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? The Passion of the Christ is the highest-grossing R-rated film ever made. Now get ready for the sequel. 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. Our next sequel has a major resurrection in store for audiences. 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.” Next, a sequel looking to take a bite out of your wallet! 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. On the next slide Tom Cruise is feeling the need for more speed! 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? The Passion of the Christ was a controversial film when it hit theaters in 2004. Now, Mel Gibson has confirmed the unusual sequel is happening. Learn more in a few slides. 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? On the next slide, we hit the high seas for an epic sequel! 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. On the next slide, Mel Gibson’s next sequel will surely have people rushing to the movie theater. 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.