Movie Sequels We Had No Idea Were Actually Being Made
If there is one thing Hollywood can't get enough of, it's making money. When a movie is a hit, it gets a sequel. Usually, you know what sequels are coming out and which ones you want to spend your hard-earned money on. Sometimes a sequel catches you by surprise and leaves you questioning the sanity of Hollywood higher-ups. Do we really need a Gladiator 2? Because, as you'll soon find out, there's a good chance we're getting it with or without Russell Crowe.
The Accountant 2
Starring Ben Affleck, The Accountant was modest hit when it came out in 2016. It made $86 million while being made for $44 million. Hollywood liked how the math worked out and greenlit a sequel. It will be interesting to see if audiences are interested.
Critics were lukewarm on the film about a mob accountant, which resulted in a 52 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. Moviegoers were much kinder, giving it an "A" cinema score. Does that mean they'll pay up for another mathematical adventure with Affleck when the sequel comes out?
Coming To America 2
This sequel is still in the baby phases of becoming a reality. Reports arose that it was in the works when Eddie Murphy tweeted about a possible sequel. He immediately deleted the tweet, although nothing is ever really deleted from the internet.
A few months later it was revealed that 50/50 director Jonathan Levine was developing the long awaited sequel. The writers for Coming to America 2 told ABC that it's going to be about Eddie Murphy's character finding his American son. For his part, Murphy is now staying quiet.
Gladiator 2
We know what you're thinking; Maximus died at the end of Gladiator, how could they possibly make a sequel? Well, where there's a will, there's a way, and Ridley Scott is finding his. According to reports, Maximus will not be returning, instead the new movie will focus on Lucius, Lucilla's son.
Ridley Scott will be returning to direct, and he's bringing a high priced screenwriter with him. Peter Craig, who wrote The Town, Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, and another sequel coming up on this list is taking his best stab at it.
Bright 2
Bright was Netflix's first foray into big budget cinema. The film, which cost $100 million to produce, was never released theatrically. Instead, the streaming service placed it exclusively in their movie library. The odd plan worked when the Will Smith led fantasy cop drama drew in over 11 million viewers almost instantly.
Critics hated the film, but that's not stopping Netflix from doubling down with a sequel. Bright 2 will bring back Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, and director David Ayer. Screenwriter Max Landis will not be returning after being replaced by the writer of Beauty and the Beast.
Edge Of Tomorrow 2
Edge of Tomorrow was not a big hit when it came out in 2014. The Tom Cruise-led science fiction war film saw his character live the same day over and over again. Critics praised the film for its time travel structure, but audiences remained skeptical.
After hitting streaming services, it became a bonafide hit. Two years after it left theaters, screenwriters were hired to pen the sequel. Doug Liman will return to direct the sequel as well, boldly claiming it will be "much better than the original film."
The Rocketeers
If you grew up in the nineties, there's a decent chance you remember The Rocketeer. A victim of being released alongside Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, you probably saw it on video. A bomb at the time of its release, Disney is looking to restart the cult franchise two decades later.
The plot would see an African American woman take control of the rocketeer jetpack during the Cold War. An evil scientist would chase her down, trying to get his dirty hands on the intriguing and war changing piece of technology.
47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter
The surprise summer hit of 2017, 47 Meters Down starred Mandy Moore as one of two sisters who gets trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean. Will they find a way to make it to the surface without getting eaten?
Made for just $5 million, 47 Meters Down grossed $44 million domestically. With that kind of return on investment, a sequel was inevitable. The Next Chapter's director promises a fresh take on the shark genre, describing it as "The Descent underwater."
Bill And Ted Face The Music
One of the longest rumored sequels on this list, a third Bill and Ted movie is finally, actually happening. Original screenwriters Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson have promised fans that the new movie won't go modern but will, "maintain the tone, the sweetness, the absurdity" of the first two.
Bill and Ted Face the Music will see our heroes in the middle of mid-life crises when they are tasked with travelling through time to write a musical masterpiece. This is, obviously, the only way to save space and time.
Top Gun: Maverick
Peter Craig is a busy man. Not only is he writing Gladiator 2, he is also writing Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to aviation action classic. Tom Cruise is returning for another go around as the volatile pilot, except now he's an instructor at the Top Gun Academy in San Diego, California.
Miles Teller is joining the cast as Goose's son. Sadly, Tony Scott will not be returning to direct after his tragic passing. Replacing him is Joseph Kosinski, who previously directed Cruise in Oblivion.
