If the successes of and prove anything, it's that signature '80s cinematic classics are serious money for Hollywood's legacy sequel business. Among the many classics being eyed for a follow-up 40 years after its release is ’s teen adventure comedy . While the 1985 production remains one of the most beloved movies for the children of the ‘80s, producing a follow-up with aged-out stars and without the original director at the helm is an extremely tall task.

Efforts to get a sequel to The Goonies have largely fallen short because of one thing: the lack of inspiration for a great follow-up. Over the years, many ideas were proposed involving Mikey Walsh (), his older brother Brand (), and their friends as adults on a new adventure helping their children along for the ride while dealing with the surviving members of the Fratelli Family (and ). Though Donner, Spielberg, and screenwriter have had discussions for a sequel for decades, long after witnessing One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship sail away.

Based on an original story by Spielberg, The Goonies followed the lives of seven kids in the “Goon Docks” of Astoria, Oregon who band together on a quest to find the lost treasure of legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy. Their pursuit of Willy’s Inferno ship within the treacherous Astoria caverns is a race against time as they seek to find the fortune to prevent their homes from being foreclosed. Simultaneously, the local crime family led by Mama Fratelli () seeks the treasure for themselves while evading the authorities.

A modest success when released in the summer of 1985, The Goonies found its core fanbase through home video rentals and cable airings in the late ‘80s and ‘90s. In 2001, Donner, along with original Goonies cast members Astin, Brolin, , and the remaining cast, reunited for an audio commentary track for the film’s DVD release. Even as young adults, the cast retained the same banter and endearment around each other which surely sparked Warner Bros.' interest in a Goonies sequel. According to ’s book, , Spielberg and Donner commissioned script ideas, including a runaway train premise titled by and (). But as Spielberg recounted during ’s special in 2020,

When Donner passed away in July 2021, it appeared to be the end of any development on a Goonies sequel as many in the cast, including Feldman, refused to return without his involvement. He was largely responsible for finding the actors' rhythms and encouraging their energetic improvisation. Though it was a Steven Spielberg production, and had found the magic that people have been in love with for decades. Donner brought something out of the child cast in terms of confidence that few directors can do, and to have a modern-day director come in and try to recapture that magic is just simply impossible.

In truth, too far to make a solid follow-up and that could recpature the spirit of the original. The Goonies was produced in a very specific snapshot of time for a group of adolescent actors sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not unlike a child attending a sleepaway summer camp. During the 2001 audio commentary track, when the cast recounted the story of the time they first saw One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship on set, there was a sense of wonder among them to the point where they broke the take with unscripted swearing words. Between this, working with Spielberg and Donner at the height of their powers, and meeting the various larger-than-life celebrities of the day visiting the set, including , having a group of adult actors relive their childhood in their 50s will come off more as a parody than a natural continuation.

Without a sequel to The Goonies, other filmmakers and television showrunners have managed to pick up the ball in recapturing its spirit through projects that captured the cultural zeitgeist. Most notably, the ’ on Netflix perfectly embodies the sense of ‘80s mystery adventure surrounding young, relatable characters in the tradition of a Spielberg production. If a Goonies legacy sequel was made now, it would likely fall into the trap of an uninspired torch-passing premise similar to , unless the right combination of screenwriter and director can put Astin along with the original cast at the front of the new adventure before introducing new characters. But if Donner, Spielberg, and Columbus were unable to find the right idea, then maybe any plans for a sequel should stay buried.

The Goonies is available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.

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