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Upcoming Movie Sequels You Didn't Know Were In The Works

If we know anything about the movie industry, it's that Hollywood loves its sequels. That much is obvious from the way we're constantly bombarded with trailers, posters, promos, and news stories about upcoming franchise films. But even as we're being inundated with info about retreads, revivals, and follow-ups, there are quite a few part twos (and beyond) that have successfully stayed under the radar. 

And while we may take it for granted that every superhero adventure and action blockbuster has more franchise filler to come, some long-gestating reunions or odds-defying continuations might totally surprise you. From indie comedies to action epics, let's take a look at some of the sequels you didn't know were being made.

Updated on March 12, 2024: Sequels are hitting theaters and streaming services all the time, and we've updated this list to keep you informed on all the future films that you might've missed out on. We've got the lowdown on part twos, threequels, and installments that are decades in the making. So keep coming back for all the latest info on these upcoming sequels.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - March 22, 2024

After the so-so performance of 2016's "Ghostbusters," Sony rebooted the paranormal adventure franchise with 2021's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife." Set in the world of the original two "Ghostbusters" films, with cameos from living cast members and appearances from characters like Egon Spengler's daughter and grandchildren, the film was a hit at the relatively subdued COVID-era box office, prompting Sony to order a sequel. 

Jason Reitman, director of "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and son of original "Ghostbusters" helmer Ivan Reitman, will return to co-write and produce "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." Gil Kenan will direct and co-write. As the end sequence of "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" suggests, this film will take place in New York City, just like the '80s "Ghostbusters" films, where we'll return to the iconic firehouse hangout. Prepare to see newcomers like Kumail Nanjiani ("Eternals"), Patton Oswalt ("Ratatouille"), and Celeste O'Connor ("Madame Web") alongside returning cast members Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, and Finn Wolfard.

You can also expect the original busters of ghosts — Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson, along with Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz. The plot involves two generations of ghostbusters teaming up to fight the sudden arrival of an Ice Age when an ancient relic awakens a supernatural menace and its horrifying "Death Chill." Prepare for some frosty, frightening fun on March 22, 2024.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - March 29, 2024

Let's get ready to rumble ... again! Everybody's favorite giant monsters — Godzilla and King Kong — have begun training for their anticipated rematch. The first film hit theaters and HBO Max in 2021, earning $468 million at the box office and impressing critics. The man in charge of the film, Adam Wingard, will return to direct, and this time, he's teaming up with an old friend.

Dan Stevens will be playing Titan expert Trapper, having previously worked on Wingard's horror cult classic "The Guest." He'll be joined by MonsterVerse veterans Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry as conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes, and Kaylee Hottle as King Kong's bestie Jia. We'll also meet newcomers played by Rachel House ("Thor: Ragnarok"), Fala Chen ("Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"), and Alex Ferns ("EastEnders").

The script has been penned by longtime Wingard collaborator Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater of "Moon Knight," and Terry Rossio of "Pirate of the Caribbean" fame. But what's the plot of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire?" According to the official synopsis, the follow-up film will find the huge lizard and massive ape joining forces against "a world-ending threat so terrifying that neither could survive alone." This threat comes in the form the Skar King, an evil ape with murder on its mind. The movie will also further examine "the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever." We're excited for the showdown, coming March 29, 2024.

Rebel Moon: Part 2 - The Scargiver - April 19, 2024

Zack Snyder is that rare celebrity filmmaker whose reputation precedes him. Responsible for a series of DC comic book movies, as well as "Sucker Punch" and "300," his films have a particular look that's very popular with the filmgoing audience. Thus, Netflix plunked down a record-setting $166 million for Snyder's latest, "Rebel Moon."

An epic team-up in the tradition of "Seven Samurai" and "The Magnificent Seven," "Rebel Moon" is also a space opera like "Star Wars." The sequel to the 2023 film will follow a group of rag-tag warriors, led by the heroic Kora, as they defend the farming planet of Veldt from the overpowering forces of the Imperium — basically Zack Snyder's version of the Empire. 

The first film hit the streamer on December 21, 2023, and the second installment — "Rebel Moon: Part 2 — The Scargiver" — will hit Netflix on April 19, 2024. The cast will include returning names such as Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, Doona Bae, Ed Skrein, and Fra Fee.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - May 10, 2024

Following three successful films in the rebooted "Planet of the Apes" franchise, a fourth is on the way from "The Maze Runner" director Wes Ball. The series seemed to reach its natural end with 2017's "War for the Planet of the Apes," but according to Ball, "Kingdom" will continue the legacy of Caesar.

Of course, Caesar (Andy Serkis) — the leader of the apes in the first three films — died in "War," so where will the fourth film go? "Kingdom" will take place years after Caesar's death, with apes running the show and humans as the lower class. While some apes are trying to live a peaceful existence, others are trying to build empires, enslaving their fellow primates and hunting for game-changing human tech. The story will follow an ape who stands up to his bloodthirsty brethren, as well as a human woman who will help our furry hero while advancing her own goals.

As for the cast, Owen Teague ("IT," "The Stand") has been cast the lead ape, Noa, and he'll be joined by costars Freya Allen ("The Witcher"), Peter Macon ("The Orville"), and William H. Macy ("Shameless"). They'll be joined by Dichen Lachman of "Severance," Travis Jeffrey of "Unbroken," Sara Wiseman of "One of Us Is Lying," Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi of "The Clearing," Lydia Peckham of "Cowboy Bebop," and Neil Sandilands of "Sweet Tooth."

The script is being penned by Patrick Aison, Josh Friedman, and Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa — who wrote "Rise" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." Talking to FilmSpeak, the latter two elaborated a bit on the themes of the upcoming movie, saying, "Caesar created something and left a legacy. So then the questions are: What happens with that? What becomes of his legacy?"

Furiosa - May 24, 2024

In 2015, "Mad Max: Fury Road" offered a new spin on a classic post-apocalyptic series, casting Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky and shifting focus to Charlize Theron's rage-fueled Imperator Furiosa. "Mad Max: Fury Road" wowed audiences and critics alike, with many considering it one of the best action films of all time, so it seemed that sequels would be inevitable.

Sure enough, there's a "Fury Road" follow-up in the works — or more accurately, a "Fury Road" prequel. Titled "Furiosa," it will bring back the eponymous character, although Theron herself won't be showing up. Director George Miller said that much as he loved Theron's performance in "Fury Road," he doesn't have enough faith in de-aging technology to allow Theron to reprise the part.

Instead, the younger Furiosa will be played by Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Queen's Gambit"), and she'll be joined by Tom Burke of "Mank" and MCU star Chris Hemsworth. The Thor actor will star as a villainous biker warlord named Dementus — a character who's likely existed in the director's head since before the previous film, as he and co-writer Nick Lathouris developed origin stories for every character while prepping "Fury Road." In fact, Lathouris wrote an entire screenplay for "Furiosa" in the process. 

As for the plot, the official synopsis states, "As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home." "Furiosa" will be tearing into theaters on May 24, 2024.

Bad Boys 4 - June 7, 2024

In 1995, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence teamed up with director Michael Bay for "Bad Boys," an action flick that found the two stars as Miami detectives. The film was successful enough to kick off an entire franchise, and after the success of "Bad Boys for Life" in 2020, a fourth installment in the series is on the way. 

"Bad Boys for Life" directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah will direct the follow-up and work from a script by the predecessor film's screenwriter Chris Bremner. Also returning, we've got the two titans themselves — Smith and Lawrence. The stars proclaimed their commitment to the film by simultaneously releasing videos captioned "IT'S ABOUT TIME." 

As for the rest of the cast, Vanessa Hudgens will reprise her "Bad Boys for Life" role as Kelly in the new sequel. Alexander Ludwig and Paola Núnez will also show up, Eric Dane of "Euphoria" will reportedly play the villain, and Ioan Gruffudd of Fox's "Fantastic Four" series will play a Miami political candidate. You can also expect to see Rhea Seehorn of "Better Call Saul" fame, although Theresa Randle has been recast with Tasha Smith ("Why Did I Get Married?") as Martin Lawrence's wife.

Many other key details about "Bad Boys 4," including an official title, have yet to be divulged. But according to Deadline, the movie wrapped filming just before the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and it's scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 7, 2024.

Inside Out 2 - June 14, 2024

After bringing children's playthings to life with the "Toy Story" films and inviting viewers into the secret worlds of fish, monsters, and superheroes with "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc." and "The Incredibles," Pixar gave us "Inside Out" in 2015. It explores the triumphs and pains of childhood through a San Francisco kid named Riley — and the personified emotions (Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust) that live inside her head. "Inside Out" won best animated feature at the Academy Awards and took in $857 million, Pixar to work on a sequel.

At Disney's annual D23 Expo in September 2022, "Inside Out" director Pete Docter concluded the Pixar presentation by bringing out Amy Poehler, who voiced Joy in the original film, to announce the follow-up. Kelsey Mann, a Pixar veteran who co-wrote "The Good Dinosaur," will direct "Inside Out 2," and "Inside Out" screenwriter Meg LeFauve will pen the sequel. Riley is now a teenager, deep in a time of emotional upheaval. "A bunch more emotions get to come in," Docter told Variety. "It's not just the five we saw in the first film."

Indeed, the arrival of one new emotion is central to the "Inside Out 2" teaser trailer. Here, we witness a demolition crew arriving to change everything inside Riley's brain. The biggest change involves the appearance of four new emotions who take over Riley's mind — Anxiety (Maya Hawke of "Stranger Things"), Envy (Ayo Edebiri of "The Bear"), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser of "Black Bird"), and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos of "Blue Is the Warmest Color"). The public can see "Inside Out 2" on June 14, 2024, although expect to hear two new voices coming out of familiar faces. Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling will no longer play Fear and Disgust, respectively. These two characters will instead be voiced by Tony Hale ("Arrested Development") and Liza Lapira ("The Equalizer").

A Quiet Place: Day One - June 28, 2024

While the nearly silent "A Quiet Place" stays entirely focused on one small family headed by parents played by Emily Blunt and John Krasinski (who also co-wrote the script and served as director), the sequel, "A Quiet Place Part II" zooms out. That film brings the surviving characters from the first film into contact with a small, peaceful community that has managed to stay isolated from the sound-seeking monstrosities prowling the world around them. Now a third "A Quiet Place" film is on the docket, one that will show us how the horror all began.

Yep, "Day One" will serve as a "A Quiet Place" prequel, with the menacing aliens invading New York City — a city that's not exactly known for being quiet. "Pig" writer-director Michael Sarnoski will oversee "A Quiet Place: Day One," and the leads will be played by Lupita Nyong'o of the "Black Panther" series and Joseph Quinn of "Stranger Things" fame. Djimon Honsou will return to the "Quiet Place" universe, likely reprising his role as "Man on Island" from "A Quiet Place: Part II," and we'll also see Alex Wolff of "Hereditary." Prepare to see how the terror all started when the latest "Quiet Place" flick hits theaters on June 28, 2024.

Despicable Me 4 - July 3, 2024

Even ahead of the release of "Despicable Me" spinoff "Minions: The Rise of Gru," Universal is looking ahead to the next installment of the main franchise, "Despicable Me 4," which is slated to hit theaters July 3, 2024. The animated "Despicable Me" films center around a reformed supervillain named Gru (voiced by a heavily accented Steve Carell) who leaves his dastardly ways behind him after adopting a trio of adorable daughters and discovering the joys, frustrations, and responsibilities of parenthood. Aided by his troupe of gibberish-speaking yellow Minions, Gru has spent each "Despicable Me" film venturing into the unfamiliar world of heroism in an effort to make the world a safer place for his family.

Along with Carell, returning for "Despicable Me 4" are Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, and Steve Coogan, along with director Chris Renaud, who helmed the first two films. He will be joined by co-director Patrick Delage, who directed both "Sing" movies, and the duo will be working off a script penned by "School of Rock" scribe Mike White. The plot involves Gru and his family running for their lives when an old enemy comes looking for revenge. Making things even more complicated, Gru's brand new baby boy doesn't like him very much. The new cast members include Will Ferrell ("Anchorman") as Gru's old foe, Sofia Vergara ("Modern Family"), Joey King ("Bullet Train"), and talk show host Stephen Colbert, among others. 

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F - July 3, 2024

Good news, Eddie Murphy fans. The beloved star is returning with a sequel to one of his very best movies — "Beverly Hills Cop." The fourth installment will be a collaboration between Murphy and Netflix, after Paramount previously pulled the plug on a planned "Beverly Hills Cop 4" back in 2016. Murphy will reprise his role as Axel Foley, the Detroit cop who repeatedly finds himself traveling to Beverly Hills to investigate various crimes. "Beverly Hills Cop 4" was originally going to be directed by "Bad Boys for Life" directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, but after they dropped out to focus on the now-canceled "Batgirl," the job went to Mark Molloy, a rising filmmaker who's gained attention for his Apple commercials.

As for the screenplay, Will Beall, best known for story credits on "Aquaman" and "Zack Snyder's Justice League," has taken on the fourth movie, titled "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F." The one and only Kevin Bacon ("Tremors"), Taylour Paige ("Zola"), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("The Dark Knight Rises") will be joining Murphy in his fourth outing as the title character. Plus, original stars Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot will all be returning to the franchise. The movie will hit Netflix on July 3, 2024, and the plot will find Axel Foley's daughter — a defense attorney played by Paige — calling her dad for help on a new case where her life is on the line. As they investigate the criminal plot, Foley will have to get along with a new partner, played by Gordon-Levitt, as well as old friends from his past.