Avatar 2-5
It’s crazy to think that there have been zero Avatar sequels released since it became the highest grossing film of all-time in 2009. It has since lost the crown to Star Wars, but will be returning to fend off Luke Skywalker soon enough.
Of course, James Cameron isn’t just making one Avatar sequel, he’s making four and filming them all at the same time. All your favorite characters are returning, even Sigourney Weaver’s, who seemingly died in the original.The first sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, is scheduled for release in 2020.
We're Wolves
The proposed sequel to What We Do In The Shadows would follow the group of werewolves introduced briefly in the mockumentary. Specifically, the plot would follow the power struggle between alpha wolf Darby and computer programmer and freshly turned wolf Darby.
If you're salivating over the idea of the cleverly titled sequel, you'll have to wait a while. The original film's director has moved onto bigger projects since directing Thor: Ragnarok. Luckily for fans, a television version of What We Do In The Shadows, set in New York, will be debuting on FX in 2019!
McClane
You read that right. You might not have asked for it after A Good Day To Die Hard fizzled at the box office, but the fifth adventure following New York cop John McClane is on the way. This one will flip back and forth between an old and bruised McClane and his younger self.
Director Len Wiseman says the modern day McClane, played by Bruce Willis, will battle terrorists, while a 1970s version of the action hero will patrol the streets of New York. Will you go along for the ride?
Beetlejuice 2
This one is a longshot, but it was reported in 2018 that a sequel to the beloved Beetlejuice was closer to being made than ever before. The film's screenwriter first approached Tim Burton about resurrecting "the ghost with the most" while filming Dark Shadows.
A few years later, a different screenwriter was hired to develop the story. There's no word on whether Burton or star Michael Keaton would return, but Deadline claims both are excited about the prospect. What about Winona Ryder, though?
Master And Commander 2
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2004, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World failed to capture the imaginations of everyday moviegoers. Based on a series of books, a sequel would have been logical had the film made a profit.
Anything is possible 14 years later. Russell Crowe sent a cryptic tweet in 2017 that a "second voyage" was in the works. The sequel just needs to find financial backing. As co-star Paul Bettany pointed out after the tweet, Crowe has a history of things like this to interest producers with deep pocket books.
Den Of Thieves 2
Raise your hand if you remember the film Den of Thieves? Released in 2018, the Gerard Butler led crime thriller made $80 million globally. It only cost $30 million to make, so Hollywood decided to strap up for another dirty cop mission.
The sequel is going to be packed with action. Butler's character will return and he'll be on the hunt for Donnie, who has become entangled with jewel thieves and the Panther Mafia. What could possibly go wrong? Our guess; just about everything.
The Passion Of The Christ 2 - The Resurrection
A huge hit when it came out, The Passion of the Christ is the highest grossing R-rated film ever made. Released in 2004, a sequel doesn't quite make sense to this one considering nothing very exciting happens before Jesus was resurrected.
Mel Gibson, who directed the original, confirmed that a sequel is happening, and it will follow Jesus as he battles his way through the underworld for three days until his homecoming. Gibson has also said that the film will focus less on Christ and more on the people around him. Get ready for a lot of demon action, Gibson has a crazy biblical story in store for us all!
Doctor Sleep
Three decades might seem like a long time to have to wait for a sequel to The Shining, but it's finally happening. Directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Ewan McGregor, Doctor Sleep will pick up with Danny Torrance as an adult battling with alcoholism and using his shining gift to help those about to pass reconcile with their lives.
If you want to know what happens before the sequel comes out in 2020, you can read the book, which Stephen King published in 2013. It instantly become a best seller and won the Bram Stoker award for Best Novel of the Year.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
Well, that title is a mouthful! The sequel to The Hitman's Bodyguard, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard will team Ryan Reynolds back up with Samuel L. Jackson for more crazy hijinks. Also returning will be Salma Hayek, who played the aforementioned wife.
Without her, after all, there isn't really a sequel to begin with. Critics were not friends to The Hitman's Bodyguard, hitting with a 39 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately for them, the $30 million film took in $177 million globally, and we all know what money means.
Chicken Run 2
Chicken Run is the highest grossing stop-motion movie of all-time. Hitting theaters in 2000, it's shocking that a sequel has taken this long to be made. The plot hasn't been announced yet, but we assume the movie will continue the story of Ms. Tweedy's freed hens.
Aardman Animations has lined up a top notch team to put the movie together. The original writers are crafting the sequel, while the director of ParaNorman is stepping behind the camera. We're pretty excited to see where these chickens are running to next!
