The Adventure Continues: Is There A Sequel To Pan?

The 2015 film 'Pan' is a prequel to the 1904 play 'Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up', and the 1911 novel 'Peter and Wendy'. It focuses on the origin story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and introduces characters like Blackbeard and Tiger Lily. Despite the film's poor performance at the box office and negative reviews, there has been audience interest and speculation about a sequel. Some sources indicate that a sequel is possible, and actor Garrett Hedlund, who played a young Captain Hook, confirmed that he and other actors had signed on for multiple films. However, there has been no official announcement or confirmation of a sequel to 'Pan' as of yet.

The plot of 'Pan'

The 2015 film "Pan" is a prequel to the 1904 play "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" and its 1911 novelisation, "Peter and Wendy". The film focuses on the origin story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and introduces the iconic characters of J.M. Barrie's tale in a new light.

The story begins with newborn Peter being left on the steps of a London orphanage with a pendant by his mother, Mary. Years later, during World War II, Peter and his best friend Nibs are caught trying to steal food from the abusive Mother Barnabas for the orphans. They find a letter from Mary, declaring her love and promising to meet him again. Soon after, pirates kidnap Peter, Nibs, and other orphans, taking them aboard the infamous ship, The Jolly Roger, to Neverland.

In Neverland, the children are forced to mine for Pixum, crystallised fairy dust, by the pirate Blackbeard, who uses it to stay young. Peter meets James Hook, and the two form an unlikely friendship. After insulting Blackbeard, Peter is forced to walk the plank but survives by flying. Blackbeard reveals a prophecy about a flying boy destined to kill him, but Peter is unconvinced.

Peter, Hook, and Sam "Smee" Smiegel steal a ship and escape into the forest. Determined to find his mother, Peter refuses to leave Neverland. They are captured by the natives and nearly executed, but Chief Great Little Panther recognises Peter's pendant as belonging to their hero, Pan. Using the Memory Tree, Tiger Lily, the chief's daughter, tells Peter about his fairy heritage and his mother's connection to Neverland.

Fearing Blackbeard, Smee betrays the natives, leading to a battle where the chief is killed. Peter learns that his mother is dead, and Tiger Lily had lied to keep him on his destined path. Peter, Hook, and Tiger Lily escape to enlist the help of the Fairy Kingdom. They are attacked by a crocodile, and Peter is rescued by mermaids. Tiger Lily shows Peter a vision of his mother's death at Blackbeard's hands.

Hook leaves to find home, while Peter and Tiger Lily arrive at the Fairy Kingdom, only to be ambushed by Blackbeard, who plans to use the fairy dust to live forever. Peter escapes, meets Tinker Bell, and returns to save his friends. Peter, Hook, and Tiger Lily defeat Blackbeard, who falls to his death.

Peter, now truly "Pan", returns to London with his friends and rescues Nibs and the other orphans, who become his crew, the Lost Boys. Hook and Tiger Lily fall in love, and Peter and Hook reaffirm their friendship, certain their bond will never break.

Characters and casting

The 2015 film Pan is a prequel to the 1904 play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, and the novel Peter and Wendy, by J. M. Barrie. It focuses on the origin story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and introduces several new characters and subplots.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as a fictionalised version of Blackbeard, the evil pirate who rules over Neverland. Garrett Hedlund plays a young, pre-hook-handed Captain Hook, and Rooney Mara plays Tiger Lily, the indigenous tribe's princess. Levi Miller plays Peter Pan, a resident of a London orphanage who is carried away by the infamous ship The Jolly Roger to Neverland, where he meets Hook and Blackbeard. The cast also includes Adeel Akhtar as Sam "Smee" Smiegel, Kathy Burke as Mother Barnabas, and Amanda Seyfried as Peter's mother, Mary.

Hedlund has confirmed that he and other actors signed on for multiple Pan films, and while it is unclear if a potential sequel would feature Jackman as Blackbeard, it is likely that Mara and Miller would reprise their roles.