Twisters - July 19, 2024

In 1996, "Twister" stormed its way to blockbuster status, offering an irresistible combination of fantastic actors (Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman), romantic tension, science jargon, and a frightening villain: the weather. Directed by action movie stalwart Jan de Bont, "Twister" picked up $241.7 million at the box office, so a sequel makes sense. It just took a long time for all the necessary pieces to come together. 

In October 2022, Deadline reported that Steven Spielberg loved a script written by Mark L. Smith, best known for "The Revenant," and helped put the film into pre-production. After "Top Gun: Maverick" director Joseph Kosinski dropped out over a scheduling conflict, Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and producing partner Universal hired Lee Isaac Chung of "Minari" fame to direct.

Interestingly, "Twisters" won't be a traditional sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it's not a direct-up follow-up to the first film, and no one from the '96 flick is coming back. Instead, it will focus on a former tornado chaser who's forced back into the field thanks to some serious cyclone action. The tornado chaser will be played by Daisy Edgar-Jones of "Where the Crawdads Sing," and she'll be joined by Glen Powell of "Anyone but You," playing a twister-loving daredevil. 

We'll also see Anthony Ramos of "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" and Brandon Perea of "Nope." Maura Tierney ("The Affair"), Kiernan Shipka ("Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"), David Corenswet ("Superman: Legacy"), Tunde Adebimpe ("Spider-Man: Homecoming"), Sasha Lane ("American Honey"), Harry Hadden-Paton ("Downton Abbey"), and Nik Domain ("Atypical") will complete the main cast. "Twisters" is set to roar into theaters on July 19, 2024.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - September 6, 2024

Rejoice, Tim Burton fans. "Beetlejuice 2" — now known as "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" — is finally in the works, with Warner Bros. confirming development at CinemaCon 2023. The original "Beetlejuice" starred Michael Keaton as the titular malevolent spirit (technically named Betelgeuse, although the film title favored the phonetic spelling), who's hired by deceased couple Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, respectively) to rid their former home of its current inhabitants.

Winona Ryder played Lydia Deetz, the teenage daughter of the new homeowners and the only living human who can see the ghosts of the Maitlands — and someone who narrowly avoids marriage to the bio-exorcist Betelgeuse. Ryder is coming back for the sequel, alongside the ghost with the most himself — Michael Keaton. They'll be joined by the returning GOAT Catherine O'Hara, as well as a ton of new faces. Jenna Ortega of "Wednesday" fame will be playing Ryder's daughter. We'll also see Monica Bellucci ("Spectre") playing his wife and Justin Theroux ("The Leftovers") as an unknown character. 

You can also expect the Green Goblin himself, Willem Dafoe, playing an afterlife cop. While we don't know the plot, Burton himself is directing, and we'll see all the haunted fun on September 6, 2024.

Joker: Folie à Deux - October 4, 2024

2019's "Joker" takes a daring new approach to Batman's most famous adversary, as inspired by gritty '70s cinema as it is by comic books. Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a troubled wannabe comedian who suffers an emotional breakdown on the way to becoming the clownish supervillain. Phoenix won an Academy Award for his performance, and "Joker" earned more than $1 billion at the box office. Clearly, there's significant demand for additional movies about this Joker's rise to infamy.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Todd Phillips discussed tackling more DC Comics movies mere days after "Joker" debuted. In June 2022, Phillips cemented rumors of a sequel when he posted a photo of the next "Joker" script to Instagram. The snapshot revealed that the film will be titled "Joker: Folie à Deux." "Folie à deux" is a psychological term referring to a delusion shared by multiple people, which suggests a tantalizing team-up. As it turns out, Phoenix will return in the title role, alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. And in a fascinating twist, the new film will be a musical, one set in Arkham Asylum. Providing at least some of the musical accompaniment will be composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who won an Academy Award for scoring the first "Joker" film.

As for the rest of the cast, Phoenix and Gaga will be joined by Brendan Gleeson ("Paddington 2"), Catherine Keener ("Get Out"), Harry Lawtey ("Industry"), Jacob Lofland ("Mud"), and returning "Joker" actor Zazie Beetz. The film will dance its way into theaters on October 4, 2024.

Smile 2 - October 18, 2024

A horror flick with a truly upsetting premise, "Smile" is one of the few non-franchise horror hits of recent years — one so successful that it's probably the first in what will be a whole series of movies. 

From writer-director Parker Finn, the original "Smile" mines terror and discomfort out of a usually friendly facial expression. The simple smile becomes twisted and unsettling when it's plastered on the faces of those possessed by an evil presence. As for the first movie's plot, after witnessing a college professor's inexplicable death, a student experiences haunting visions of a creepy, smiling creature. Thus, we bear witness to a string of horrific smiles and deaths, which force psychiatrist Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) to figure out how and why the evil virus strikes when she ends up cursed herself.

"Smile" grossed $217 million on a relatively meager budget, so it was a hit in every possible way for Paramount Pictures. And now, we're getting more gruesome, gleeful terror. Parker Finn is coming back to helm the sequel, and Naomi Scott of the recent "Charlie's Angels" and live-action "Aladdin" movie will star alongside Lukas Gage of "The White Lotus," Rosemarie DeWitt of "The Staircase," Dylan Gelula of "Dream Scenario," and a returning Kyle Gallner, among others. We'll see all the unsettling horror play out when "Smile 2" hits theaters on October 18, 2024.

Terrifier 3 - October 25, 2024

One of the most notable entries in the horror sub-genre of killer clown movies, 2016's "Terrifier" indeed terrified audiences with the gruesome and murderous actions of Art the Clown, a dryly humorous prankster not unlike a mix of Pennywise and Freddy Krueger, determined to kill three women on a cursed Halloween evening. With an ultra-low budget of $35,000, "Terrifier" turned into a cult classic and prompted a 2022 sequel. "Terrifier 2," in which Art the Clown is brought back to life by evil forces to stalk and kill on Halloween again, took in $15 million — blockbuster numbers for an unassuming horror sequel.

Now, Art the Clown is coming back with "Terrifier 3." The horror flick will be set on Christmas Eve, with the evil prankster bringing gifts and gore to the unsuspecting citizens of Miles County. Despite the yuletide setting, director Damien Lone has told Variety that it will be more in line with the tone of the first film. "I want to shift back a bit to the tone of 'Part One,'" Leone said, "which I felt was a little more simplistic and old-school, gritty slasher. I want this one to go back in that direction, and I want this to be the scariest one of the trilogy. This one will actually have a little bit more of an evil overtone to it, so this is going to be hopefully the scariest and the darkest?"

David Howard Thornton will reprise the role of Art, and Lauren LaVera is coming back as Sienna Shaw. They'll be joined here by Elliott Fullam as Jonathan Shaw, Samantha Scaffidi as Victoria Heyes, and wrestler Chris Jericho, reprising his part from "Terrifier 2" as a hospital attendant. Art returns to theater screens on October 25, 2024.

Gladiator 2 - November 22, 2024

Ridley Scott is heading back to ancient Rome. Nearly 20 years after the original "Gladiator" hit theaters, Scott is finally making a sequel to the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius. Of course, old Maximus is busy walking through wheat fields in heaven, so what's the sequel going to be about? 

Well, the film is going to start about 25 to 30 years after the original ended and will focus on Lucius, the son of Maximus' old flame, Lucilla. Instead of original actor Spencer Treat Clark, grown-up Lucius will be portrayed by Paul Mescal of "Aftersun." Connie Nielsen — who played Lucius' mom in the first film, Lucilla — is returning for part two. Derek Jacobi will also reprise his "Gladiator" role of Gracchus. Better still, two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington ("Glory" and "Training Day") has joined the cast of "Gladiator 2," which is a reunion of sorts with Scott, his "American Gangster" director. 

Joseph Quinn of "Stranger Things" fame will star as Emperor Caracalla. Fred Hechinger of "The White Lotus" will likely fill the role of Emperor Geta, vacated by Barry Keoghan after a scheduling issue. Pedro Pascal will take a break from killing zombies in "The Last of Us" to appear here, and May Calamway of "Moon Knight" is playing the lead female character.

As for the script, the initial screenplay for the film came from Peter Craig — whose previous credits include "The Town" and 2022's "The Batman" — but it was subsequently worked on by David Scarpa, who also wrote Scott's "Napoleon" film. "Gladiator 2" has received a release date of November 22, 2024.

The Karate Kid sequel - December 13, 2024

Hollywood loves the "Karate Kid" franchise. After the 1984 movie crane-kicked its way into our hearts, we were treated to two '80s sequels, a 1994 semi-reboot, the "Cobra Kai" TV series, and a 2010 remake starring Jackie Chan. Well ... that was a remake, right? A movie completely disconnected from the world of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi? Well, as it turns out, all these properties not only take place in the same universe, but we'll be seeing two of their biggest stars team up together.

On December 13, 2024, we'll return to the world of "The Karate Kid" with a brand new adventure starring Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, reprising his Miyagi-like role from the Jaden Smith movie. As for the plot, The Hollywood Reporter has said, "The latest iteration will bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor." Ben Wang of "American Born Chinese" will play the titular kid seeking some karate counsel, and he'll be joined by Ming-Na Wen of "The Mandalorian" and Joshua Jackson of "Dr. Death." Jonathan Entwistle of "The End of the F***ing World" is directing, and Rob Lieber of "Peter Rabbit" is writing the script. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - December 20, 2024

After the initial trailer sparked revulsion from fans and a hasty redesign by the studio thanks to a bizarrely rendered version of Sonic the Hedgehog, the first film to feature the character managed to win crowds over at the box office, enough to earn itself a sequel. Yet before "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" even zoomed on to screens in April 2022, a third film had already been greenlit by Paramount, which will once again bring together Ben Schwartz as the voice of the titular hedgehog and James Marsden as his endlessly patient and forgiving human best bud Tom, along with Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik.

Plot details about the third film are still sparse. However, we do know that Krysten Ritter ("Jessica Jones") has joined the cat, alongside familiar faces like Idris Elba (Knuckles), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), and Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski). We'll also see new faces like Sofia Pernas ("The Brave"), Cristo Fernández ("Ted Lasso"), and Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island. Much like the blue hedgehog himself, Paramount is moving fast, as the film is currently scheduled to speed into theaters on December 20, 2024.

Mufasa: The Lion King - December 20, 2024

After the massive commercial success of Disney's photo-realistic remake of "The Lion King," it seemed like only a matter of time until a sequel was announced. However, the person taking over the directorial reins from Jon Favreau for "The Lion King 2" — now titled "Mufasa: The Lion King" — is probably not a name most people would have expected to hear: Barry Jenkins, the Academy Award-winning writer and director best known for making poignant dramas with strong racial themes, including "Moonlight" and "If Beale Street Could Talk."

Jenkins won't be writing "Mufasa: The Lion King," but he'll instead be working from a script by Jeff Nathanson, who also penned the first "Lion King." While no specific details of the plot have been revealed, we know the film to be a prequel to the first film, following Mufasa (Aaron Pierre of "The Underground Railroad") and Scar (Kelvin Harrison Jr. of "Chevalier") in their younger years. It will also introduce a number of new characters, who are reportedly named Adah, Horatio, Elijah, Celia, Kaliban, Cardi, and Zola. However, no further information has been provided about these characters, including what types of animals they are or whose side they might be on. 

Although "The Lion King 2" seems like an outlier in Jenkins' filmography, the director sounds excited about working on the sequel for Disney, saying, "Having the opportunity to work with Disney on expanding this magnificent tale of friendship, love and legacy while furthering my work chronicling the lives and souls of folk within the African diaspora is a dream come true." He's also promised quite a few exciting tunes, telling Entertainment Weekly, "Please expect musical numbers. Really wonderful musical numbers, I'd say." Expect to hear those songs on December 20, 2024.

This Is Spinal Tap 2 - 2024

In his "Great Movies" review, Roger Ebert hailed the original "This Is Spinal Tap" as "one of the funniest movies ever made." The 1984 mockumentary tells the story of fading band Spinal Tap, desperately searching for musical glory in a world that's forgotten them. And the whole time, they're being filmed by the not-so-talented documentarian Marty Di Bergi — played by the film's actual director, Rob Reiner.

With its so-terrible-they're-amazing songs ("Big Bottom," "Stonehenge") and its improvised jokes, it's no wonder that "This Is Spinal Tap" became an instant classic. Now, Reiner is getting the band back together. Original stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer will all return as aging and increasingly obsolete British heavy metal musicians Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls, respectively. Reiner will reprise his role as Marty Di Bergi in what he envisions as a conscious parody of "The Last Waltz," the 1976 concert film by Martin Scorsese that chronicled the final shows of The Band. Non-fictional musical icons including Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Garth Brooks will appear in the sequel, too, which is set to begin filming in February 2024, just before the original film's 40th anniversary.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera - Late 2024

"Den of Thieves" might have been a flop with critics, but this heist thriller got away with $80 million at the box office. And in Hollywood, crisp dollar bills talk way louder than rotten tomatoes, leading to the announcement of a sequel just weeks after the first film hit theaters. "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" will reunite original film stars Gerard Butler, O'Shea Jackson Jr, and Meadow Williams with writer-director Christian Gudegast. Joining them for the sequel is Swen Temmel in an undisclosed role.