Bad Boys For Life
Bad Boys 2 came out in 2003, and fans have been asking for a third one ever since. The wait will finally end in 2020 when Bad Boys For Life hits theaters. The movie, which is keeping its plot underwraps, will see both Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return.
The threequel has been in the works wince at least 2009, when Sony hired Peter Craig to write the script. In 2015, Joe Carnahan was tapped to direct the film, but exited two years later because of scheduling conflicts. One year later, cameras started rolling with new directors.
300 Franchise
After the success of 300, the ancient Greek epic was followed up by 300: Rise of an Empire, which didn't do nearly as well. However, producer Zack Snyder claims that he hasn't given up on the idea quite yet. In an interview with Collider, he said "We've been talking about is there a way, possibly, we move out of Ancient Greece and use it as a framing device for other conflicts that happened throughout history."
He went on to discuss some ideas that are on the table for films that could focus on the Revolutionary War, the Alamo, or even some particular battles from ancient China.
Men In Black International
No, Will Smith did not return to headline the fourth film in the Men in Black franchise. Neither will Tommy Lee Jones. The new adventure reintroduced the suit-wearing alien fighters to a new generation with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson.
Released in 2019, Sony is hoping to create something like the rebooted world in Jurassic World. The movie will be connected to the original trilogy, but will set up a new story and expand the world of the the Men in Black outside of New York.
Murder On The Orient Express 2: Death On The Nile
Although the film received mixed reviews from critics and the public, the film still managed to gross $339 million against its original budget of just $55 million. With those kinds of numbers, it would seem counteintuitive to not make a sequel. So, it appears that Hercule Poirot will be making an appearance again, except this time he will be on a boat ride on the Nile River.
Apparently, the film can be expected to be released in October 2020 and is going to be written by Michael Green, who wrote Blade Runner 2049, Logan, and all the episodes of American Gods.
Call Me By Your Name 2
After the success of the film adaptation of Andre Aciman's novel Call Me By Your Name, director Luca Guadagnino hinted that he would like to check back in on Elio's life in the following years. Then, at the BFI London Film Festival, he announced that he wanted to make a sequel that is set years after the initial film.
In the film, Elio would be dealing with issues surrounding the Gulf War, AIDS, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Although he is serious about making a sequel, he has also opened up about his interest in a series of films that follow the boys throughout their lives.
District 10
Director of District 9, Neill Blomkamp, has mentioned the possibility of a sequel to the film since it first came out. While traveling and promoting his film Chappie, he commented that "I have every intention of doing District 10." This was a relief to fans of the original film, as it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger that had audiences hungry for more.
However, he claims that he needs to find the time to do it and wants to shoot it somewhere else other than Johannesburg. While he doesn't doubt its completion, it just might take some time.
Maleficent 2
Considering that the original Maleficent made a whopping $750 million at the box office, it's safe to assume that Disney has been pushing for a sequel ever since. The original featured Angelina Jolie as the villain from the Sleeping Beauty story and succeeded.
Yet, the sequel is being directed by Joachim Rønning, director of Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge, who is working with Elle Fanning, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film is expected to be released on May 29, 2020, and will most likely be just as successful as the first.
Angel Has Fallen
The third film in the Olympus Has Fallen franchise is coming soon to a theater near you to blow stuff up soon! Starring Gerard Butler, rumor has it the “Angel” in the title of the sequel is Air Force One. Is Butler’s Mike Fanning going to spend two hours on a plane fighting terrorists?
Also returning to the franchise is Morgan Freeman, who played the Speaker of the House in the Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen. Stepping into direct the third entry is Ric Roman Waugh, best known for directing Snitch with Dwayne Johnson.
Zombieland 2
The band is finally getting back together for Zombieland 2. The long awaited sequel to the surprise hit zombie comedy will see the return of the all the original cast members. Well, maybe not Bill Murray, but Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, and Jesse Eisenberg for sure.
Heck, even after directing Venom, Ruben Fleischer is returning to steer the ship. This should be the complete opposite of the attempted television adaptation that came and went without much noise on Amazon Prime years ago.
World War Z 2
This sequel has made on again off again noise since being announced shortly after the success of World War Z. The original movie, starring Brad Pitt, was always intended to be a franchise, but has stumbled like a zombie fresh from the grave on its way there.
Brad Pitt has never stepped away from the franchise though, and even got David Fincher signed on to direct. The last sequel Fincher directed was Alien 3, which provided him his big break. Since then he has stayed firmly with more original projects. Until now.
Toy Story 4
After the incredible ending to the franchise that was Toy Story 3, can there really be a new story to tell? Pixar thinks so, and they know, no matter how much you say you won’t, you will pay to Woody and Buzz one more time.
