For over two decades, director Tim Burton has declined all attempts at Disney making a sequel to arguably his most beloved film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. But it seems that finally, Jack Skellington and the residents of Halloween Town are getting a sequel. Well, sort of.
Announced via the Hollywood Reporter, Manga publisher Tokyopop has secured a license for the first-ever Nightmare Before Christmas comic book project that expands the story beyond the original cult classic film. The comic will be called Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey, and will follow the Pumpkin King’s beloved ghost dog, Zero, as he gets lost in Christmas Town.
The format of the project will be something of a first for publisher Tokyopop; it will first come out as serialized full-color single issues released directly to comic book stores, and then get collected in two different formats simultaneously – full-color trade paperbacks, and black and white “pocket-sized manga” volumes.
The series will be written by DJ Milky, with art duties coming from Studio DICE, who provided that art for Tokyopop’s adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. You can check out the cover of Tokyopop’s adaptation of the original film down below:
The Nightmare Before Christmas was originally only a modest hit, but over the succeeding years, thanks to home video, it became one of Disney’s biggest merchandising juggernauts, as its rise in popularity mirrored that of stores like Hot Topic in the ’90s and early 2000s. In addition, the Nightmare-inspired Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay of the classic Disneyland attraction has been a popular staple of the theme park since 2001.
And yet, creator Tim Burton has never signed off on any continuation until now. Could this mean other Nightmare sequels are on their way? And how long before Disney announces a live-action remake of the original classic? I mean, that’s just a matter of time now, right?
Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey is targeted for a Spring 2018 release.
Are you excited to see more adventures in Halloween Town, or should Disney leave well enough alone? Be sure to let us know what you think down below in the comments.
Images: Walt Disney Company / Tokyopop