According to Deadline, the film will follow "Big Nick (Butler), this time on the hunt in Europe for Donnie (Jackson Jr.), who's embroiled in the dangerous world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia as they plot a massive heist of the world's biggest diamond exchange." Deadline further reports that once again, Gudegast spent time "with notorious thieves and the investigators that hunt them" as part of his research for the film. We also know that former UFC champion Michael Bisping is joining the cast, which means we should expect some pretty awesome fight scenes.

Currently, "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" is aiming for a late 2024 release, so the wait for more pulse-pounding heist action shouldn't be long.

Paddington in Peru - January 17, 2025

If anyone had predicted in the early 2010s that one of the most universally beloved and critically acclaimed franchises of the decade would center around a marmalade-loving CGI bear, people would have dismissed them as living in a fantasy world. Yet the two existing "Paddington" films managed to enrapture critics and audiences alike, and viewers can't seem to get enough of the sweet-natured bear and his kind-hearted family. So it's only fitting that a third "Paddington" is on the way, debuting in U.S. theaters on January 17, 2025.

However, while the first two "Paddington" films were helmed by director Paul King, the third will have to find its way without him. King will be staying on as executive producer, but he's decided to step away from the director's chair for "Paddington in Peru," telling Empire Magazine, "At some point, you just have to stop. It might be time for somebody else to do a twist on it." That somebody else will be Dougal Wilson, a veteran of commercials and music videos making his feature film directorial debut. 

As for the actors involved, Hugh Bonneville (Henry Brown), Samuel Joslin (Jonathan Brown), Madeleine Harris (Judy Brown), Julie Walters (Mrs. Bird), Jim Broadbent (Mr. Gruber), Imelda Staunton (Aunt Lucy), and Ben Whishaw (Paddington) are all set to return. Emily Mortimer ("Relic") replaces Sally Hawkins in the role of Mary Brown, while Oscar-winner Olivia Colman ("The Favourite") will play a chipper nun who runs a home for retired bears. Rounding out the main cast, we've got Antonio Banderas ("The Mask of Zorro") as Hunter Cabot, a roguish riverboat captain who guides the Browns through the wilds of Peru, and newcomer Carlo Tous replacing Rachel Zegler (due to the now-concluded SAG-AFTRA strike) as the captain's daughter, Gina Cabot.

M3GAN 2.0 - May 16, 2025

Killer dolls amass devoted cult audiences by combining innocent childhood playthings with evil, murder, mayhem, and usually a little comedy. Following in the steps of Chucky, Annabelle, and "The Boy" comes "M3GAN," a high-tech take on the formula. In this film, a toy company's roboticist (Allison Williams) creates M3GAN, an eerily life-like doll with sophisticated artificial intelligence on board. She's able to learn and adapt to make life better for the child she's imprinted upon — in this case, the roboticist's niece (Violet McGraw). Naturally, things go awry, and M3GAN becomes violently overprotective of her young charge.

"M3GAN" earned $30 million its January 2023 opening weekend, far exceeding industry prognostications. Just days later, Universal took the early steps to bring a sequel to the big screen. Allison Williams and Violet McGraw are returning for the sequel, as is Akela Cooper, who penned the original script (as well as the wonderfully bonkers horror film "Malignant"). Director Gerald Johnstone is also coming back to call the shots from behind the camera, and James Wan, Jason Blum, and Allison Williams herself will be producing. Speaking about the plot with Empire (via Collider), Wan elaborated a bit, saying, "M3GAN is coming back in a big way. The first film came just at the right time [when concerns about AI were mounting], and we're definitely leaning into that on the next one. We're exploring the AI universe even further."

 Expect "M3GAN 2.0" to dance into theaters on May 16, 2025.

Mission: Impossible 8 - May 23, 2025

Ready for more Ethan Hunt stunts? Can't wait to see if our IMF heroes can outsmart the coldly calculating Entity? Well, due to the now-concluded SAG-AFTRA strike, we'll have to wait a little bit as "Mission: Impossible 8" is scheduled to hit theaters on May 23, 2025.

Formerly titled "Dead Reckoning Part Two" before dropping that subtitle in October 2023, the plot of "Mission: Impossible 8" will directly follow the events of "Dead Reckoning," in which Ethan Hunt and crew got their hands on the cruciform key that can defeat the Entity. Their mission will then lead them to sunken sub in the Arctic Circle and also introduce several new faces to the franchise, including Holt McCallany of "Mindhunters," Janet McTeer of "Ozark," Nick Offerman of "Parks and Recreation," and Hannah Waddingham, the Emmy-winning breakout star of "Ted Lasso." 

We'll also get to see the return of a character from the original film — poor William Donloe, who was shipped off to Alaska after Ethan Hunt broke into Langley under his nose. Original actor Rolf Saxon will play the part. There will also be a stunt involving a biplane 2,000 feet up in the air, with Tom Cruise actually standing on the thing instead of sitting in it like a normal person, as well as some sort of underwater action. 

The Black Phone 2 - June 27, 2025

"The Black Phone," which hit theaters in 2022, was a truly terrifying horror movie with a memorable, sinister villain, as well as a hero who audiences could champion. It was also a critically acclaimed film, winning the Saturn Award and Hollywood Critics Association Film Award for best horror movie to go along with its $160 million box office haul. 

In Scott Derrickson's film — based on the short story by Joe Hill — Ethan Hawke played a kidnapper and murderer known only as The Grabber, who terrorizes his young victims by locking them in a basement where they can't be seen, heard, or found before he kills them. Mason Thames played 13-year-old Finney, nabbed and detained by The Grabber. He's got just one means of escape — listening to the coaching and counsel of the ghosts of The Grabber's murder victims, who speak through a broken phone in the basement.

With critical approval, commercial success, and a novel plot, a sequel was a probability ... and now it's a certainty. In October 2023, Universal and Blumhouse announced that they'd ordered a sequel to "The Black Phone," one with which they hope to start a new franchise.  Blumhouse further revealed that many original cast members would reprise their roles in "The Black Phone 2." Hawke, Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora will all be back. Screenwriters Scott Derrickson (who also directed the original movie) and C. Robert Cargill will tackle the script for the sequel, with Derrickson reprising his role as director. The film will ring throughout movie theaters on June 27, 2025.

Zootopia 2 - November 26, 2025

In an investor earnings call in February 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted at a bright future for the company's cinematic prospects, announcing that pre-production had started on some big franchise entries. In addition to mentioning "Toy Story 5" and "Frozen 3," Iger broke the news that "Zootopia 2" was happening.

Earning more than $1 billion at the global box office in 2016, "Zootopia" presented a bustling city populated by talking animals, with the plot centered around idealistic rookie rabbit police officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and scrappy small-time fox crook Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). Together, they solve a mystery with links to the city's most powerful mammals while gently suggesting allegorical lessons about the importance of tolerance and diversity.

Disney expanded the "Zootopia" universe in 2022 with the "Zootopia+" series of shorts for its Disney+ streaming service in advance of a full-fledged big-screen sequel. The plot of "Zootopia 2" will further flesh out the universe, although the premise is yet to be announced. However, we're guessing it will likely involve the police exploits of Hopps, along with new force member Wilde. We'll find out for sure when the film bounds into theaters on November 26, 2025.

Avatar 3 - December 19, 2025

With its mix of blue-skinned aliens, environmental messages, and incredible action sequences, James Cameron's "Avatar" series has grossed billions of dollars at the box office. The first two "Avatar" films are among the highest-grossing movies of all time, and Cameron is gearing up for a third trip to Pandora. The man has plans for a five-film series, and we already know quite a bit about the upcoming third installment.

In January 2023, the director spoke to Deadline about "Avatar 3," saying, "Fire has a symbolic purpose in the film, and there's a culture that is specifically around that concept. ... You're going to meet two completely new cultures in the next film." Evidently, this fire nation will be a bit different from your normal Na'vi. Led by Oona Chaplin from "Game of Thrones," the so-called "Ash People" will actually be a villainous bunch, with Cameron telling 20 Minutes (via /Film), "I want to reveal the Na'vi from another angle because [so far] I have only shown their good sides. In the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Na'vi examples. In 'Avatar 3,' we'll do the reverse." 

We also know that instead of Jake Sully doing voiceover, "Avatar 3" will be narrated by his son, Lo'ak, and we can also expect to see the return of Payakan the tulkun, Scoresby the whaler, and Kate Winslet's Ronal. However, we will have to wait a while to return to Pandora. Originally, "Avatar 3" was meant to release on December 20, 2024, but after Disney majorly reshuffled their release slate, the film received a new theatrical date: December 19, 2025

Static Media owns and operates /Film and Looper.

Thanksgiving 2 - 2025

Eli Roth has been directing horror films for quite a while, and none of them garnered much critical respect. But that all changed with 2024's "Thanksgiving," the film based on the fake trailer Roth made for 2007's "Grindhouse." The feature-length movie won massive praise for being a fun throwback to '80s slashers. Audiences ate it up too, with the holiday-themed fright flick grossing $46 million against a $15 million budget.

And like any good slasher, you can't keep John Carver down. "Thanksgiving 2" is in the works, with Eli Roth and Jeff Rendell returning to pen the sequel. While not confirmed, it also seems that actors Nell Verlaque and Rick Hoffman — who played protagonist Jessica and Jessica's dad, respectively — will return for part two. At the moment, the hopes are that "Thanksgiving 2" will be served up sometime in 2025, so prepare for more Turkey Day terror in the near future.

The Batman - Part II - October 2, 2026

After Matt Reeves' gritty version of Batman swooped into theaters in 2022, earning praise for Robert Pattinson's performance as the Caped Crusader, it seemed a foregone conclusion that there would be more movies to come. After all, since when has a Batman movie not gotten a sequel? Sure enough, "The Batman Part II" will bring back Reeves and Pattinson. We know that Andy Serkis is returning as Alfred Pennyworth, and it's been rumored that Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, and Zoë Kravitz are returning to their respective roles of Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman.

But who will be the main antagonist? Well, similar to how Reeves transformed the Riddler from a catsuit-wearing supervillain into a serial killer, Reeves has said he'd like to similarly reimagine another classic Batman villain. "In my view, I just feel drawn to finding the grounded version of everything," Reeves said during a 2022 press event. "So to me it would be a challenge in an interesting way to try and figure out how that could happen, even the idea of something like Mr. Freeze, that such a great story, right? I think there's actually a grounded version of that story, which could be really powerful and could be really great." Pattinson himself said he'd like to see the Court of Owls — a behind-the-scenes organization calling the shots in Gotham — appear in the story, while there have been rumors that possibly Clayface or Harvey Dent might show up.

However, none of the Reeves-Pattison "Batman" movies will tie in with the rebooted DCU. When announcing their plans in January 2023, co-franchise head James Gunn explained that darker and more mature DC films, such as "The Batman Part II," would be released as standalone entities under the "DC Elseworlds" banner.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2 - October 9, 2026

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been part of pop culture for decades. Starting out as the stars of a darkly funny underground comic book, these four mutated turtles are named after Renaissance artists, study with a wise old rat named Splinter, and fight a crime lord named Shredder — when they aren't living in the sewer and eating pizza, that is. Following multiple animated TV series and seven theatrical movies, the Turtles returned to animation with 2023's critically acclaimed "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem."

Days before the projected blockbuster opening of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," Paramount got ahead of the demand. The studio announced development of a two-season, 2-D animated series on Paramount+, "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," as well as another theatrical film in the rebooted franchise. "Mutant Mayhem" director and co-screenwriter Jeff Rowe is set to return to the second movie, as will franchise overseer Lukas Williams on behalf of production company Point Grey Pictures. The primary voice actors of "Mutant Mayhem" — Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon — have signed up for the connected TV series, which means they're likely to come back for the yet-to-be-subtitled film sequel.  

While we don't have solid plot details, Rowe told Collider that the movie will be "a villain-forward film." He also explained that he and his fellow creatives are trying to figure out the proper way to introduce the Turtles' most iconic villain — Shredder. So it looks like the infamous antagonist will be the main baddie of the next film, and we can't wait to see his Foot Clan wreak some serious havoc.

Toy Story 5 - 2026

During a quarterly earnings call in February 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger delivered some news designed to get investors hyped about the future of the entertainment conglomerate — sequels to some of Disney's biggest movies were on the way. Along with new "Zootopia" and "Frozen" movies, the Disney-owned Pixar will produce and release "Toy Story 5."

The yet-to-be-announced plot of "Toy Story 5" would have to find a way to reunite the franchise's characters and start fresh. "Toy Story 4" ended conclusively, with Woody leaving his toy gang to build a life with Bo Peep while the rest returned to live in Bonnie, their human overlord since "Toy Story 3." Pixar creative chief officer Pete Docter told Variety in June 2023 that both Woody and Buzz would be back, the former presumably voiced by Tom Hanks as usual and the latter by Tim Allen, who went on "The Tonight Show" and confirmed Disney had reached out to both himself and Hanks.

