I am sceptical as stated that it’s actually true, but on the off chance it is, while I’m not sinking to my knees in the mud in deep angst or anything (even in a fandom context), but I would be pretty disappointed (thankfully Megamind cheered me up yesterday).
This is however especially since I’m thinking it might not fit all that well with the original movie we have if ALL the details are true, though once again this partially depends on the idea if they are inferring that this is an entire huge University for scaring (sounds rediculous and conflicts with the original movie at least partially or at least does not sit very comfortably with it at all) and that Mike and Sulley are meeting for the first time in that setting (completely and utterly conflicts with actual canon in the first movie and there would be no getting around that). If they have met before, been friends and ‘broken up’ it might work, but it seems like pointless drama for pointless drama’s sake. Unless they are inferring they were just classmates, at school, then enemies, and then friends? Which might possibly work but is still a pretty uncomfortable fit at that and would annoy me. But if it’s their first meeting, it can’t work. At all. It just can’t.
And while movie canon> all other ‘canon’, I think the same applies for original movie> all sequels/prequels afterwards where there is too much conflict.
Also, although the name suggests this (but if it’s true I hope it isn’t), like I said, an entire university for scaring? WHAT. Even in the community college idea it’s pretty weird- since we SEE training in the movie! Do you think any of those guys like Phelm have been through any such course? I don’t think so. If it is true and they want it to fit, it can’t be anything to do with learning to be a scarer. Other things? Sure, of course they’ll have colleges and whatever, but actual scaring? No. Just no.
A prequel might work but… what was good about the original film is that they at times rather nicely inferred the past- like Sulley’s father-son bond with Waternoose and all. That was nicely shown, and hence the reveal of Waternoose was a pretty good ‘stomach-punching’ event for many viewers!
Plus the problem with prequels is that we know how it ends- there will be little suprises. This is the past. Mike and Sulley will be perfectly fine in the end, and we all know that. Sure maybe with brand new characters we could also care and wonder but then… if we don’t meet them again in the original film that would almost be a bit depressing in context. They wouldn’t be close to whoever it is anymore if anyone in the context of the original movie unless say it’s Celia or something. (Very doubtful somehow.)
But, they have forgotten little details and lines before and what they mean even in the original movie (in my view at least). Them forgetting that in the ACTUAL MOVIE that they’ve known each other (at the very least) since the fourth grade is perhaps frightingly plausible.
I don’t mind them ignoring stuff which isn’t in the extra information, stuff not even in the original movie no matter what ‘status’ it may have been given- because there’s so many, few of the people viewing it will have seen them all or maybe any of them and because… well, most of them conflict anyway, and their general quality is rather mixed sometimes too. Not all of them would fit at all in any case or make much sense. So we have to consider the idea of Randall being trainer as not being sacrosant or something they have to do or even mention. They could use the idea, but not necessarily. It’s not in the original movie at all so it’s fair game to use or not use.
But yeah, I guess I’m repeating myself here. I’m not bwalling here, but I’m not really happy either at the idea.
A prequel in some form could work despite the loss of the sense anticipation which can occur (but maybe they could pull it off). But the other details don’t sound that great. Of course yes, once again, I might turn out to be wrong, and on the off-chance this rumour is true I really hope I am.
The original movie itself, well the largest portion of it consisted of Sulley and his various relationships with people in it. To reduce it to just Mike (even if they’re supposed to be best friends eventually), and heck have the only important relationship to Mike be Sulley to would be… kind of lacking in a way. I mean Sulley had relationships with Boo and Waternoose. With Randall we see the context of a work rivalry both unwanted on Sulley’s end but wanted on Mike’s towards him.
Almost anyone new in a prequel is also someone ‘unimportant’ in the original movie later. And that’s just kind of sad.
