With horror movies going through a phenomenal renaissance right now, all eyes are on a ton of classic franchises to return to their former glory. There's a new Halloween film in the works, the Annabelle franchise is set to return later this summer, and a third Jeepers Creepers movie is even on the way, as well. Fans of the franchise are rightfully excited to see Jeepers Creepers return, and the film will even bring in a familiar face to set up the new story. Specifically, original Jeepers Creepers hero Trish Jenner will return to help set up Jeepers Creepers 3's new ensemble. Actress Gina Phillips explained:
This is actually not my movie. It doesn't have a lot to do with Trish. What I do is kinda... I haven't been told specifically except don't say much... [She pauses to think]... I am in it in order to launch what happens next.
Almost two decades later, Trish probably hasn't forgotten what The Creeper did to her brother, and whatever knowledge she has managed to accumulate will likely serve our new cast of heroes well as they try to fight for their lives. Knowing that Trish will return to the Jeepers Creepers franchise is a big deal for fans of the series. As one of the most capable and strong "final girls" in the history of the horror genre, she has left her mark on scary movies in a major way. Without her, we may not have gotten horror movie heroines like Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Erin or Evil Dead's Mia. She may not be the main character of Jeepers Creepers 3, but her presence in the film promises a sense of continuity and respect for the original that some horror franchises do not often exhibit.
This storytelling method is actually a fairly common tactic within the horror genre. As scary movies often rely on defiance of expectations to deliver the terror properly, they will often move away from an established protagonist, or flat out kill a fan-favorite hero to create a sense of unease among viewers. For all of its faults, this is something that Halloween: Resurrection actually did incredibly well when it debuted in theaters back in 2002. The film promised closure for Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode from the events of Halloween: H20, but ultimately saw Michael Myers get the best of her and turn her back into a knife block in the opening scene of the film.
Are we saying that Trish is going to die in Jeepers Creepers 3? Of course not; at this point, it is nearly impossible to know something like that. That said, Gina Phillips' comments to Diabolique Magazine about her reduced role in the movie don't really bode well for her physical safety when we look at the precedent set by other franchises.
CinemaBlend will bring you more information related to the future of the Jeepers Creepers franchise as new details become available to us. The third entry in the franchise does not currently have a set release date.