As for when "Toy Story 5" might hit movie theaters, Disney announced in February 2024 that we'd see the fifth film sometime in 2026. We know Pixar has one movie coming out on March 6, 2026 and another marked for June 19, 2026. So on one of those dates, chances are good we'll be returning to the world of Buzz, Woody, and Jessie.

Frozen 3 - 2026

Since it started making animated features back in 1937 with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Disney has produced a lot of classics that have made a lot of money. The most recent addition to that rarified canon was "Frozen." Released in 2013 and based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, "Frozen" earned $1.2 billion by combining a plot about self-acceptance (Queen Elsa's ice touch inadvertently creates a permanent winter) with unforgettable characters (Olaf the self-aware snowman) and showtunes (the Oscar-winning "Let It Go"). 

The global embrace of "Frozen" — and probably the $122.7 billion in merchandise sales — made "Frozen II" a given for Disney. The enchanted road movie, in which Elsa, sister Anna, Olaf, and others leave their kingdom to discover the secret behind the queen's freezing powers, out-earned its predecessor with a $1.4 billion box office haul.

Clearly, the people want more "Frozen," and Disney is more than happy to provide it. During a 2023 investor call, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that "Frozen 3" was in the early stages of production. Cast members Josh Gad (Olaf) and Idina Menzel (Elsa) have publicly confirmed that they'll return to the franchise. Meanwhile, "Frozen" and "Frozen II" co-director Jennifer Lee announced in June 2023 that she won't helm "Frozen 3," but she'll remain on the production in some way,

Disney has yet to say much about the plot of "Frozen 3," but they have revealed the movie will be released sometime in 2026. As Disney has plans to release an animated movie on November 25, 206, that's probably when we're returning the land of Arendelle.

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse - TBA

Now that we've all seen "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," we have a pretty good idea of what to expect in the third installment, titled "Beyond the Spider-Verse." Gwen Stacy and her cadre of Spider-Pals have to rescue Miles from an alternate dimension where he's been kidnapped by a version of himself who happens to be that universe's Prowler. To make matters worse, the all-powerful Spot is preparing to murder Miles' dad while a furious Miguel O'Hara is doing everything in his power to prevent Miles from saving his father.

There's a whole lot of drama going on, so when will see the third film play out? The film was at one point scheduled to hit theaters on March 29, 2024, although the directing trio of Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson weren't 100% sure they're going to hit that date. With all that gorgeous, complex animation, it takes a while to make a "Spider-Verse" movie. In July 2023, Sony officially gave the film a release date of "TBD," as additional voiceover work was needed from actors, which they couldn't provide during the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Fortunately, it now looks like things are moving forward, as co-producer and co-writer Chris Miller (who penned both previous film with Phil Lord and David Callaham) revealed at an FYC Event, "We're in production. We're really excited about where the story is going, I think it's a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and it's as emotional as the other ones. ... We're knee-deep in it." Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Miller also said the third movie will be "the end of the Miles Morales trilogy and this whole thing is like working towards that."

Constantine 2 - TBA

In 2005's "Constantine," Keanu Reeves portrayed the titular world-weary exorcist, a dying man who can talk to demons and angels while moving between Earth and the underworld. Budgeted at a steep $100 million, the movie only earned $75 million at the domestic box office (with $220 million worldwide). Considered a disappointment at the time, "Constantine" has since been majorly re-evaluated and has found its fan base. And now, we're crossing our fingers that John Constantine is coming back for a sequel.

In September 2022, Deadline reported a follow-up was on the way, with Reeves set to reprise the role of John Constantine and original film director Francis Lawrence coming back as well. Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman was tapped to pen the script and produce. However, in March 2023, Keanu Reeves gave a disappointing update on the movie to CinemaBlend, saying, "We're trying [to make it]. I don't know if it's gonna happen." His "Constantine" costar Rachel Weisz echoed that pessimism  telling ComicBook.com in April 2023, "Nobody's mentioned anything to me."

But since then, we've heard some positive news. After the writers' strike ended, director Francis Lawrence spoke to GameSpot and said, "Keanu and Akiva Goldsman and I have been in meetings and have been hashing out what we think the story is going to be, and there's more meetings of those that have to happen. The script has to be written." He also added this won't be some sanitized version of "Constantine," as they're aiming for an R rating.

Fall 2 - TBA

In August 2022, "Fall" was released with little fanfare, but this little indie thriller became a hit anyway, in large part thanks to its captivating premise. Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner play friends who decide to climb all the way up a 2,000-foot-tall radio tower in the middle of the desert. The scares don't come from the ascent but from the aftermath, when the two find themselves trapped on the tower without any clear means of getting down. "Fall" earned nearly $22 million against its $3 million budget, and it was also super popular on streaming.

Clearly, there exists an audience eager for intense movies about people getting caught in high and precarious places, and those people are in luck. We're getting two "Fall" sequels from Tea Shop productions, with original director Scott Mann producing both movies and helming the third film (we're unsure who's directing "Fall 2" at the moment). It also seems like Grace Caroline Currey will be coming back, as The Hollywood Reporter announced, "'Fall 2' and 'Fall 3' will bring back original characters from the first film, while also leaving room for new ones to be introduced.'"

"Fall 2" begins shooting in June 2024, so prepare for the franchise to take the terror to new heights in the very near future.

Freaky Friday 2 - TBA

"Freaky Friday" follows a mother and daughter who magically switch bodies and come to understand one another better after literally spending some time in each other's shoes. It's an easily repeatable formula, as evidenced by the multiple versions of the movie released in 1976, 1995, and 2018. The 2003 take, which stars Jamie Lee Curtis as stressed-out mother Tess Coleman and Lindsay Lohan as wannabe rock star daughter Anna Coleman, earned $160 million at the box office and launched Lohan's post-child star career.

While hitting the awards show circuit for 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (for which she won an Academy Award), Curtis repeatedly mentioned that she'd like to play Tess Coleman again, and that she'd already engaged in preliminary talks with Disney about a sequel. The movie became official in May 2023, when Curtis and Lohan announced "Freaky Friday 2" in a New York Times retrospective on the first film. Short film auteur Elyse Hollander has been hired to write the screenplay in what will be her first feature-length project.

"Freaky Friday 2" would need to begin production relatively soon. After acquiring an Oscar and reaching retirement age in 2023, Curtis is seemingly looking ahead to a victory lap. "I'm 65 this year. I think 'Freaky Friday' would be a nice little revisit. I have some other things I'm trying to do. I got to wind it down," Curtis told ComicBook.com.

Heat 2 - TBA

For fans of 1970s-style new American cinema and crime epics like "The Godfather," the cinematic event of 1995 was "Heat." Featuring the rare and precious on-screen pairing of two of the most acclaimed tough-guy actors of their generation, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, "Heat" is a lengthy film noir about professional thieves who make a big mistake during a high-profile heist, and the LAPD officers closing in on them. "Heat" performed moderately well at the box office, earning $187 million worldwide, but it has since become a cult phenomenon.

"Heat" is also a project close to the heart of writer-director Michael Mann, who fashioned the film out of an overlooked made-for-TV movie called "L.A. Takedown." In 2022, Mann released a sequel, "Heat 2," in the form of an original novel. The book is like "The Godfather Part II" in that there are two timelines — one years before "Heat" and one after the events of the film. That tome will serve as source material for "Heat 2" the movie. Original "Heat" studio Warner Bros. entered into talks in early 2023 to produce the sequel. Adam Driver of "Marriage Story" and "Star Wars" fame is reportedly at the top of the studio's list of preferred actors to play the young Neil McCauley, portrayed by De Niro in the first "Heat."

As 2023 wore on without a lack of notable development on the project, Variety asked Mann if he felt he had the time or inclination to make the "Heat 2" film now that he's in his 80s. "Don't misunderstand. I want to make it," Mann said. "But if I don't, I won't be incomplete." However, in October 2023, Mann was speaking at Deadline's Contenders London event and confirmed that the "Heat" sequel would be his next project.

I Am Legend 2 - TBA

Based on Richard Matheson's novel, 2007's "I Am Legend" starred Will Smith as Robert Neville, a survivor of an apocalyptic plague that transformed most of the world's humans into a terrifying cross between zombies and vampires. However, the film's ending didn't leave a lot of room for Smith to return for a sequel, as he sacrificed himself at the end of the horror flick.

However, an alternate ending found Neville and two new allies heading to a survivors' camp in possession of a cure. According to the original film's writer, Akiva Goldsman, the upcoming "I Am Legend 2" will follow that unused ending. "This will start a few decades later than the first. We trace back to the original Matheson book and the alternate ending," Goldsman told Deadline. "What Matheson was talking about was that man's time on the planet as the dominant species had come to an end. That's a really interesting thing we're going to get to explore." 

Michael B. Jordan of "Creed" and "Black Panther" is set to headline "I Am Legend 2," along with Smith. Alice Braga, who portrayed survivor Anna in the original film, would also love to appear. "I was very excited to hear that they were continuing with the movie. I hope they do," Braga told Complex in 2023. "I was almost jumping on the phone and saying, 'Can I please be in it? Can I please be in it?'"

While development of the movie was put on pause due to the Writers Guild of America strike, it seems the movie is back on track. Speaking to Variety in December 2023, Will Smith gave an update on Akiva Goldsman's sequel screenplay, saying the "script just came in."

Lords of War - TBA

A very dark drama about the morally and legally questionable practice of international arms dealing, "Lord of War" was a solidly received minor box office hit of 2005. Nicolas Cage stars as Yuri Orlov, a notorious Queens-based criminal who tries to avoid capture by federal agents and keep his business afloat. This involves a lot of interplay and ethical juggling between Orlov and his younger brother, Vitaly (Jared Leto). Now a sequel is coming, which will feature a similar dynamic. Here, Yuri meets and wages war against Anton, the son he supposedly never knew he had, played by "It" and "John Wick: Chapter 4" star Bill Skarsgard. 

In this "Lord of War" sequel, titled "Lords of War," Anton is driven to take down his father's enterprise — for totally selfish purposes — and aims to build an army of soldiers of fortune to participate in U.S.-led military operations in the Middle East. Laura Harrier of "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and Hulu's "White Men Can't Jump" has also joined the cast. Produced by Vendome Pictures and Cage's Saturn Films, "Lords of War" will begin filming in March 2024 with a script and direction from Andrew Niccol, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of "The Truman Show" and the filmmaker behind the first "Lord of War."

Mortal Kombat 2 - TBA

Although 2021's "Mortal Kombat," based on the hit video game franchise, didn't wow the critics, it performed well enough at the box office and on HBO Max to get a sequel greenlit. The script for "Mortal Kombat 2" will come from "Moon Knight" creator Jeremy Slater, with Simon McQuoid returning to direct. 

Lewis Tan will reprise the role of martial artist Cole Tan, and basically everybody from the first film is coming back for part two. Expect to see Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, and Chin Han as Shang Tsung. Plus, the epic rivalry continues, as Joe Taslim is back as Sub-Zero and Hiroyuki Sanada is returning as Scorpion.

The sequel will presumably pick up where the first film left off, with Cole on a mission to seek out the martial artist and movie star Johnny Cage. Cage is set to play be played by "The Boys" lead Karl Urban, and we can also expect to see Tati Gabrielle ("You") as Jade, Adeline Rudolph ("Chilling Adventures of Sabrina") as Kitana, Martyn Ford ("F9") as Shao Khan, Desmond Chiam ("Joy Ride") as King Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen ("The Spy Who Never Dies") as Queen Sindel, and Damon Herriman ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") as Quan Chi. 

The first film released simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters, but we're expecting this one to play exclusively on the big screen. As for its current status, filming began in June 2023 and wrapped in January 2024. However, there's going to be quite a bit of post-production work on the film, so it still might be a minute before we see the violent martial arts action play out.

Nobody 2 - TBA

2021's "Nobody" stars unlikely action hero Bob Odenkirk — best known for his performance as Saul Goodman on "Better Call Saul" and "Breaking Bad" and his extensive comedy career — as seemingly unassuming dad Hutch Mansell. When his mundane life is upended by Russian mobsters, Hutch must get back in touch with the skills he cultivated as an assassin.

Conditions were ripe for a sequel. There's rage to spare in Hutch's heart, and "Nobody" was a rare hit of the COVD-19 era. In August 2022, "Nobody" director David Leitch told Collider that another film was in the (very early) works. "Everyone involved is like, 'Full steam ahead,'" Leitch said. "We are in the script process ... the studio loved the results, and it's happening. I mean, I think it's happening as fast as we can make it happen." 

As far as that script goes, "Nobody" screenwriter Derek Kolstad participated in a Collider interview of his own in April 2021, during which he discussed the possibility of a sequel. As it turns out, he already has some killer ideas for a potential opening scene. And it seems like the film will be shooting in 2023, so expect to see Odenkirk beating up bad guys very soon. And if he has his way, the action will be mixed with a bit of humor.

Speaking with IndieWire, Odenkirk revealed, "I found the action sequences [in 'Nobody'] a great deal of fun and close to doing sketch comedy. I love the early Jackie Chan films, which had humor in them. I'd like to get that in the future." He also added that he wants to do a third film one day. "My hope is we get to do a trilogy, and he ends up with nothing. He destroys everything he loves."