The new story is set to follow Woody and his romance with Bo Peep. And the best part is you won’t have to wait for very long to see it. Pixar has scheduled it for release in June, 2019. Grab the tissues, you’re going to need them!
Suicide Squad 2
Whether you liked Suicide Squad or not, the movie made over $300 million in theaters. It was a huge hit and Warner Brothers is hungry for more. The good news is they appeared to listen fans complaints about the film and hired James Gunn to write and direct.
For Gunn, the movie moves him from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he directed the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, to the DC Extended Universe, where he’ll have free reign to do what he wants with a new set of characters.
Star Trek 4
Star Trek 4 should have come out already. Even before Star Trek Beyond was released to rave reviews the fourth movie in the rebooted franchise was being planned. The original pitch was that it was going to see Captain Kirk reunited with his dad through the power of time travel.
When Beyond underperformed, Paramount Pictures slowed down their drive to keep the franchise moving at warp speed. Now there are actually competing Star Trek sequels in the works. One is a true sequel that will see all the characters return, while the other is an original idea that will be directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Space Jam 2
How long have we been hearing about Space Jam 2? The first NBA meets Bugs Bunny movie starring Michael Jordan and Bill Murray is a nostalgic favorite of ‘90s kids. They never got the sequel they asked for, but now a whole new generation is going to be let in on the fun.
Starring in, and producing Space Jam 2, is none other than LeBron James, the biggest NBA star in the world. We have to know though, is Jordan going to return? How about Murray? How much bigger will the Mon-Stars be this time around?
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6
This one is more of a soft reboot than a sequel, but a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film is being made. Luckily, Disney has made it clear they plan to relaunch the stale franchise with new faces. Maybe Johnny Depp will have a cameo, but don’t expect another adventure with Captain Jack.
Aside from the Depp news, Disney hasn’t revealed much about the new film. They have hired brilliant screenwriters to take on the challenge with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The pair not only wrote Zombieland, but also Deadpool.
Furiosa
There are two franchises in this world that Vin Diesel will never leave, The Fast and the Furious, and Riddick. The only problem is that Riddick movies have been much harder to make. The low budget horror anti-hero is incredibly popular, but not nearly as marketable as Dominic Toretto.
Still, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Vin Diesel always finds a way. The fourth Riddick film has the working title Furiosa, which should make fans of the character happy. Returning with Diesel will be director David Twohy, who has been behind the lens for every movie before.
RoboCop Returns
It has been confirmed that RoboCop will be returning to the theatres, although it will be making tweaks to the timeline. Although the remake wasn’t as well-received as well as the original film, it did well enough that it was given the go-ahead for a sequel.
RoboCop Returns is written by Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner, the guys who wrote the original RoboCop. This version has been ready for some time, as it was written directly after the first film, although a script was never made.
Happy Death Day 2U
The original film, Happy Death Day, about a girl reliving the same day in which she is repeatedly murdered did surprisingly well after its release.Making $122 million compared to its mere $4.8 million budget, it was a given that there was going to be a sequel packed full of more murders and baby masks.
With the sequel in the works, supposedly the new one is going to make being murdered over and over again look like a walk in the park. It has a release date of February 14, 2019.
The Boy 2
Another surprising horror film that did shockingly well was The Boy, an uneasy film with an unexpected twist at the end. Of course, considering that it’s a horror film, a second one was sure to follow. Director Brent Bell and writer Stacey Menear announced The Boy 2, which this time would feature Katie Holmes.
Supposedly, the sequel focuses on a family that moves into Heelshire Mansion and their son makes a new “friend.” You can imagine where it goes from there. Principal photography for the film starts January 19, 2019.
Night Of The Living Dead 2
Night of the Living Dead is one of the most iconic horror films of all time. It helped to boost zombie movies into the forefront of the horror genre and has been the grandfather of just about every zombie movie or series to come out.
Apparently, the company in charge of the Living Dead franchise got their hands on an old script written by the original writers and producers of the first song. The film is supposed to be a direct follow up of the original, which gives the film a lot of wiggle room.
The Meg 2
When trailers for The Meg reached the public, the majority of people laughed that somebody would be so bold as to try and make and new and improved Jaws-like film. However, the film proved a lot of people wrong racking in $528 million worldwide.
Apparently, a lot of people wanted to see Jason Statham go head-to-head with a prehistoric shark. Almost immediately after the film’s success, plans for the next one were underway. Since the film follows a book series, the plan is most likely to stick to the novels, which only get more intense as the series goes on.
