863625418%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

So I'd say of all the different thoughts and ideas I've come up with, maybe 20-30% are used in my work, but I have a drawer full of ideas that could develop into something else."

[{"selector":"#anim-3d07fff1-42ad-40ac-829c-fcc5a55ce79c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c16c23d3-0055-47f0-a227-67047bb18609","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-214cf2c6-57cd-4bb0-854a-3331865fa4e9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01a3de32-52df-4c01-9865-2c24ce185e17 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.937499914669296%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

FOR MORE WEBSTORIES SWIPE UP

[{"selector":"#anim-04d8c9c2-3ffb-4e10-8b69-0264f2025db5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.900390369541204%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Swipe up