The Old Guard 2 - TBA

With the open-ended conclusion of the 2020 Charlize Theron action hit "The Old Guard," it seemed as though the film was begging for a sequel. Sure enough, "The Old Guard 2" is in the works for Netflix, which will bring back star Charlize Theron as Andy, the millennia-old mercenary who, in the first film, realized her immortality was finally beginning to wane. Also returning will be Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli, who played Joe and Nicky, respectively, life partners for centuries who were also part of Andy's group. We'll also get to see the return of KiKi Layne as new recruit Nile Freeman, Matthias Schoenaerts as the traitorous Booker, Veronica Ngo as a very angry immortal, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the CIA agent who becomes their handler. Plus, Uma Thurman ("Kill Bill") and Henry Golding ("Crazy Rich Asians") will join the cast.

Victoria Mahoney is directing, and while no plot details have been released yet, the first film set up some intriguing possibilities. Spoiler alert: After betraying the other members of their group and being punished with a century of exile, Schoenaerts' Booker comes face to face with Ngo's Quynh, a former member of their immortal squad who they had thought was lost forever at the bottom of the ocean. Although Quynh used to be Andy's closest ally, who knows whose side she'll be on after centuries of drowning? 

While a firm release date hasn't been locked down, Charlize Theron told The Hollywood Reporter in December 2022 that filming had wrapped. However, Matthias Schoenaerts told Collider in February 2024 that he believes some behind-the-scenes shakeups were causing delays, but he hasn't given up hope on the film, saying, "I know we're hitting the last stage of post-production, so it's gonna show up at some point."

Plane 2: Stowaway - TBA

Despite its simple title, 2023's "Plane" is anything but a straightforward thriller about stuff going haywire on a jet. First, commercial pilot Brodie Torrance (action movie stalwart Gerard Butler) has to save his passengers from death after their plane absorbs a bolt of lightning. Then, he discovers that the island where he makes an emergency landing is engulfed in a war. The passengers quickly become hostages. Torrance's only ally and muscle is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an elite French soldier and accused killer who is mid-extradition. 

"Plane" turned out to be exactly what audiences were craving: It grossed $74 million at the worldwide box office. Thus, in September 2023, production moved forward on a "Plane" sequel, with filmmakers agreeing to an interim deal with SAG-AFTRA, the striking actors union. "Plane 2: Stowaway" won't be set on an airplane, however. Colter will once again portray Gaspare as he sneaks onto a cargo ship and does battle with a human trafficking ring. "Plane 2" director Jean-Francois Richet will helm the sequel, while Butler will return only as a producer.

The Pope's Exorcist 2 - TBA

The rare supernatural horror movie that's also a 1980s period piece and something of a biopic starring an Oscar-winning actor, "The Pope's Exorcist" was a solid hit, earning a tidy $66 million in spring 2023. Russell Crowe stars as Father Gabriele Amorth, a character based on the very real person of the same name, who allegedly spent years casting out demons on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church.

"The Pope's Exorcist" tells just a small part of Amorth's story — specifically, the time during which he claimed to have expelled tens of thousands of demons. That makes for a lot of sequel potential, and indeed, just two weeks after "The Pope's Exorcist" hit movie theaters, Screen Gems began development on another movie about Amorth's demon-hunting adventures. No word yet on whether Crowe will return to the role, or if the original film's helmer Julius Avery is in line to direct the sequel.

Troll 2 - TBA

Monster film "Troll" hit Netflix in December 2022. Soon after, it became the streaming service's biggest non-English movie ever, with a whopping 103 million views and a place in Top 10 lists all over the Netflix-using world. "Troll" concerns the efforts of brave paleontologist Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann) who finds clever ways to stop a monstrous troll. Said troll has been unhappily awakened from a very long slumber by an industrial explosion in the Norwegian mountains, and sets off on a trail of destruction and chaos.

There are many more Norwegian folk, fairy, and monster tales to explore. Since "Troll" was such a smash, a follow-up will start filming in 2024. All the creative principals from "Troll" will return for "Troll 2," including director Roar Uthaug, screenwriter Espen Aukan, producers Espen Horn and Kristian Strand Sinkerud, and Norwegian production studio Motion Blur.

The Return of the Rocketeer - TBA

Dave Stevens' '80s cult comic book "The Rocketeer" clearly took inspiration from mid-century movie matinee adventure serials, and in 1991, things came full circle when Disney brought the story to the big screen. Billy Campbell starred as Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot living in Los Angeles in 1938 who finds a jet pack that allows him to soar through the sky while evading the FBI, its inventor Howard Hughes, and the Nazis who want it badly. Before "The Rocketeer" was even released, Disney (parent company of the production companies that made the movie) thought it could launch a trilogy. But shortly after the film hit theaters in 1991 and performed only moderately well at the box office, Disney discontinued sequel plans, star Billy Campbell told MTV News

Ever since then, Disney has been trying to get another "Rocketeer" off the ground, and now, they're taking flight with "The Return of the Rocketeer." Eugene Ashe of the Tessa Thompson movie "Sylvie's Love" will write the script, and David Oyelowo of "Selma" and "Lawmen: Bass Reeves" will both produce and star in the upcoming movie. Speaking with The Wrap, Oyelowo described the adventure flick, saying about the new hero, "In our film, he's going to be an ex-Tuskegee airman, so it's still in that 1940s milieu. We know we have to adhere to the things that people loved about the first one. But that was 30 years ago, so we want to make a film that's going to resonate for the next 30 years and especially for the now. That's the needle we have to thread, and we're working hard to do so."

The Conjuring: Last Rites - TBA

Not only one of the most consistently creepy franchises in recent years, the Vera Farmiga/Patrick Wilson headlined "Conjuring" universe is also one of the most lucrative series of any kind, raking in over $2 billion at the global box office. That includes the haunted doll "Annabelle" movies, "The Nun" films, and the original "Conjuring" trilogy, set off by the '70s-set modern horror classic from 2013 about paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren who look into claims of a dark and evil presence at a spooky rural farmhouse where a bunch of dark and evil acts once occurred. The Warrens' ghost-hunting continued in 2016's "The Conjuring 2" and 2021's "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It."

With plenty more ghost stories to tell and a receptive, paying audience ready to watch them, "The Conjuring" franchise will expand again with a fourth movie, subtitled "Last Rites." Lead studio New Line has signed up David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who penned both "Conjuring" sequels, to write the script for the fourth movie. Franchise-originating producers James Wan and Peter Safran will also oversee the new film, with Michael Chaves returning from "The Devil Made Me Do It' to direct. Farmiga and Wilson are once more playing the roles of Lorraine and Ed Warren, and we're assuming "Last Rites" will be connected to "The Nun" series, as the "The Nun II" ended with the Warrens getting a call to action. In other words, it looks like their battle with the demon Valak isn't over.

More importantly, will this be the final "Conjuring" movie? The film's title seems pretty ominous in that regard. Well, when asked that question in a January 2023 interview with Collider, Wan responded, "You never know. We'll see."

Tron: Ares - TBA

Released in 1982, Disney's "Tron" was the first film featuring long sequences rendered entirely with computers. Starring Jeff Bridges as a video game designer trapped in one of his own projects, the film became a cult classic, so much so that Disney released "Tron: Legacy" in 2010, starring Garrett Hedlund as Flynn's son, who enters the dangerous cyber dimension to retrieve his father.

"Tron: Legacy" performed well enough to prompt Disney to order a sequel, "Tron: Ascension." "Tron: Legacy" director Joseph Kosinski had the entire film written and storyboarded when Disney canceled the project in 2015. That third "Tron" movie project lay dormant for seven years. However, Academy Award winner Jared Leto stepped up to get "Tron 3" into production as far back as 2017, and in 2023, Disney finally green-lit a new sci-fi adventure titled "Tron: Ares."

A direct sequel to "Tron: Legacy," the new film will star Leto, acting out a script by Jesse Wigutow, best known for writing a never-produced reboot of "The Crow." Joachim Rønning, a live-action Disney favorite who helmed "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," is set to direct. Leto will play Ares, the Tron program in its human form, who somehow enters the human world. Greta Lee of "Past Lives" and "Russian Doll" has been cast in a lead role, and Emmy-winning "Mare of Easttown" actor Evan Peters will co-star in a yet to be disclosed part. 

You can also expect to see Jodie Turner-Smith of "Queen & Slim" and Gillian Anderson of "The X-Files." It's been rumored that Cillian Murphy might play the villain, reprising his role as ENCOM bigwig Edward Dillinger Jr. Sarah Desjardins ("Yellowjackets") and Cameron Monaghan ("Shameless") have also joined the cast.

Hocus Pocus 3 - TBA

"Hocus Pocus" was only a moderate hit during its initial release in 1993. It told the not-too-scary story of teenager Max, who's new to Salem, Massachusetts. Along with his little sister Dani and his crush Allison, Max accidentally awakens the Sanderson sisters — a trio of witches who've been lying in wait for 300 years to wreak havoc, lure children, and become immortal beings. However, in the years after its release, "Hocus Pocus" became a classic family Halloween film, popular enough to inspire a sequel.

"Hocus Pocus 2" hit Disney+ in September 2022, racking up 2.73 billion minutes of watch time over its first three days of availability. Evidently, the head honchos at the House of Mouse were impressed because they've ordered up a "Hocus Pocus 3." Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, screenwriter Jen D'Angelo has dished a bit on what we might see in the threequel, saying, "We have so many directions in which to go and so many new characters to explore. We've only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham's mother witch."

So it looks like we might be seeing the "Ted Lasso" star back in action for part three. D'Angelo also said she wants the three big stars — Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy — to reprise their roles of the Sanderson sisters, and they'd have to, right? What would a "Hocus Pocus" movie be without those three delightfully wicked witches?

Now You See Me 3 - TBA

It's no trick — another "Now You See Me" is in the works. The newest take on the magician-heist fantasy will be directed by Ruben Fleischer of "Venom" and "Uncharted" fame. In a November 2023 investor call (via ComicBook.com), Lionsgate Motion Picture Group boss Joe Drake announced that the film, in the works since 2020, would be a "fresh take" on the IP with a "reimagining" of the script, with Gavin James ("Footsteps") and Michael Lesslie ("Assassin's Creed") now credited as co-writers on the project.

Released in 2013, the first "Now You See Me" starred Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco as a group of magicians who band together to pull off an elaborate heist in order to earn entrance to an elite secret society. In "Now You See Me 2," due to Fisher's exit, a new "Fourth Horseman" is introduced, played by Lizzy Caplan. Both films also feature characters played by Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman, and the second film brings in Daniel Radcliffe as its charismatic antagonist. The cast for the third film is yet to be revealed, as is the plot.

Extraction 3 - TBA

After delving into producing original content to go along with its vast catalog of streaming options, Netflix developed a bona fide blockbuster franchise worthy of the multiplex. In April 2020, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Chris Hemsworth headlined Netflix's "Extraction," portraying black ops mercenary Tyler Rake, who embarks on a perilous mission to rescue the son of an international crime boss. "Extraction" swiftly became Netflix's most-watched original film ever to that point, viewed at least in part by 99 million homes in its first month of availability, and remained a popular choice well into the summer.

It was so widely captivating with such a repeatable premise — Rake gets into and out of a seemingly unsurvivable situation involving ruthless criminals and thrilling action sequences — that Netflix ordered "Extraction 2," debuting on the service on June 16, 2023. Just one day later, at the streamer's Tudum festival, Hemsworth and franchise director Sam Hargrave appeared to break the news that "Extraction 3" was in the works. No details beyond the involvement of Hemsworth and Hargrave have leaked yet, including a release date. If the trajectory of past films holds true, "Extraction 3" will likely hit Netflix three years after its predecessor, which would mean sometime in mid-2026.

Scream 7 - TBA

The original "Scream" was one of the biggest smash hits of 1996, earning $173 million. Starring the era's biggest young stars, the movie lays out the rules of what has become an enduring franchise: A series of murders take place, with every move the killer makes evoking a different slasher movie trope. What ensues are some seriously bloody, gory, and frightening horror films, but they're also self-aware, clever, and utterly savage parodies.

Like an undead horror movie villain who's back for more mayhem, the "Scream" franchise has returned from dormancy multiple times. 2022's "Scream" and 2023's "Scream VI" were both successful enough to ensure further flicks, and Spyglass entered preproduction on "Scream 7" in August 2023 ... although the film has suffered multiple setbacks since then. Melissa Barrera won't be returning to the franchise as Sam Carpenter because she was let go for comments in response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, and Jenna Ortega has stepped away from the role of Tara Carpenter due to her work on "Wednesday" Season 2. Director Christopher Landon has also left the film, so what will happen now?

Well, "Scream 7" is still moving forward, with franchise creator Kevin Williamson now directing. (Williamson wrote the first, second, and fourth entries in the series.) Better still, Neve Campbell is returning as Sidney Prescott, the series' long-suffering hero who will once again do battle with Ghostface. The screenplay will be penned by Guy Busick, who co-wrote the fifth and sixth installments.

