10 Blockbuster Movies Way Too Desperate For A Sequel

7. The Golden Compass

New Line Cinema's attempt to make another Lord Of The Rings had the potential to be another great series, but instead ended up being a costly bomb that destroyed the studio. Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials offers up one of the most complete modern fantasy worlds; whereas Harry Potter delved back into all manner of folklore and mythology, Northern Lights and its sequels feel distinctly unique. Its story is complex, but contains a strong internal logic that would make it ideal for a big budget fantasy series. But as much as they wanted it to be big, New Line weren't too convinced in their new property. They feared audiences wouldn't go along for the alternate reality ride, while the book's atheist viewpoint had caused stirs in Christian communities. In an attempt to keep appeal broad, they tampered with the pacing and worked to make The Golden Compass more of a world setter, with story coming second. The biggest change was cutting the last few chapters of the book (against the director's wishes), with the plan to use them as an intro to the next film. It would have been a good linking device, if it hadn't left the first film without a proper ending; The Golden Compass ends with on an upbeat, but unfulfilling note. Did it work? The film did well, but a critical meh and an overall feeling it was derivative of Narnia and Middle Earth meant it wasn't the new big franchise New Line hoped for; they lost so much money they ended up merging with Warner Bros., destroying hopes for a sequel.