Adam F. Goldberg, creator of the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs, will pitch a sequel to The Goonies with concept art that features a theme park. The original film follows the eponymous group of neighborhood kids who follow an old treasure map to find the riches of pirate captain One-Eyed Willy and save their homes from foreclosure, all while being pursued by a gang of criminals intent on taking the treasure for themselves. The film’s comedy and adventure and the chemistry between its child stars made The Goonies an instant classic. Directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Chris Columbus and a story by Steven Spielberg, it’s no wonder the ever-quotable film is emblematic of the 80s.
Despite its success both financially and critically, a sequel has never been produced. 80s nostalgia is as alive and well in 2020 as it has been pretty much since the decade ended. Donner is undoubtedly looking out for the film’s legacy in being reticent to make or approve a sequel. Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, writers of Back to the Future, another 80s classic, wrote into their contracts from the beginning that no sequels or remakes could be made without their permission, thereby maintaining control of the film’s legacy. Hope for a sequel to The Goonies persists, however. When Warner Bros. teased an announcement related to the movie in September, fans quickly speculated that a sequel was on its way.
Goldberg has renewed his efforts to get a sequel made, this time sharing concept art that turns the treasure hunt from the first film into a theme park. At this point, Golberg’s pitch is nothing short of a crusade that he has waged since 2005. He was meant to meet with Donner in the summer of 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic disrupted their plans. Though Goldberg says he was waiting for the pandemic to end so they could meet in person, he bit the bullet and set up a Zoom meeting for October 30th. The vivid concept art is the work of freelance artist Michael Barnard and features the bone organ from the first film. Check the art out in Goldberg’s tweet below:
It’s not the first time Goldberg has shared Barnard’s concept art for a potential sequel. At a virtual panel for Goonies Day in June, Goldberg revealed concept art that imagines a new treasure hunt for a new group of kids. Though Donner rejected his original 2005 pitch for failing to match the original film’s caliber, Goldberg renewed his efforts after creating a The Goonies dedicated episode for The Goldbergs. The TV series is famous for fondly reminiscing about the 80s. There is likely no one in Hollywood more eager to make a sequel than Goldberg.
Who’s to say his dream won’t come true? No amount of rejection seems to have slowed him down, though the standstill visited upon the industry by the pandemic will keep us at least a few years away from any potential The Goonies sequel. Until then, it’s fun to speculate on concept art and potential members of the new gang. Goldberg certainly won’t give up dreaming anytime soon.
