Ti West, writer and director of X, has reportedly already filmed a prequel to the upcoming horror movie. X follows the crew of an adult film in 1979 rural Texas, and as production gets underway on a farm, their reclusive hosts catch them in the act, leaving the crew to fight for their lives. The X cast includes Mia Goth, Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, and Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi). X is set for release on March 18, though it would appear West has already moved forward with plans to expand on the film.
X debuted over the weekend at the SXSW Film Festival, where, according to the LA Times, the premiere also came with news of a prequel movie. West secretly filmed the prequel, titled Pearl, while shooting the original in New Zealand, and the project is currently in post-production. The movie is said to focus on star Goth’s second X character, the elderly Pearl, exploring her life as a young woman in the WWI-era. West reveals that he decided on filming the X prequel when he realized he could write the script while in quarantine:
My plan was to write it there and see if I can convince A24 that we should make two movies.
Following its SXSW debut, X early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with many pointing to the well-written characters, visceral violence, and the narrative’s commentary on aging as high points. Given the positive critical reception, popular art-horror studio A24 must have also had faith in X‘s success to greenlight a prequel prior to its release. However, West is known for making smaller films that can impress critics. For example, his previous horror films The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers, and The Sacrament were all produced on small budgets while also scoring positive Rotten Tomatoes critics ratings. With X, West seems to be eyeing a similar outcome, with a prequel waiting in the wings for audiences who are eager for more. Further details on the X prequel movie will be forthcoming as the project develops.
Key Release Dates
X (2022)
Release Date:2022-03-18
