Casper Kelly’s Buddy was a hit not just at the box office, but also with many viewers. The strange, reality-bending story of an anthropomorphic unicorn hosting a children’s show with a deep, dark underbelly may be too out-there from some people, but reviews have generally been quite positive. And even though a sequel has not officially gotten the green light yet, Kelly is already thinking of where to take the story next.
While speaking with John Lee Brody of “That Was Pretty Scary,” Casper Kelly was asked how much of the Buddy universe he already has mapped out. Here is his full response:
“I’m not sure I can talk about it. But yeah, I have my ideas of where I want to take it. But since so many people respond to it, I feel a responsibility, and I’m wondering how much I should incorporate audience hopes and expectations and theories in what I’m doing as well. Because it’s always tricky when you create mystery and it excites the audience, and they’re craving more. So they’re creating their own lore. It’s tricky to start to fill that out for them. I’m really excited about it, so hopefully people like it.”
In my opinion, Kelly should incorporate next to none of audiences hopes, expectations, and theories. That is, unless people’s theories just happened to coincide with what Kelly already had in mind. Like, he shouldn’t change anything if it bumps up against what he’s seen people theorize about, but he probably shouldn’t add stuff just because some people say they want to see it.
I mean, who asked for Buddy? That came from Casper Kelly and co-writer Jamie King. Those should be the voices that matter.
But also, I think leaving things mysterious and unanswered is completely fine. Many times it’s preferable. In the interview Casper Kelly’s quote is from, the interviewer asks about the mural seen in the movie with two other hosts like Buddy. He COULD make movies exploring those characters, but not ever saying anything else about them is also creepy and eerie in its own way. Suggesting a bigger world without showing it is a perfectly valid way to create unease and horror. I’d love it if we get another Buddy movie, but it answers nothing and adds even more questions. But that’s just me.
