Trey Parker on a 'South Park' movie sequel

EXCLUSIVE: Trey Parker talks about the "South Park" movie that almost was, and the end of the TV series.

"South Park" co-creator and executive producer Trey Parker says they've been discussing how to end the Comedy Central flagship series, which has been on the air for more than a decade. But you won't hear Cartman say, "Screw you guys! I'm going home," just yet.

Parker and co-creator Matt Stone are signed on to continue producing episodes until 2011, and whether that contract will be their last is anyone's guess. But what we can bet on is that when it does come time to pull the plug, it will be a full-length "South Park" film that sends off Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Cartman and the rest of the foul-mouthed Colorado fourth graders.

"We talked about maybe some day doing a movie to sort of end it all, and that seems like the best idea," Parker said. "That's been a big thought to do the last show as a movie."

It wouldn't be the first time a TV series has sent fans to the theaters for closure. Just this summer, "Sex and the City: The Movie" had an explosive opening weekend, pulling the fifth-highest debut ever for an R-rated film.

But Parker says they wouldn't consider making something for the big screen unless they had a really stellar idea. They had such an idea a couple years ago, but decided to use it for a series of episodes instead of holding it back for a motion picture.

"We came up with this pretty good idea for a movie, and then of course what happened was we got in the middle of a 'South Park' run, and were completely out of ideas," Parker recalls. "And we were like, well, we've got to use the movie idea. And that became 'Imaginationland.'"

"Imaginationland" was, of course, the three-part story in October 2007 about a group of terrorists plotting to bomb a fictional world, where all man-made, mythical characters live -- including Super Mario, Luke Skywalker and Strawberry Shortcake. The story arc, now available on DVD, yeilded an Emmy for outstanding animated program for one hour or more.

While Parker would have liked to save the concept for theaters, he says the long-story episode format was "really fresh and fun to do." "Once we decided, let's make it a three-part show, we're like: Oh, now we can do it in the style of '24' and 'Battlestar Galactica.'"

OK, it looks like we won't be seeing a "South Park" movie for a little while. But what about a different big screen venture from the guys that brought us "Baseketball," "Orgazmo" and "Team America: World Police"?

"We started going down the movie route," Parker said hesitantly. "Basically, 'Team America' just killed the movie spirit in us..."

Their distress isn't because "Team America" wasn't well received -- in fact, it got a respectable 78% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. No, Parker is burned out on movies because of the exhausting production that went into the puppet action film.

"It was just a much bigger beast than we ever could have imagined," Parker said. "Even the guy who shot all 'The Matrix' movies and the 'Spider-Man' movies would agree that it was the toughest movie shoot to do because it was trying to do a huge action film with marionettes, who don't do anything, and not use any computers to fix anything or do any effects."

So, we won't be seeing a "South Park" movie any time soon or any Parker-Stone flicks, for that matter. But aren't those guys getting sick of trying to make us laugh every week? When asked whether he has started to see ideas for the show running dry, Parker responded, "Um, no, have you?"

In all fairness, few shows exceed the ten-year mark without getting stale. What makes "South Park" any different?

"The fact that we still write and direct and voice every show ourselves, it's really more like a band," Parker said. "Because it's basically watching where we are now compared to where we were five years ago. It's sort of us growing up with the show, and the show growing up with us -- or growing down."

"We always said, When we feel like we don't want to write the show anymore, ourselves, then it's time to end the show," he said.

If Parker and Co. do happen to run out of ideas, however, they always have Crab People. "That's a thing in the writer's room now," Parker said. "On a Monday, when we're two days away from airing, and we only have half a show, we're like, But how does he get there? ... Crab People! That means we have no ideas left."

Oh, and for the record: Two episodes have made reference to the subterranean-dwelling Crab People. Hopefully, "South Park" won't have to break them out again.

-- Mark Milian

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Art: A high-flying shot from the "Imaginationland" and scenes from other episodes of "South Park," both new and old, courtesy of Comedy Central. Photo of Trey Parker by Michael Yarish/Comedy Central. Seth Green photo by Kwaku Alston.

Comments

[Daniel Ted Feliciano]

A "South Park" movie? That'd be awesome. I'll be forever looking forward to it.

[Joe]

Um, actually, they ARE out of ideas. This year's crop of episodes have been painfully unfunny. Crab people would have been welcome.

[Brad Hart @ A DoFollow Blog]

I would love to see another south park movie. Knowing one was coming out might get me back into watching the show.