Critical reception

The 2015 film "Pan" was a critical and commercial failure. The film received negative reviews from critics, who criticized the writing, plot, characterization, the casting of Mara, and the heavy over-reliance on special effects. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the main characters lacked chemistry and depth, and that with the exception of Levi Miller's Pan, "the characters don't reasonably comport with one's pre-existing images of them". A. O. Scott of The New York Times echoed similar sentiments, stating that the film's action scenes were "murky and chaotic" and that the "dominant emotion in Pan is the desperation of the filmmakers, who frantically try to pander to a young audience they don’t seem to respect, understand or trust."

Despite the negative reviews, "Pan" has developed a cult following, with some viewers praising its thrilling action sequences, vivid costumes, and well-executed special effects. There have been calls for a sequel to the film, with some suggesting that a follow-up could focus on Hedlund's Captain Hook. In an interview with Collider, Hedlund revealed that he had signed on for multiple "Pan" films and had discussed Hook's origin and development into Pan's enemy with Wright and Fuchs.

In addition to the live-action film, there have been other adaptations of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," including a 2003 film directed by P.J. Hogan and a 2020 limited series on Syfy titled "The League of Pan."

Box office performance

The 2015 film 'Pan' performed poorly at the box office, grossing a paltry $15.5 million in North America and $20.5 million overseas, despite a $150 million production budget. The film's worldwide box office was 1.0 times its production budget, meaning it barely broke even. The movie's poor performance was attributed to several factors, including a lack of movie stars to attract audiences, negative reviews from critics, and a generic blockbuster feel that failed to capture the interest of viewers.

The film's opening weekend in North America brought in only $15.5 million, which was well below expectations. The movie needed to break records to break even, but it fell short of this goal. The domestic box office accounted for 23.2% of the worldwide box office, with the remaining 76.8% coming from international markets.

'Pan' faced competition from holdovers like 'The Martian' and 'Hotel Transylvania 2', which appealed to family audiences that might otherwise have been interested in 'Pan'. The film also struggled to attract younger viewers, with only 23% of its audience under the age of 18, compared to 44% for Disney's 'Cinderella'.

The poor box office performance put plans for a sequel in jeopardy, as Warner Bros. faced the prospect of significant financial losses. The studio had already suffered a string of misses that year, including "Jupiter Ascending" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.".

Overall, the box office results for 'Pan' were disappointing and fell far short of what was needed to make the film a financial success.

Potential sequel

The 2015 film "Pan" is a prequel to the 1904 play "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up", and the novel "Peter and Wendy" by J.M. Barrie. It focuses on the origin story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and their friendship before they became enemies. The film received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, but there has been audience interest and speculation about a sequel.

A potential sequel to "Pan" could explore the deterioration of the relationship between Peter and Hook, and how they become arch-enemies. It could delve into the reasons behind their rivalry and provide a more definitive explanation for their enmity. The sequel could also further develop the characters of Peter and Hook, showing how they navigate their adventures and struggles in Neverland, and how they interact with other characters such as Tiger Lily and Blackbeard.

In an interview, Garrett Hedlund, who played a young Captain Hook in "Pan", hinted at potential storylines for a sequel. He revealed that he had discussed Hook's origin and development into Pan's enemy with the director and screenwriter. Hedlund suggested that Hook may have learned his pirate ways from Blackbeard, and that there could be a connection between Hook and Blackbeard explored in a sequel.

The sequel could also introduce new characters and storylines while building upon the world-building and mythology established in "Pan". It could expand upon the fairy kingdom, the native tribe, and the history of Neverland. The story could also incorporate new villains or threats that Peter, Hook, and their allies must face, creating opportunities for new conflicts and alliances.

With the right balance of familiar elements and fresh twists, a "Pan" sequel could offer a compelling continuation of the story, satisfying audiences' curiosity and providing a more comprehensive exploration of the beloved characters and their journeys.

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