The Purge is back and a 6th movie is officially happening! Creator James DeMonaco has finished the script and is excited to bring a brand new take on this scary franchise. What The Purge 6 might bring includes old characters and a new America.
For over 10 years The Purge has kept us hooked with its simple yet scary idea: once a year for 12 hours all crimes including murder are allowed. Starting in 2013 with Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey, the series began as a home invasion thriller. Then it expanded into a bigger story about racism, class struggle and political corruption. With 5 movies and 2 TV seasons it’s made over $530 million worldwide on small budgets, so it’s still popular.
The last movie The Forever Purge released in 2021 raised the stakes even more. Set in 2048 the story is about a group trying to escape Texas which has been taken over by extremists who won’t stop the Purge at dawn. Its straightforward view on prejudice and nationalism had us wondering where the series would go next. Marketed as the final movie The Forever Purge made $77 million but got mixed reviews because of its strong message. Now DeMonaco is back with a new script and the franchise is still exploring America’s darker side.
What’s happening with The Purge 6? DeMonaco just said he gave the script to producer Sébastien Lemercier. He’s made several versions of it and improved them based on feedback. The story takes place in a broken America where the states are divided based on beliefs, sexual orientation and religion. Imagine a country divided into areas for Black, gay or white evangelical groups. It’s a wild and disturbing twist in the Purge universe. This setup shows how the franchise is reflecting real world issues and taking its social commentary to a whole new level.
DeMonaco mentioned that a popular character might come back. It looks like Frank Grillo’s Leo Barnes from The Purge: Anarchy and Election Year might be back. Fans love Barnes for his sense of right and his survival skills and his return could bring some order to the chaos. Also DeMonaco writes with his wife which gives a new perspective and highlights “warrior women” as the main heroes. These new female characters will be strong and bold and add to the franchise’s trend of having powerful and diverse leads like Ana de la Reguera’s Adela in The Forever Purge.
The 6th Purge could be the game changer. DeMonaco’s idea of a divided America hits home in today’s world and allows the film to explore the consequences of divisions and how they lead to violence and the series’ social commentary. Leo is back and with a bunch of new female heroes. This feels nostalgic but new and will appeal to the old fans and new comers. If DeMonaco is at the helm it could be as intense as Anarchy and Election Year.
The big question is will Universal and Blumhouse say yes especially after 5 movies. With the fanbase behind it and DeMonaco’s passion The 6th Purge could be a great send off or a new beginning for the franchise.
