Just when you thought it was a dead deal … there’s rumbling on the Web once again about a GOONIES sequel. This time, the culprit making waves is the original movie’s screenplay writer, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. Scifiwire.com’s June 29 article by Fred Topel, “Why there’s still hope for a sequel to The Goonies, and what it might be,” (http://tinyurl. com/ccolumbus) says Columbus has “received word that director Richard Donner might actually be re-assembling the cast. Columbus is currently directing Goonies cast member JOE PANTOLIANO (he played Francis Fratelli) in ‘Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.'”

Columbus is also quoted as saying, “(Pantoliano) said that RICHARD DONNER talked to him about six months ago about the sequel. I think the only way it could be done is if the kids are now the parents, and their kids have become the Goonies. I still think the two brothers are still alive and well, so they could still be in the movie. So it’s a matter of whether or not they could re-create that concept.”

Topel theorizes that perhaps the biggest hurdle for a Goonies 2 would be believing that modern kids would play outside. “I don’t know if that’s possible anymore,” Columbus said. “Maybe if all the parents in the new Goonie movie forbid their kids to play on the Internet, that’s gotta be the plot. You can’t go anywhere near a computer or cell phone. I guess the adventures are online.” Which only goes to show you that it’s still true – Goonies never say die!

Pantoliano told Columbus about the planned 25th reunion of The Goonies, and Columbus, who was unaware of it before that, said, “Yeah, I’d love to see everybody.” So will Astoria be Goon Docks again? Stay tuned.