SyFyA gruff Kevin Bacon, gargantuan flesh slurping worms and a town about to face fears long left buried, it’s an absolute travesty how the Tremors TV pilot never wormed its way to a full series.
The original 1990 film has become a cult classic – it’s pretty darn scary for a PG-13. I mean, I’m getting tremors myself right now at the thought of being hunted down by a gruesome graboid.
And so the ground beneath Tremors fans’ feet began to quake in the best possible way at the prospect of a brand new, Bacon-fronted TV sequel…
Universal PicturesThe concept had all the marks of a winner. Directed by Vincenzo Natali (Westwood, Hannibal) and a script from Andrew Miller (Cube), this show would have brushed aside the many, straight to VHS sequels, as well as the short lived 2003 series.
Bacon was to return as Perfection’s bad boy repairman, Valentine McKee, (best nineties movie hero name ever?), still protecting the dusty Nevada town from becoming worm food three decades after saving the day and winning fair seismologist’s heart.
Speaking with Screen Daily about the project back in 2017, Bacon confessed:
It’s the only character I’ve ever played that I was interested In exploring 25 years later. It (Tremors) is a really good movie.
I don’t go back and watch my movies but because we were doing this one, I had to go back and look at it.
It’s just the life of this loser who’s living a very ordinary life and has an extraordinary experience with these monsters and becomes, for a moment, a hero.
Take a look at the tense trailer for yourself below:
Sadly it was not meant to be. Posting on Instagram, Bacon revealed how – despite an ‘excellent plot’ – the series was never to see sunlight.
In a forlorn post, the veteran actor revealed:
Sad to report that my dream of revisiting the world of Perfection will not become a reality.
Although we made a fantastic pilot (IMHO) the network has decided not to move forward.
Thanks to our killer cast and everyone behind the scenes who worked so hard. And always keep one eye out for GRABOIDS!
I have to say, this revival looks full of potential and the trailer has elicited genuine excitement – mired with disappointment – from viewers.
One person pledged:
If I were a billionaire, I’d start a new network today comprised of SyFy’s cancelled TREMORS series and all the comedies that Fox just cancelled. Pretty sure it would be wildly successful. [sic]
Another lamented:
Why would anyone pass on anything with Kevin Bacon? Ever. Everyone loves Bacon!
If I were a billionaire, I'd start a new network today comprised of SyFy's cancelled TREMORS series and all the comedies that Fox just cancelled. Pretty sure it would be wildly successful.
— Tyler Hisel (@TylerHisel) May 10, 2018
As much as it sucks that Ash vs. Evil Dead was cancelled, at least it got 30 episodes. Tremors got 1, and we may never even see it. Based on that trailer, looks like a sort of Ash vs. Evil Dead for the Tremors franchise. Would've been a blast to see Bacon as an older Val. ?
— John Squires (@FreddyInSpace) May 10, 2018
Incredibly sad that #Tremors won’t be happening. The cast was #perfection, the direction/ writing was some of the very best I’ve ever come across. Would have been fun to work on for a while. Here’s what you would have been in for. Enjoy ??https://t.co/177Irm98zl
— Toks Olagundoye ? (@ToksOlagundoye) May 11, 2018
The #tremors trailer looked really cool. Sucks SyFY passed on it?
— Jimmy (@jimmy_G236) May 10, 2018
A trailer for the #Tremors TV show that would have been in which Kevin Bacon’s Val has changed LITERALLY nothing including his shirt. https://t.co/DsbKBLxBSe pic.twitter.com/s0d1NxRZpe
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) May 10, 2018
why would anyone pass on anything with Kevin Bacon? Ever. Everyone loves Bacon!
— Are you my Mommy? (@DCornotDC) May 11, 2018
Dude, I would've LOVED this series. It has way more quality than the last few straight-to-dvd flicks they've been putting out.
— I'm still a piece of garbage (@SomeBadHombre) May 11, 2018
Will this overwhelmingly positive response encourage other networks to sit up and listen? I’m looking directly at you right now Netflix…
While we wait for justice to be served, let’s all bask in the unique humour and the horror of the original Tremors while staying very, very quiet:
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.