Everyone knows the 1968 horror classic Rosemary’s Baby, but few are acquainted with its obscure 1976 sequel Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby. Directed by Roman Polanski, and based on the book of the same name by author Ira Levin, Rosemary’s Baby was a critical and commercial success upon release. The film received two Oscar nominations, with Ruth Gordon winning the Best Supporting Actress award, and hauled in $33 million on a budget of $3 million.
Rosemary’s Baby’s shine hasn’t faded over time either, with it today regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever, and selected in 2014 to be preserved as part of the U.S. National Film Registry. While director Polanski’s personal misdeeds threaten to throw a shadow over of any his projects, that aside, it’s hard to ignore just how well-made and effective Rosemary’s Baby remains. Few films carry with them such an alarming sense of permeating dread, and have such a knack for unsettling the viewer.
However, while it’s hard to imagine anyone older than single digits that isn’t at least aware of Rosemary’s Baby and its vaunted reputation within the horror genre, what many likely aren’t aware of is that Polanski’s Satanic classic actually received a sequel.
Rosemary’s Baby 2 Was Released in 1976, as a TV Movie
Rosemary’s Baby of course centers on Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), who is set up by her husband and a Satanic cult to give birth to the Antichrist. While Rosemary is understandably quite horrified at first, the film ends with her deciding to be a mother to young Adrian. Eight years later, in 1976, ABC aired the TV movie sequel Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby (also known as Rosemary’s Baby 2). As one might imagine, Roman Polanski didn’t return to direct, and the only returning cast member was Ruth Gordon, reprising her Oscar-winning role of Minnie Castevet.
Taking over the role of Rosemary in Rosemary’s Baby 2 is Patty Duke, who was actually considered for the role of Rosemary in the first film. Interestingly, despite Ira Levin having written a sequel novel called Son of Rosemary, this sequel isn’t based on it, as Levin’s second book didn’t hit shelves until 1997. Surprisingly enough, Rosemary is actually written out of the story pretty early on, after trying to get a now 8-year-old Adrian away from the cult. It’s actually unclear if she dies or not, but it seems likely. Thankfully, Guy Woodhouse (George Maharis) does at least get what he deserves, dying in a car crash.
From there, the story time jumps to an adult Adrian (Stephen McHattie), who’s plagued by upsetting dreams and the urge to commit violent acts. Despite the suggestion that he’s already demonic at the end of Rosemary’s Baby, Adrian actually fights his nature and wants to escape his evil destiny, but sadly, is eventually drugged and raped by a woman named Ellen, who turns out to be a member of the cult that birthed him. She then gives birth to Adrian’s child, although Adrian’s fate is left up in the air. Needless to say, Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby wasn’t a success, hence its obscure status today. Still, it’s an interesting one-off curiosity for Rosemary’s Baby fans.
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Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby isn’t legally available to stream, but it’s available to buy on DVD.