Talk 2 Me - TBA

"Talk to Me" was a breakout hit of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival's Midnight Selections showcase. Zeitgeist-capturing indie film company A24 grabbed the theatrical rights, and the modestly-budgeted horror movie emerged as a robust and unexpected hit, earning more than $50 million at the box office in its first month in theaters in summer 2023. The plot: Mia (Sophie Wilde) honors the anniversary of her mother's death with a séance, aided by her friends and a ghastly embalmed hand. The séance works too well, the lines between worlds crumble, and Mia and her gang are soon pestered and attacked by viciously violent supernatural pests.

Less than two weeks after "Talk to Me" hit theaters, A24 asked for a sequel. Like its predecessor, "Talk 2 Me" will be directed by former YouTube filmmakers and twins Danny and Michael Philippou. Danny Philippou and "Talk to Me" co-writer Bill Hinzman will collaborate on the screenplay. There could also be even more entries in the "Talk to Me" cinematic universe on the way: "We actually shot an entire Duckett prequel already," Danny Philippou told The Hollywood Reporter, of another film featuring the character portrayed by Sunny Johnson. "It's told entirely through the perspective of mobile phones and social media, so maybe down the line we can release that."

They Follow - TBA

The 2014 horror movie "It Follows" at first resembled a classic slasher movie, but that's just so filmmakers could send up the tropes of the genre and make something innovative, new, and thoughtful. Playing on the oddly prudish '80s horror movie cliché of teenagers who explore their sexuality immediately meeting their ends via brutal murder, "It Follows" involves a young woman who gets intimate with her boyfriend and then contracts a sexually transmitted hex, one that can appear in various forms and aggressively and viciously keeps trying to kill her. 

Shot far from Hollywood in and around Detroit on a budget of less than $1 million, "It Follows" became a cult hit, earning about $22 million at the box office before hitting streaming. Now, the curse has returned, it would seem. In October 2023, film production and distribution company Neon announced that it had started production on a sequel to "It Follows," at the time titled "They Follow." Writer-director David Robert Mitchell will return to handle both tasks, and Maika Monroe will once more portray main character Jay Height. Filming is set to begin sometime in 2024.

The Accountant 2 - TBA

In 2016's "The Accountant," Ben Affleck put on a pair of glasses and picked up a sniper rifle to play Christian Wolff, an autistic accountant who works for some very dangerous criminals. Christian also has some very serious assassin skills, so when a group of hitmen are hired to take him out, he's more than capable of handling himself. While the movie wasn't a huge critical success, it fared well at the box office, and fans of the sleeper hit have been wondering for years if we'd ever get a second "Accountant" adventure.

Well, Christian Wolff is indeed returning to action. "The Accountant 2" is being produced by Amazon MGM Studios, and it will begin filming in 2024. Ben Affleck will reprise his mathematically-inclined character, and we're assuming that Gavin O'Connor will return to direct. In September 2021, O'Connor spoke with CinemaBlend's ReelBlend podcast and said he visualized an "Accountant" trilogy, saying, "I've always wanted to do three because what, the second one's going to be more with — we're going to integrate his brother into the story."

Yep, that means we'll most likely see Jon Bernthal back as Christian's rough-and-tumble brother, hitman Braxton Wolff. Elaborating further on his vision, O'Connor said, "So there'll be more screen time for Bernthal in the second one. And then the third movie's going to be, I call it, 'Rain Man' on steroids. The third movie is going to be the two brothers, this odd couple. The third one is going be a buddy picture."

Top Gun 3 - TBA

Nearly 40 years after the first "Top Gun" flew into theaters, "Top Gun: Maverick" became the second highest-grossing movie of 2022, earning $1.5 billion and six Oscar nominations. With those impressive stats, you know that Hollywood executives are feeling the need for speed yet again. So it should come as no surprise that "Top Gun 3" is in development.

At the moment, things are very much in the early stage, but it's been reported that Ehren Kruger is writing the screenplay. Kruger co-wrote "Maverick," as well as titles such as "Arlington Road," "Scream 3," and "The Skeleton Key." According to The Hollywood Reporter, the plan is for Tom Cruise to take to the skies alongside Miles Teller (Rooster) and Glen Powell (Hangman), with Joseph Kosinski hopefully directing again or producing.

Of course, Cruise is a very busy man, with titles like "Mission: Impossible 8" and Alejandro Iñárritu's upcoming film on the docket. So we're not exactly sure when we'll see "Top Gun 3," but whenever it hits the big screen, we'll be ready for another high-flying adventure.

28 Years Later - TBA

These days, we all take zombies for granted thanks to projects like "The Walking Dead" and "The Last of Us." However, the resurgence of hungry, undead monsters is 100% thanks to "28 Days Later." The Danny Boyle horror film revitalized the genre for a post-9/11 world, making zombies incredibly fast and terrifyingly relevant. The movie inspired a sequel, "28 Months Later," but fans have long wanted to see what happens next in this world of fast-moving monsters.

Well, prepare to return to that grimy, gory universe with "28 Years Later," which will be the first of a brand new trilogy. Boyle is returning to direct, and original scribe Alex Garland (who afterward went on to direct movies like "Ex Machina" and "Civil War") will return to pen all three films. Will original star Cillian Murphy return to the franchise after finding new levels of fame with "Oppenheimer?" Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast in February 2024, the Irish star said, "It's for [Danny Boyle and Alex Garland] to speak about, I suppose, but I think it's been brewing for a while. The first movie was so important for me as an actor. I love working with those guys. Alex has an idea. And Danny directing is just huge. Watch this space."

RRR 2 - TBA

Indian films rarely find success in the Western world, but evidently, nobody told that to "RRR." The movie has become a phenomenon thanks to its over-the-top action, incredible dance choreography, and bromance between NTR Jr.'s Komaram Bheem and Ram Charan's Alluri Sitarama Raju as they flip motorcycles and unleash big cats in their battle against the British. And if you need more numbers like "Naatu Naatu" in your life, never fear. It looks like the Tollywood sensation is getting a sequel, as Variety confirmed with director S.S. Rajamouli that his father, V. Vijayendra Prasad — who wrote the first film — will pen part two. We also know that NTR Jr. and Ram Charan Teja will be returning to fight their English enemies. 

Prasad told Bollywood Hungama that his son is too busy with another film for the time being, and would approach "RRR 2" when his schedule clears. It's possible that Rajamouli could use his father's idea and completed script for the sequel. "The story continues with Sitarama Raju and Komarem Bheem set in Africa," he said (via Koimoi). That's all the information that exists at the moment, but we're incredibly psyched for three more hours of epic fight scenes and glorious dance sequences.

The Gray Man 2 - TBA

With a roughly $200 million price tag, "The Gray Man" is one of the most expensive movies Netflix has ever made. The streaming-only title boasts an all-star cast in Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and, most prominently, Ryan Gosling. Gosling anchors the action thriller as Six, an elite CIA operative who runs for his life after revealing highly classified state secrets.

Netflix hadn't even released viewership numbers for the film's opening weekend when it announced a sequel to "The Gray Man." According to Deadline, star Gosling and directors Joe and Anthony Russo will all return for the second film. Though screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus shared writing duties with Joe Russo for the first movie, McFeely will be going it alone for the second. A "Gray Man" spin-off is also in the works, with "Deadpool" and "Zombieland" writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick taking a crack at the screenplay. According to Joe Russo, this spin-off will more than earn its R rating.

However, it does seem that feelings towards the straight-up sequel are shifting at Netflix. When discussing the movie with Collider in November 2023, then-head of Netflix Films Scott Stuber was asked if "The Gray Man 2" was indeed happening. His response? "I think that's a maybe." He also admitted the first movie had a little too much action, and that if the sequel does go forward, it will spend more time focusing on Ryan Gosling's character, Six. 

Cruella 2 - TBA

While 2021's "Cruella" was set up to serve as a prequel to Disney's animated film "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," by the time the end credits rolled on the high fashion film, it was clear that there was plenty more of Cruella's story to tell. Sure enough, "Cruella 2" is in the works, which will see Emma Stone returning to the role of Estella and her ruthless alter ego, Cruella de Vil. Also coming back is director Craig Gillespie and writer Tony McNamara.

The first film sees aspiring fashion designer and petty criminal Estella scheme her way to the top of the fashion industry and usurp the reign of fashion queen Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson). By the end of the film — which is part "The Devil Wears Prada," part "Joker" — Cruella fully embraces her dark and semi-villainous persona. Yet she still has a great love of dogs — even Dalmatians — which begs the question of just how she transforms into someone who wants to make coats out of puppies. Perhaps we'll find out — or perhaps this version of Cruella will decide to ditch the dog-skinning altogether — when "Cruella 2" eventually struts into theaters.

But when exactly will we see the sequel? Well, in October 2023, Craig Gillespie spoke to The Times of India and gave an update on the movie, saying, "You know, we're really hoping that 'Cruella 2' will work out. And obviously, the strike has impacted that. And so we'll have to wait and see how everything lands once. But, you know, I'd love to be doing that." After the strikes ended, Emma Stone gave something of an update to Variety in January 2024, saying that shooting will start "hopefully sooner rather than later." 

Sister Act 3 - TBA

In an act of divine providence, it looks like Sister Mary Clarence will be donning her habit once again. "Sister Act 3" will premiere on Disney+, and Whoopi Goldberg will return as both star and producer, with Tyler Perry also producing, Madhuri Shekar penning the script, and "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" creator Tim Federle directing.

Released in 1992, the first "Sister Act" sees Goldberg play Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer who goes into witness protection at a convent after witnessing a murder. There, in the guise of Sister Mary Clarence, Deloris transforms the convent's humdrum choir into an upbeat musical sensation. 1993's "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" finds Deloris stepping in as a music teacher for a group of low-achieving students at a Catholic school. Goldberg suggested in a 2021 Variety profile that we could even possibly see some of those kids again. "Maybe there's gonna be some of the kids [from 'Sister Act 2']," Goldberg teased. "Who can say?"

So what's the sequel's status? In November 2022, Goldberg went on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and said, "The script came in yesterday. I really like it, but it has a whole lot of adults to go through." Unfortunately, it seems the Disney machinery is moving slowly on this one, as Tyler Perry told Entertainment Tonight in February 2024, "I'm a little annoyed with how long this has taken me. It's taking so long — like, I've done four movies since we started talking about this."

Plus, there's another caveat. "I want to let Maggie Smith know that I'm holding the part of Mother Superior for you," the actor said on the British talk show "Loose Women" (via Entertainment Weekly). "Because I just can't do it with anybody but you." 

The Princess Diaries 3 - TBA

Ready for another trip to Genovia? Well, it looks like Disney is preparing for a new adventure full of romance and royalty with "The Princess Diaries 3." It was reported in November 2022 that Aadrita Mukerji — best known for her TV work on series like "Supergirl," "Reacher," and "Scorpion" — is working on a screenplay.

We don't know any plot details yet, and it doesn't look like anyone has been officially cast as of this moment. However, Anne Hathaway has expressed her desire for a threequel in the past, so chances are good she'll be returning to play Mia Thermopolis. It seems like Julie Andrews, on the other hand, plans on sitting this one out, as she told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2022, "[For] especially me, it's too far down the line now to go back to it. It's a lovely thought, but I don't think it would probably be possible."

Cliffhanger 2 - TBA

Sylvester Stallone's first era as an A-lister who drew huge crowds came to an end shortly after the release of "Cliffhanger." One of the biggest box office hits of 1993, it stars Stallone as Gabe Walker, a mountain ranger, expert climber, and rescue hero who braves treacherous peaks to save a group of lost hikers searching for the stolen fortune they lost in an airplane accident. Also starring John Lithgow and Janine Turner, the dizzying action flick was one of the last original hit movies for Stallone before he started revisiting and rebooting earlier franchises like "Rocky" and "Rambo."

After revitalizing his career with a string of "Expendables" movies, Stallone will now look to the past once more: A sequel to "Cliffhanger" will be arriving more than 30 years after the original film's release. Replacing Renny Harlin in the director's chair is Ric Roman Waugh, best known for "Greenland" and "Angel Has Fallen," working from a script by Mark Bianculli. 

Waugh told Collider that the film will be a legacy sequel as well as a franchise expansion, in the style of "Top Gun: Maverick" or "Creed." "We are gonna be doing a very similar thing with 'Cliffhanger,' but what I think also makes this unique is this guy named Sylvester Stallone, who's created some of the most iconic characters of all time, but he's also been really gracious in passing the torch," Waugh said. In the contemporary "Cliffhanger," Stallone's character and his daughter run a mountaineering firm in the Italian Alps. "Tragedy strikes that's very similar to what happened in the original movie, so that father and daughter have to deal with that," Waugh said. "And of course, there might be some nefarious bad guys that show up."

Violent Night 2 - TBA

With a darkly funny name that described the film perfectly and used a bit of Christmas carol-ribbing wordplay, "Violent Night" became a holiday hit in late 2022, earning $75 million. The rare Christmas movie that wasn't a comedy, romance, or warm family feature, "Violent Night" was an unhinged action extravaganza, sort of a skewed take on Christmas-set movies like "Die Hard" as it depicted Santa Claus ("Stranger Things" breakout David Harbour) as a mighty mythological warrior who in contemporary times fights off deadly mercenaries and invaders to save Christmas for one unlucky-then-lucky family.

Such a novel premise proved immediately profitable — it earned three times its budget— meaning a sequel is on the way. "Violent Night" director Tommy Wirkola is all set to direct the next installment in the series, which will expand and explore the mythology surrounding Santa Claus, including Mrs. Claus, the toy-making elves, and what goes on at the North Pole.

