30 years later, The Long Kiss Goodnight is igniting serious sequel buzz

If you ever find yourself wondering why The Long Kiss Goodnight keeps cropping up in conversations about cult action flicks, you’re not alone. Here we are, nearly three decades since it first blasted across cinemas, and suddenly it’s back in the headlines—thanks to Geena Davis casually chucking a sequel update into the mix at a film festival in Arkansas. As you do.

Geena Davis Spills on the Sequel That Never Was

So, Geena Davis—who, lest we forget, fronts the original alongside Samuel L. Jackson—was cornered for a quick chat during the opening night of the Bentonville Film Festival. When asked about the possibility of dusting off The Long Kiss Goodnight for a follow-up, Davis didn’t waste time hinting at her enthusiasm for round two.

Her take? 'It’s my favourite too. I’m supposed to say Thelma & Louise because that movie is irreplaceable, but I have to say, I had so much fun with Sam, and we’ve always wished that we could do a sequel.' (This after hearing that Samuel L. Jackson names it as his own personal favourite—which, frankly, is saying something considering the bloke’s filmography.)

That Sneaky Alternate Ending

In a neat bit of trivia that no one really saw coming, Davis revealed the original film’s climax actually underwent a bit of surgery for the express purpose of leaving the door open for a sequel. Apparently, in Shane Black’s first script, Jackson’s character cops it. But the cast and crew were having none of that.

As Davis spells it out: 'In fact, people might not know, but we changed the ending [of the movie] so that Sam’s character was alive. In the original script, he dies, and we were like, ‘No, no, no, no, no. We want to be able to do a sequel if it happens.’ But it probably still could. We’re not too old!'

Quick Recap for Anyone Who’s Not a Nineties Kid

Directed by Renny Harlin, The Long Kiss Goodnight unleashes Geena Davis as an amnesiac schoolteacher who discovers she’s actually got a rather dangerous history tangled up with the government. Samuel L. Jackson is the wise-cracking PI tangled up in her mission. Gunfights, explosions, and one of Jackson’s all-time great characters ensue.

Geena’s Next Move: More Action, More Schwarzenegger

While getting all nostalgic, Davis also dished out a quick teaser about her upcoming project, The Kellys. If you’re into action ensembles, you’ll want to watch this space—the cast list is a bit of a who’s who: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liam Hemsworth, Kelsey Asbille, and Abby Elliott are all in.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Liam Hemsworth
• Kelsey Asbille
• Abby Elliott
• Geena Davis herself, naturally

Her verbal pitch to her mates: 'My friends were asking, ‘What is it about?’ I said, ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger’s in it! Okay. You get the idea.’ It’s a full-on action movie and very funny too, and really fun.'