What if a billion-dollar horror franchise was born out of missing a flight? That's precisely what occurred—in a way, the now-famous supernatural film Final Destination wasn't merely a warped hollywood production. It was based on a true story that still makes people shiver.
 
The franchise's creator, Jeffrey Reddick, reflected on the beginnings of the franchise in a promotional interview for his film Til Death Do Us Part (via Collider).  Reddick revealed a fascinating little behind-the-scenes fact when interacting with fans:  While flying home to Kentucky, he came across a haunting essay that inspired Final Destination.

"I came across a story about a woman who was traveling by air...  She had a horrible sensation, so her mother told her not to take it.  He remembered, "She changed planes, and the one she was supposed to be on crashed."  eerie, huh?  The fuse was sparked by that tidbit of truth. 

Reddick began to wonder: What if fate is real?  What if someone escaped death only to have it return to haunt them?  The notion gained traction there.  He was employed for New Line cinema at the time.  The film A Nightmare on Elm Street was produced by that studio.  "I credit that whole movie with my career," he even admits. 

And how did he get to New Line?  That in itself was a plot twist.  He submitted a spec script for a Nightmare on Elm Street prequel to studio founder Bob Shaye when he was a 14-year-old horror enthusiast in Kentucky.  Shaye didn't ignore it; in fact, she wrote back. Reddick worked at the studio for more than ten years as a result of the years-long relationship that was started by that.  Final Destination ultimately gained traction there. 
 
Before New Line saw its potential and approved it as a feature film, the concept—which had been originally envisioned as an episode of The X-Files—went through multiple iterations and continuous pitching.  "I sold the treatment ten years after I graduated from high school," Reddick said.  "After that, I had to make a lot of changes before New Line even purchased it."
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Final Destination

G GOWTHAM

06/05/2025 11:28 AM