Richard Linklater Has an Idea for a Third ‘Dazed and Confused’ Movie [Exclusive]

The big picture

• Richard Linklater's
  Dazed and confused
  captures the essence of high school rebellion and laid-back nostalgia as one of the most beloved coming-of-age films.
• Everyone wants it!!
  serves as a sister film, set in college, showing Linklater's growth as a filmmaker over the years.
• Linklater has an idea for a third film in the series, but it's not as “institutional” as the first two.

In 1993, director Richard Linklater took the audience on a family road trip and followed the last day of school for a group of students in Austin, Texas in 1976. Truly one of the best titles in the coming-of-age genrewhether you graduated high school in 1976 or 2024, the main topics of Dazed and confused it still rings true. Basically, if you've had a high school experience, there's at least one character you'll recognize as a friend or even yourself.

Several years, and many films later, in 2016, Linklater would be published Everyone wants it!! which is a kind of soul brother Dazed and confused. Both films take place in Austin, Texas and follow a group of students Everyone wants it!! moving the story from high school hallways to college dorms and picking it up at the beginning of a new year versus the end of one.

Over the years, many fans have come to watch Everyone wants it!! as a continuation of Dazed and confused, leaving the ever lingering question of “Will there ever be a third movie?” in the air During an interview with Collider's Perri Nemirofffor his upcoming Netflix movie, Hit Man, Linklater shared his idea for a possible follow-up and why it might not be the best fit for a trilogy. Explained:

“One was high school and the other was university. What happens next, you know? I have a story that takes place in Austin in the mid-80s. It's just, like, a
mid-twenties punk scene
but it is not so institutional.
High school is an institution, university is an institution
. This is just a freewheel so I don't know if it would fit in the official trilogy. For now, these two are definitely sister films in my mind.

Everyone wants it!!
for me, it is
better film technically
. I love the characters of both, but he was a better filmmaker back then, I think. when i did
dazed
I was conflicted because high school was conflicted. In college, I was doing this, and I was like, “Oh, it was all fun!” I loved the freedom, I realized, so
the film is more relaxed, more fun
because it was pure fun.
High school was more conflicted
to me. For kids, college is more fun than high school. You want to move forward in this world, not go back. Freedom.”

The Legacy of “Dazed and Confused”

Both films have a legacy of their own and connected Linklater with incredible performers. Years after a small appearance in Fast food nation, Glen Powell had a leading role Everyone wants it!! before re-collaborating with Linklater Hit Man. But, there's just something Dazed and confused that puts it on its own pedestal. The the film has a relaxed flow to him as viewers follow the excitement that has built up during and after the last day of school and opens up so many different characters and dynamics. Not to mention, it served as The revolutionary role of Matthew McConaughey and also featured countless other (then) rising stars, such as Ben Affleck, Jason London, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey, Cole Hauser, and more. now part of the Criterion Collection, Dazed and confused has established itself as a favorite for generations to come.

Don't miss Nemiroff's full interview with Linklater! You can play both Dazed and confused i Everyone wants it!! now on MGM+. Hit Man hits Netflix on May 24 and you can learn more about it here. In the meantime, you can watch Nemiroff's full conversation with Linklater below.

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