[Edge]

I use to luv watching South Park but lost interest, I predict no one will go watch this movie.

[Jordan]

I love South Park, favorite show growing up. But I wish they would end it and start another show. It could even be in South Park animation and production style. I just think that the characters on it have nowhere else to go.

Make more movies, you don't have to use puppets! heheh

[Jared]

South Park aren't out of ideas...

I think the newer series are better than ever. There was a stale moment with South Park after the first movie and while they were working on Team America, but they've definately bounced back.

[Vince]

I am south park number one fan i have seasons 1-11 on dvd make a sequel movie to end the seris

[Ja]

South Park needs to remain on the air. I h8 Family Guy!

[neptune]

south park is amazing. simple as that. AND SEASON 12 HAS BEEN GOOD

[steven Williams]

i love south park its my Favourite show and i hope they never stop makeing episodes and if they were to make a 2nd movie that would be amazing id be 1st in line and i no plenty more who would go see it i wouldnt say the show has gone stale at all if anythings it keeps getting better although i would like to see a few of the old characters back init a bit more and i mean jimbo ,ned officer bar brady Dr. Alphonse Mephisto and Kevin etc

[steve bollox]

how can people say season 12 aint funny? tonsil trouble, super fun time! they are well funny and pandemik is hilarious!!! and the school musical is so funny so evry1 needs 2 stop moaning, stop tryna act all grown up and mature and stop being boring, south park is the king u all no it x

[Jared Morales]

South Park is simply hilarious, and anyone who wont admit it has no soul.
I just wish I could some how get an idea I have to Matt and Trey.
Seriously, its my favorite episode of all time and its only ever played in my head.
It gives an answer to some of the biggest questions in South Park history.

[Hootiie]

South park Creators are not out of Ideas there are sum Chuckles yes But The reason they arent producing much HILLARIUS like they used to be is because they are working on getting South park into High Def Yes even the story wrighters and such Because this is a reason that could change alot of peaples Views on south park from the origiinnaly 30 second stop action film to what it is now IMPROVMENT from what it is now to HIGH DEFINITION*DRAMATIC VOICE* I hope this has reached many of you or atleast a few i would like some feedback emailed to me at WOTLKGEEK@LIVE.COM Thank you for taking your time reading my Review

[Bingo Bango]

dude its freaking hilarious!! South park is the greatest and will always be the greatest!

[kyle broflovski]

I am south park #1 fan more than anyone out there and I'm ONLY 11 I luved southpark bigger longer and uncut like when kenny goes to hell and u show his face dat was cool i can't wait for SEASON 13 I will never lose intrest in southpark idc if it goes off air i watch it on internet if u took off there i'd be totally mad never stop making southpark plz it's my favorite show in the world.

[#1 sp fan]

matt and trey if u are readin this here is an idea for season 13 how about this time instead of kenny dieing craig dies and butters and token says oh my god they killed craig butters says u bastard. And his parents are there and he gets grounded again.LOL if u like that u might try squeezin it in thnx. Or if kyle gets kidnapped and they go on a hunt to find him but cartman says can't they just keep they Jew if u don't like Jew part u don't gotta do that part.

[lee rossiter]

south park means more to me than any think else stan kenny they mean so much please makers off south park you no what to do!

[max]

in "superfun time" its acctually true that employees arent supposed to break character but they do in real life but matt and trey just brought it to the next level. they come up with great ideas for each episode and if it's a little offensive that just raises the bar of the fun. and they can connect parts of a previous or many previous episodes to a new one no matter how small like they could actually find out who cartman biological mom is and she could be jewish and judging on his track record he could do many things such as try to kill her so no one will know or try to kill himself or mabey even its kyles mom and that would cartman and kyle brothers who knows but matt and trey keep up the great work and hopefully you do make a new movie to end it but until that time i'll keep watching. and if cartmans real mom is revealed and she's jewish i will laugh even harder

[boreddrummer]

Can't believe some of the negative comments on here, south park has become better and better as time has progressed, seasons 7/8 onwards feature alot of the best episodes in my opinion, although there are classics wherever you look of course, matt n trey deserve praise for being one of few shows to maintain consistency across time, the hardest thing to do when creating such a popular show. And I hope they still enjoy creating it as much as we still enjoy watching it. If they're ever that short of ideas they should reach to their community for inspiration, amongst the masses of crap there is no doubt a few gold nuggets in there, afterall the shows viewers in theory share a similar likeness to the writers on some level or another