It doesn't sound like "Violent Night 2" will arrive in time for Christmas, however — at least not the next Christmas season. "We're just making deals and getting everything in order," Wirkola said, adding that the first movie's screenwriters, Pat Casey and Josh Miller, will pen the sequel. "We have time to really crack the script and figure out the story."

Shrek 5 - TBA

Back in 2001, Disney dominated the animated blockbuster market. Then DreamWorks came along with the first entry in a franchise tailor-made for millennials. Part fractured fairy-tale, part pop culture reference parade, and all wacky comedy, the first "Shrek" stars Mike Myers as the titular grumpy ogre, Eddie Murphy as his excitable sidekick, Cameron Diaz as a princess with a big secret, and many other celebrities playing skewered storybook tropes. "Shrek" earned nearly $491 million and won the first Academy Award for best animated feature. It went on to spawn three sequels and two spinoffs, for a global box office haul of more than $4 billion.

DreamWorks hasn't put out a proper "Shrek" movie since 2010's "Shrek Forever After," but the studio is keen to return to the world of ogres, swamps, talking donkeys, and fairy tale magic. In 2016, "Shrek 5" entered pre-production, scheduled for a 2019 release. Development has obviously stalled since then, but in April 2023, DreamWorks Animation consultant Chris Meledandri told Variety that contract discussions with cast members were underway. "Talks are starting now, and every indication that we've gotten is there's tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return," he said.

Rush Hour 4 - TBA

Now one of the most beloved stars who's ever kicked his way across the silver screen, Jackie Chan found Hollywood success with the action-comedy "Rush Hour." The 1998 film paired Chan's martial arts-savvy Hong Kong detective with Chris Tucker's joke-a-minute Los Angeles cop. Together, the two rescued the kidnapped daughter of a Chinese diplomat, starred in the eighth highest-grossing movie of the year, and kicked off two sequels.

Well, better make that three sequels. At the Red Sea International Film Festival, Jackie Chan revealed that he's in talks to make a "Rush Hour 4." He even added that he was about to go talk with the director about the upcoming film. However, he didn't clarify the filmmaker's identity. The previous installments in the series were all helmed by Brett Ratner, but as Ratner is now persona non grata in Hollywood, you'd think a new director would be stepping up to bat. However, back in 2018, Ratner claimed he'd be making a fourth "Rush Hour" film, so it remains to be seen who'll be helming the new martial arts comedy.

However, it does look like Tucker is coming back. Speaking with V-103's "Big Tigger Morning Show," Tucker talked about his upcoming work schedule, saying, "You're going to see a lot of good stuff coming, but it's going to be on a whole other level. ... 'Rush Hour 4,' that's something I definitely will probably drop in there because I love working with Jackie."

We Can Be Heroes 2 - TBA

Not long after the Christmas Day premiere of the 2020 superhero film "We Can Be Heroes" on Netflix, the streamer announced that a sequel was already on the way. Featuring characters from both "Spy Kids" and "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl," "We Can Be Heroes" is a similar sort of family adventure film focusing on superpowered kids tasked with saving the day when the adults go missing. According to Netflix's own internal metrics, "We Can Be Heroes" was viewed by 44 million households during its first four weeks.

With such impressive numbers, it's no surprise that writer and director Robert Rodriguez was already planning the sequel by January. Speaking to Collider in December 2020 about a part two, Rodriguez said, "I've already got ideas in mind because we'd have to jump right into it." Of course, kids grow up quickly, meaning that the sequel would need to move into production rapidly in order to keep its young stars relatively the same age. But it's been several years since the first film, and we've yet to see a sequel. 

Aware of the tricky time element, Rodriguez sat down with Collider again in September 2023 to discuss his thoughts on the follow-up film, saying, "The bigger rush is to do a sequel for that because of the kids growing up. Although the script always kind of took that into account, they're supposed to be kind of next-level. And I like the idea of kids seeing their favorite characters grow so exponentially on screen, and it makes them realize how time works. ... They can picture themselves growing and developing and their brains expanding in leaps and bounds like that. So I think the time works in our favor."

Red Notice 2 - TBA

When Netflix ponied up its largest chunk of cash yet for the star-studded globe-trotting heist film "Red Notice," some wondered if the hefty investment could possibly pay off for the streamer. Apparently, the answer is yes, as Netflix has signed up for two more "Red Notice" films, most likely to be filmed back to back with writer and director Rawson Marshall Thurber. The first film saw FBI agent John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) teaming up with art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to apprehend the even more wily thief Sarah Black (Gal Gadot).

The sequel will reportedly bring back the main mega-star trio of Johnson, Gadot, and Reynolds and add a number of new characters who will team up to pull off an ensemble heist in the spirit of "Ocean's Eleven." Presumably, the third film would build on that idea even more, with even grander heists and more spectacular action.  In June 2023, Gadot told Collider that she'd read the finished script for "Red Notice 2," but in November 2023, Netflix's then-head of film, Scott Stuber, implied that maybe the screenplay wasn't ready to rock just yet, as he explained to Collider, "We've got one that we're working on, so we're gonna get that script relatively soon."

Face/Off 2 - TBA

As bizarre action movie premises go, it doesn't get much weirder than the original "Face/Off," which starred Nicolas Cage and John Travolta as a terrorist and an FBI agent, respectively, who literally swap faces in order to each take the other's place. Yet even though (spoiler alert) Cage's villainous Castor Troy is killed at the end of the first film, a direct sequel is now in the works from filmmakers Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett. 

Wingard and Barrett have previously worked together on pulse-pounding films such as "You're Next" and "The Guest," suggesting they're more than capable of taking on the violently wacky tone of a "Face/Off" sequel. Speaking to the Associated Press, Cage expressed enthusiasm at the possibility of reprising his role, saying, "I would love to get back into that character and to work with Travolta," adding that the first film was "such a fun movie to make." Wingard has also expressed interest in seeing Cage return, telling Empire Online, "A couple of years ago, the studio maybe would have wanted a hot, young, up-and-coming actor or something. Now, Nicolas Cage is one of the hottest actors in Hollywood again."

Speaking about the upcoming sequel, Cage told Collider there's a whole lot going on in with the new script, saying, "It's almost like if you factor in the idea of offspring and Castor and Sean having children and these children grow up, then it becomes like three-dimensional chess, and then it's not just the two, John Travolta and myself, it's four of us ping-ponging and going at different levels, and it becomes even more complex. I think there's a lot of fertile ground there. I had maybe one meeting in an office, but I haven't heard anything since, so I don't know."

Attack the Block 2 - TBA

Before John Boyega was known for fighting intergalactic space battles in "Star Wars," he was fighting unsettling monstrous aliens in the urban sci-fi adventure "Attack the Block." Written and directed by Joe Cornish, the 2011 film starred Boyega as Moses, the leader of a teenage street gang in South London — a gang that decides to rid their neighborhood of vicious extraterrestrials after they unexpectedly start falling from the sky.

The sequel will reunite Boyega and Cornish, who's once again both writing and directing. This time, Boyega will also be acting as co-producer, in addition to reprising his role as Moses. Speaking to Deadline, Boyega said, "It's been a decade since 'Attack the Block' was released, and so much has changed since then. I'm excited to see this heightened story return to the streets of London. Moses has remained one of my favorite characters to play and bringing him back is a huge honor."

According to Deadline, the "Attack the Block" sequel will find Moses nearing the age of 30 and reflecting on a London changed by real-life events like the riots of 2011 and rampant gentrification. "We go back and look at the locations where we shot the first movie — once dodgy areas — and we find that it's all gleaming, high-end apartments and Starbucks," Boyega said. "There's a whole world that we're about to explore here with a whole new take on that universe, building and revisiting those characters."

Alita: Battle Angel 2 - TBA

Partially live-action and partially CGI, the visually arresting "Alita: Battle Angel" hit theaters in 2019. "Avatar" and "Titanic" filmmaker James Cameron produced and adapted the classic manga series for the screen, while "Spy Kids" and "Grindhouse" auteur Robert Rodriguez directed a cast that included Oscar winners Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, and Mahershala Ali. Relative newcomer Rosa Salazar led the picture, playing Alita, an amnesiac cyborg looking to find her place in the post-apocalyptic world and discover the truth about a robotic parts trafficking operation.

"Alita: Battle Angel" earned $404 million worldwide against a massive $170 million budget. It wasn't exactly a blockbuster, but in an August 2023 interview with Forbes, Cameron let slip that multiple sequels were in the works. The filmmaker announced plans to sell his Santa Barbara ranch because work would take him too far away, and during that conversation, he revealed, "On 'Avatar,' I'm working in Wellington and Los Angeles. And on the new 'Alita: Battle Angel' films, I'll be working in Austin, so it just didn't make sense for us anymore."

Robert Rodriguez commented on the film as well, although he sounded a bit more guarded. Speaking with The Wrap in October 2023, the "Alita" director said, "Yeah, Jim [Cameron] and I always talk about how we'd love to do another 'Alita.'  That studio [20th Century] was bought by another studio [Disney]. They're starting to make movies now. But that for a while 20th Century wasn't making any of their movies. I think now you're seeing a few rolling out. We would love to."

The Boondock Saints III - TBA

After first blasting onto screen in 1999, and then again in a 2009 sequel, "The Boondock Saints" looks to be getting a third installment, which would bring back director Troy Duffy along with stars Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery. In the first two films, Reedus and Flanery played fraternal twins Murphy and Connor MacManus, who become vigilantes seeking to rid Boston of all crime after dispatching a couple members of the Russian mob in self-defense. The sequel caught up with the twins in Ireland eight years later, when they were forced to return to Boston after being framed for murdering a priest.

That film ended with the brothers in jail, and the third film will see them stepping out of prison into a world that's much different from the one they left. This time, based on input from the fanbase, Duffy says they'll be going up against a different type of villain — politicians. "Where we're going is, the brothers are older," Duffy told Deadline. "They are coming out into a brand new world that is not like the one they left. They are at odds. One wants to continue, the other doesn't. There's a new enemy out there, not like the traditional ones they've faced. That's the thing that is timely about this one."

Atomic Blonde 2 - TBA

Fans of Charlize Theron in action roles are in for a treat. The "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "The Old Guard" star will soon be slipping back into the platinum wigs of Lorraine Broughton, her enigmatic character from "Atomic Blonde." Theron told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview in July of 2020 that an Atomic Blonde sequel was in active development, and that the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic was actually helping move the process along, giving Theron and the writers more time to work on the script over Zoom.

Theron elaborated in an interview with Total Film that "Atomic Blonde 2" would likely be headed to Netflix this time around, the home of the actress' 2020 smash action hit, "The Old Guard." "[Lorraine Broughton] was set up in a way where she didn't really reveal much of herself," Theron said, speaking of her character's journey in the first film. "So I feel like there's a lot of potential there. The bar's pretty high, but we're excited about it."

Also starring John Goodman, James McAvoy, and Sofia Boutella, the first film found Theron's ruthless MI6 agent investigating a murder and dodging double-crosses coming from every angle in Cold War-era Berlin. "Atomic Blonde" director David Leitch isn't sure whether he'll be involved with the sequel, but sounds as though he'd be game if asked to return. No details have yet been revealed about the plot of "Atomic Blonde 2," but if the first film is any indication, we expect another twisting spy caper with plenty of hard-hitting action.

Cloverfield 4 - TBA

Every few years, another "Cloverfield" movie comes along. As recounted by Deadline, "Cloverfield" sequels have historically been developed under codenames, and aren't revealed to be part of the popular franchise until their trailers hit the big and small screens — or, in the case of 2018's "The Cloverfield Paradox," just before the film hit Netflix on Super Bowl Sunday. All three "Cloverfield" movies are dramatically different from one another: 2008's "Cloverfield" is a found-footage horror movie about a stampeding monster, 2016's "10 Cloverfield Lane" takes place almost entirely in a bunker, and "The Cloverfield Paradox" is a space thriller.

Considering this history of secrecy, it's likely nobody will know what the fourth "Cloverfield" movie is really about until just before it's released, which will be some time in the next few years. According to The Hollywood Reporter, franchise producer J.J. Abrams hired "The Ritual" scribe Joe Barton to write the screenplay in January 2021. In September 2022, Babak Anvari landed the director's job, following his well-received work on thoughtful and unsettling fare including "Under the Shadow" and "I Came By." Almost everything else about the movie, in true "Cloverfield" fashion, remains a mystery.

Legally Blonde 3 - TBA

It's been 20 years since we last saw Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde," but it looks like the effervescent character is coming back for a third installment. Needless to say, Reese Witherspoon will reprise her iconic character, and she'll also act as a producer through her Hello Sunshine banner. Plus, she's brought on "Never Have I Ever" creator Mindy Kaling and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" creator Dan Goor to pen the screenplay. 

Also returning for the sequel is Jennifer Coolidge, who starred in both previous films as Elle's friend Paulette, a character who Kaling teased will have a "really juicy" role in the film. We also know we'll see a lot of diverse new faces. "Reflecting the world as it is now is something that's really important to Reese, and so having there be like diversity is super, super important," Kaling promised (via E! Online). "You can definitely count on that."

