Hughes didn't write the script for the sequel 102 Dalmatians, but he did oversee production of it.
Home Alone 3
"About two years ago (1994), Macaulay [Culkin] decided that if there was going to be a third Home Alone, he did not want to participate. [Culkin and Hughes agreed that] the concept of the movie was the perils of leaving a child at home alone. Well, when you leave a sixteen-year-old at home alone, he throws a party." -- Producer Ricardo Mestres
Home Alone 4 appeared on network television in late 2002 as a made-for-TV movie. As far as I know, Hughes was not involved with this production.
Reach the Rock
"I think [Robin] is almost as if Bender had stayed with Claire at the end of The Breakfast Club and had never moved on." -- John Hughes
Robin sneaks in and out of jail, reminiscent Bender sneaking in and out of the closet in The Breakfast Club.
Hughes' son, John Hughes III, was the music supervisor for this film.
At the end of the credits Robin's pail finally falls and crashes through another window.
New Port South
New Port South was written by Hughes' son James, who was 21 at the time. According to USA Today, Hughes claims he didn't even know about his son's desire to follow in his footsteps until James showed him the finished script. John then sent it to Disney without his son's name on it and was green-lighted to produce it.
Kyle Cooper made his directorial debut with NPS. He had formerly been a title graphic designer for such films as Twister, Immortal Beloved, Sphere, Se7en, Wild Wild West, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Donnie Brasco, The Mummy, and both Hughes' Flubber and 101 Dalmatians.
Filming took place at Glenbrook High School in Chicago, IL, where "every gaffer in the area [was] trying to be hired" (--).
Over a thousand teenagers were sought as extras for the high school scenes.
According to one of the extras, a rumor was circulating the set that one of the film's actors was an ex-porn star.
According to the Chicago Tribune, a video camera that contained film footage was reported stolen from the set. It was estimated to be worth $2,500.
Both Blake Shields and Melissa George have previously guest starred on TV's "Silk Stalkings."
Test screenings of New Port South began in Los Angeles on July 25, 2000.
N.C., a New Port South extra, writes about a day on the set:
"Today [Feb 19, 2000], we just got done filming the largest scene which involved about 800 extras! It was the Fire Drill/Walk-Out scene in the Brainerd building of Libertyville HS in Libertyville, IL. Today, basically we had to go outside (in about a foot of snow!) and hang around while the "fire department" checked out the school.. then, after the principal announced it was a false alarm, we were supposed to back into the school... BUT - the main character (who pulled the alarm in the 1st place) blew a whistle signaling the start of the walk-out for all the students (us!). So while the teachers and administration were all yelling @ us to come back into the building.. we all walked off the campus. That was one of the scenes that was shot... we had to do it about 5 times (patience is a virtue for an extra!)"
Maid in Manhattan
This film was originally titled The Chambermaid, then Uptown Girl, then finally Maid in Manhattan.
Hilary Swank and Sandra Bullock were initially up for the lead role, but chose other projects.
Hughes was on and off again as director. Eventually Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Anywhere But Here) took on the role.
Hughes wrote the original draft of the screenplay (under his pseudonym Edmond Dantes) before it was taken over by Kevin Wade (Working Girl, Meet Joe Black).
