Jeepers Creepers 3 premiere canceled due to protest fears

The planned world premiere of horror sequel “Jeepers Creepers 3” has been canceled due to concerns about protests, due to filmmaker Victor Salva’s dark past.

The event was scheduled to take place on September 13 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Los Angeles and was reportedly sold out. However, this weekend, the theater announced that it would no longer be going ahead.

This is due to widespread controversy over the retention of Salva, a convicted sex offender, in the film industry. On the set of his first film “Clownhouse” in 1988, Salva repeatedly assaulted 12-year-old actor Nathan Forrest Winters and filmed one of the incidents. (Further details of the case can be read here.)

After pleading guilty to charges of lewd and lascivious conduct, oral copulation with a minor and procuring a child for pornography, Salva was sentenced to three years in prison. He served 15 months of his sentence, completed his parole in 1992 and returned to directing soon after. His subsequent films include the 1995 fantasy drama “Powder” and the first two “Jeepers Creepers” films in 2001 and 2003.

Increased public awareness of the director’s past crimes – aided by Nathan Forrest Winters speaking out on the subject – has meant that “Jeepers Creepers 3” has been mired in controversy since its announcement, with many horror fans calling for a boycott.

An article from Horror Freak News claims that the TCL Chinese Theater has been “contacted by individuals who have promised to not only protest the September 13 event, but also to demonstrate outside the theaters every day between now and then.”

Those who had purchased tickets to the premiere of “Jeepers Creepers 3” received emails informing them that the event had been cancelled “due to events beyond our control”, with apologies for any inconvenience and offers of free cinema passes.

“Jeepers Creepers” will be released in theaters in the United States starting September 26; no UK release has been announced at this time.

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