The horror franchise Final Destination premiered 25 years ago, leaving a lasting impact on the genre. Writer Jeffrey Reddick’s original idea, inspired by a true story of a woman who avoided a plane crash after a premonition, centered around Death itself as the killer. The concept was initially pitched to The X-Files as a spec script, with Reddick collaborating with James Wong and Glen Morgan. Although the show wasn’t the right fit, the film’s dark and twisted tone influenced by A Nightmare on Elm Street eventually led to its success.
In an oral history, Reddick recalled that he initially wrote for adult characters but was later reworked into high-school students at a studio request. Director James Wong revealed that the story would have been better suited for a TV series, but ultimately found its place in a feature film format due to time and budget constraints. The film’s creative death scenes, changing ending, and legacy are still talked about today.
The original idea sparked by the true story has become synonymous with Death as the killer, with Reddick citing “cheating” Death as the reason for the character’s pursuit. This concept remains at the core of the franchise, influencing its success over the years.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/final-destination-x-files-pitch-origins-2000576893