Don't keep your hopes up for John Carpenter to take the helm for a Dead Space adaptation. A popular horror/sci-fi video game series, Dead Space has been one of those games that has had rumors for years of a movie adaptation happening, but it just can't seem to make its way out of development hell. Last year, Carpenter created some buzz for the potential film by suggesting he "could do that," noting Dead Space to be the only video game he'd possibly adapt. As he told A.V. Club in October:

"The only one I can think of, and I’ve mentioned it before, is Dead Space. That would make a real great movie. I could do that... Well, any of them were really good. I even like the last one, the action one that nobody else liked."

Now, in a new chat with Variety, Carpenter offers some more clarification. He says he wasn't as serious as people thought then he mentioned that he'd love to do the film, not intending to spread any rumors that he'd actually be taking part in such a project. In reality, Carpenter says he's not involved with any such film, though he's nevertheless excited for the next installment of the video game series.

"No, no, no. I can’t believe how that spread. I’m a big video game fan, so I played all the games. I was down looking at the new digital cameras, the RED, and happened to mention to them that I would love to do a Dead Space film. That just went around, and everybody said, 'Oh, when are you gonna do it?' I’m not gonna do it. I think they already have another director involved. And they haven’t asked me to do it. So until someone asks me, I wouldn’t do it. But there’s a new version of the Dead Space video game coming out in January, and I’m there."

Related: John Carpenter Says Original Halloween Was His 'Best Experience' as a Director

Will John Carpenter Direct Again?

John Carpenter, master of horror
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Well if not Dead Space, what might we see Carpenter take on if he returns to the director's chair? The Halloween helmer isn't giving any specifics, but he does tease that we might see something new from the horror legend soon enough, as long as certain conditions are met.

"We might see something, but they are shrouded in total mystery, like Skull Island in King Kong. But, yeah, I’m open to it, given that it’s honestly budgeted and there’s plenty of time to do it — and that people allow for the basketball season and the playoffs."

Perhaps fans will just have to wait and see.