It’s been five years since the Creeper wreaked havoc in theaters around the world, and speaking as a Creeper fan (although I could’ve done without all of the psychic bullshit in the first two movies) it’s been a long wait. The wait, though, is slowly drawing to a close because writer/director Victor Salva is finally gearing up for the third chapter, Jeepers Creepers 3: Cathedral.

Cathedral? WTF? I thought the title was supposed to be Jeepers Creepers 3: The Creeper Walks Among Us!

Yes, the latter was the original title, but for some reason it’s been changed. As for the reason behind the change, Salva was rather cryptic about the significance behind “Cathedral” when Fangoria caught up with him to blab about the Creeper’s next adventure:

“It is a large part of the film created especially for all our loyal JEEPERS CREEPERS fans. The new film—JEEPERS THREEPERS, as we affectionately refer to it around here—reprises all the classic ideas of the first film, but brings them horrifyingly full circle. It also revisits characters from both films [Ray Wise from II returns, as does Creeper actor Jonathan Breck], lets us learn more about what the Creeper is and, by popular demand, reintroduces the infamous Creeper truck.”

I’m guessing it has something to do with the old church from the first one.

As for all of the riff-raff about taking the Creeper back to the old west that supposedly happens in this third chapter, but from what Salva told Fango it appears to be a small part of the movie,  a prologue within the first few minutes of the pic. Apparently, this prologue will shed some light on how the Creeper becomes a dark part of cowboy and Native American folklore.

In regards to the overall story, Salva said part three will be picking up right where number two left off; a 23rd spring is right around the corner and an old adversary has some designs on revenge against the Creeper:

“I will say,” Salva reveals, that one aspect of the third film features Trish Jenner [again played by the original’s Gina Philip’s], who, 23 years later, has a teenage son of her own, named Darry after her long-lost brother. Trish is having a terrible recurring dream where her son meets the same terrible fate as her brother. Now a rich and powerful woman, Trish is determined to stop the Creeper once and for all.”

Since Salva and his team are just moving into the preproduction phase a release date isn’t anywhere in sight. I’m willing to bet , however, MGM will aim for the Labor Day long weekend of 2009. The Creeper has annihilated all competition during this slot on its previous two releases, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.