Speaking on the "Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi" podcast, Kaling also discussed some of the challenges posed by writing a modern-day "Legally Blonde," saying, "What is Elle Woods doing in 2023 or 2024, when culture has changed so much since then? And so that's tricky as a writer — writing something that is incredibly funny and is a great role for Reese, but is saying something about feminism now."

However, Kaling also added that Witherspoon has a pretty busy schedule, and that's been slowing production down a bit, explaining, "There isn't this sense from her that she's in any desperation or anxiety about getting back into the role. She loves the character and wants to do it if it's exactly right. So, it's been taking some time."

Bullitt sequel - TBA

We've got a lot of sequels on this list that are set to release many years — or even decades — after the last installment in the series, but this one may win the award for longest gap between the original film and part two. Deadline reported in February 2022 that Steven Spielberg is eyeing a follow-up to the 1968 action thriller "Bullitt" as one of his next projects, following his Oscar-nominated remake of "West Side Story" and his semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama "The Fabelmans." "Bullitt" starred Steve McQueen as San Francisco cop Frank Bullitt working to solve the murder of a key mob witness who was assassinated while under his protection.

Deadline's sources report that Spielberg's "Bullitt" will not be a remake of the McQueen film but rather a new story centered around the same character. As McQueen passed away in 1980, Spielberg will be recasting the role with none other than Bradley Cooper. McQueen's son, Chad, and granddaughter, Molly McQueen, have also signed on as executive producers for the film. Josh Singer ("The Post," "Spotlight") will be penning the script for Spielberg's "Bullitt," but since no other details or casting are in place yet, it may be a while before we see this one hit screens.

Crazy Rich Asians 2 and 3 - TBA

Coming off of the runaway success of 2018's "Crazy Rich Asians," it would be surprising if the opulent film didn't earn a sequel — and in fact, it's getting two. Based on Kevin Kwan's books of the same names, "China Rich Girlfriend" and "Rich People Problems" are both moving ahead at Warner Bros., although it may be a while before we get to see them. 

Due to the busy schedules of the franchise's A-list cast and director Jon M. Chu, it may be a bit before everyone can get together again for the next two installments in the "Crazy Rich Asians" saga. It also seems the scripts aren't completed yet, as Michelle Yeoh told E! News, "We are still waiting on it. We know there's a writer on it, so we'll see." That writer, according to Deadline, will be Amy Yang ("From Scratch"), supplanting the original film's authors Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim.

Producer Nina Jacobson says that the plan is to shoot both sequels back-to-back, so that fans aren't waiting years between the second and third films. So although there may be a long wait for "China Rich Girlfriend," Jacobson promises, "We'll make it up to them on the back end by shooting two films together." 

Girls Trip 2 - TBA

Following comedies like "The Hangover," in which friends go on a trip and endure hilarious and raunchy chaos, "Girls Trip" was a summer blockbuster in 2017, winding up the top grossing comedy of the year. Four old friends head to New Orleans for the Essence Festival to reconnect, hang out, and network, but they wind up partying way too hard. Several big stars headlined the cast, including Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Jada Pinkett Smith, but "Girls Trip" offered the breakthrough role for comedian Tiffany Haddish, who stole the movie with her over-the-top portrayal of wild card Dina.

Hall told BuzzFeed News' "AM to DM" in August 2018 that a sequel was in the early stages. More than four years later, in January 2022, producer Will Packer announced on "Good Morning America" that work had officially started on a sequel. Packer assured viewers that all four principal cast members wanted to return, as did the original film's director, Malcolm D. Lee. But by August 2022, little progress had been made, on account of pandemic-related delays. "We're not in production. We're not ready yet," Hall told "Good Morning America." "Everything gets slowed down with schedules. It was going to move, and then Omicron happened." 

However, "Girls Trip" co-writer Tracy Oliver told Variety in January 2023 that work had progressed. "We're looking to set it in Ghana," she said, adding that Hall, Latifah, Smith, and Haddish were all set to reprise their roles.

Kingpin 2 - TBA

For fans of the 1996 bowling comedy "Kingpin," you're in luck because a sequel is rolling down the pipeline. The original film featured Woody Harrelson as a former bowling prodigy who believes he's found his claim to fame when he discovers an Amish bowling superstar, played by Randy Quaid. It also starred Bill Murray as Harrelson's lifelong rival, as well as Vanessa Angel, Chris Elliott, Rob Moran, and Lin Shaye.

No details have yet been revealed about the sequel, other than that Peter and Bobby Farrelly, who directed the first film, will be back on board to produce "Kingpin 2." However, it's unclear whether the Farrelly brothers are intending to write or direct the sequel in addition to their producing duties. Similarly, none of the original cast is confirmed to be returning for the sequel, although fans would surely welcome another chance to see Harrelson and Murray unite on the big screen.

Dodgeball 2 - TBA

It's been two decades since the "Frat Pack" dominated Hollywood comedy. Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, stalwarts of that scene, collaborated in many mid-2000s movies, notably 2004's "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story." A broad and wacky sports movie that simultaneously satirizes sports movie clichés, "Dodgeball" is a tale of good vs. evil set on the dodgeball court. In the world of this film, dodgeball a popular sport for spectators and adults, not just a grade school gym class activity. Vaughn portrayed Peter La Fleur, a good-guy slacker and leader of the Average Joes, the motley team of weirdos representing his workout center. Stiller played the cartoonish, fitness-obsessed and downright evil White Goodman, playing on behalf of Globo Gym. The Joes win, of course, staving off a takeover of Peter's gym by Goodman.

"Dodgeball" wraps up happily and conclusively, but since it was a massively profitable hit (netting a $168 million box office take against a $20 million budget) and an enduring favorite on cable TV, a sequel is on the way. In April 2023, Deadline reported that 20th Century Studios had ordered another round of "Dodgeball." "The Binge" screenwriter Jordan VanDina will pen the script, taking over from original writer (and director) Rawson Marshall Thurber. A director is yet to be announced, but Vaughn has already agreed to reprise the role of Peter, having successfully pitched an original idea for the movie to VanDina.

Lethal Weapon 5 - TBA

Released in 1987, "Lethal Weapon" introduced audiences to the buddy cop duo of Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover), and the action-comedy kicked off an entire franchise, with three sequels and a TV series. However, with no new "Lethal Weapon" films since "Lethal Weapon 4" in 1998, it was a surprise to learn at the beginning of 2020 that Warner Bros. intended to reinvigorate the franchise with a new entry.

Prior to the death of acclaimed director Richard Donner — who directed the first four "Lethal Weapon" films — producer Dan Lin said that the fifth film was particularly special to Donner, who at the time was attached to direct. "We're trying to make the last 'Lethal Weapon' movie," Lin told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020. "Donner's coming back. The original cast is coming back. And it's just amazing. The story itself is very personal to him and to the cast, and so I really want to make that one." Lin also produced the "Lethal Weapon" television series and claimed that "Lethal Weapon 5" will be a continuation of the existing films, with Glover and Gibson both set to reprise their roles.

Of course, none of that may pan out now, as Donner passed away in 2021. However, Mel Gibson has since confirmed that he's in talks to take over directorial duties. In September 2022, Gibson also told Screen Rant that things could be moving in a positive direction, saying, "It's [coming along] great, we've got a really good screenplay." Gibson confirmed that the script had been worked on by both Donner and himself, among others. However, there's been no word on the film's development since then, so it remains to be seen if we'll see these two cops back on the big screen.

Guns 3: Alias Billy the Kid - TBA

Although it's been over 30 years since "Young Guns II" hit theaters, it sounds like a third film may be on its way. "Yeah, it's definitely in the works," star Emilio Estevez said, when asked by Collider about the possibility of a "Young Guns" threequel in March 2021. "[Billy the Kid] is a fun character to play. There's a lot of speculation about what happened that night, in 1881 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Did he die? Did he not? And so, there's a lot of mythical, historical, and actually some factual things that we can examine, if we're serious about going back to that franchise."

The plot of a third "Young Guns" is a bit of a mystery since the first film ended with the historical account of Billy the Kid's death, and then the 1990 sequel was forced to walk that back. Whatever "Young Guns 3" looks like, "Young Guns" co-star Lou Diamond Phillips has already said he's on board. "If they can make it happen, I'll be there," he told Forbes. It's unknown if actors like Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen would return for a third film — tentatively titled "Guns 3: Alias Billy the Kid" — but Christian Slater, who appeared in "Young Guns II," is currently listed on the movie's IMDb page. 

In May 2023, Estevez told Uproxx that a script is ready, but they're having to sort out the rights to the project. "It all comes down to the legal minds that work out IP," Estevez said. "So it's just a question of when." Lou Diamond Phillips said something very similar about the film's slow development, telling Entertainment Weekly, "It's in limbo right now. It was chugging along there for a minute, but then I think they got into a rights situation. ... It's not dead, but it's not happening right now."

Midnight Run 2 - TBA

More than 30 years after the original hit theaters, the action-comedy "Midnight Run" is getting a sequel. The original film starred Robert De Niro as a bounty hunter in pursuit of a former Mafia accountant, played by the late Charles Grodin, after the latter skips bail. The road trip comedy sees the two travel together across the U.S. while evading both the FBI and the mob. When the film was released in 1988, it did well with audiences and critics alike and led to several direct-to-TV sequels without De Niro or Grodin. However, with De Niro acting as producer for the new "Midnight Run," hope remains that he may reprise his role as Jack Walsh.

The sequel will star Regina Hall, although the story is still under wraps. At one point in the early 2010s, there was discussion of a sequel centered around De Niro's bounty hunter pursuing a new, younger character, but it's unclear whether that will be the premise of this film. "Midnight Run 2" will be written by "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" scribe Aeysha Carr, but with no news yet on a director or additional cast, it's still unclear when we can expect to see it hit screens.

The Sea Beast 2 - TBA

In 2022, Netflix premiered "The Sea Beast," an adventurous folk tale from Chris Williams. "The Sea Beast" is set in a time where giant ships rule the global economy, scary beasts roam the sea, and fearsome monster hunters explore the far corners of the Earth. Jacob Holland (Karl Urban), the greatest hunter of them all, gets an unexpected sidekick when a lost little kid named Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) stows away on his vessel.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "The Sea Beast" quickly became one of Netflix's biggest-ever in-house hits, and now, director Chris Williams is working on a "Sea Beast" sequel. The follow-up film will pick up after the events of the first installment, and it will likely feature some kind of seafaring adventure. Interestingly, Williams won't say if Red, the titular monster from the first film, will make an appearance in the new movie.

Williams has some ideas of where a follow-up could go, and they've informed his scriptwriting. "I kept thinking about that image of Jacob and Maisie on the dock and the fact that they're this new family. And that image, it doesn't tell the entire truth of what it is to be a family. A family's much more complicated than that," he told /Film. He's also intrigued about what would happen to the hunting community after the events of the first film. "I started wondering, 'Would every single hunter in the world be so willing to lay down their lance and give up their source of income and their identity and their source of pride and their sense of history? ... Maybe not all of them would be."

Darkman Sequel - TBA

After writing and directing the classic indie horror movies "The Evil Dead" and "Evil Dead II" but before he became the A-lister behind blockbusters like the first "Spider-Man" trilogy, Sam Raimi ventured into the superhero realm for the first time with "Darkman." It's a dark, comic book-like revenge thriller about a scientist presumed dead, who dons a hat, trench coat, and thick facial bandages to get his revenge on the bad guys who nearly burned him to death. Oh yeah, he's also super strong and can create new faces out of experimental skin, but these disguises never last long as they're sensitive to light. 

Not only was it directed by Raimi, it was one of the first major movies for future superstar Liam Neeson and three-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand. A couple of obscure sequels to "Darkman" already exist in the form of the straight-to-video "Darkman II: The Return of Durant" and "Darkman III: Die Darkman Die" starring Arnold Vosloo in lieu of Neeson. Raimi didn't have anything to do with those, and he'd love to revisit the "Darkman" world with a sequel set many years after the events of the first film. In 2022, he told TheWrap that the sequel was in the extremely early stages of development. "There's a producer attached. I haven't heard the story yet or gone into it," Raimi said, adding, "But I think it's cool." Nothing in the way of creative crew, cast, or release date has officially been confirmed quite yet.

Phenomena 2 - TBA

The century-old Titanus studio produced some of the most iconic movies in Italian history, according to Variety, and exposed the world to the works of filmmaking pioneers like Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, and Dario Argento, the creator of haunting, stylish, cult-favorite horror films. One of his more memorable and well-received works is the 1985 spook-fest "Phenomena." Jennifer Connelly stars in the film, written and directed by Argento, as Jennifer Sorvino, a teenage scion of a movie star who can communicate with all manner of insects and bugs. She's shipped off to an elite boarding school in "Swiss Transylvania," where she uses her odd and creepy gift to solve a series of horrific murders.

In 2022, ex-Disney Italy marketing head turned Titanus general manager Sefano Bethlen announced plans to bring the company back to contemporary film and to create new projects based on the studio's extensive library of intellectual property. At the top of Titanus' to-do list? Partner with an American studio to make a new film based on "Phenomena," specifically a sequel set in the present day. The "Phenomena" continuation is in the very early stages of production, not much more than an announcement of intent by Titanus executives, so little is known about cast, director, or release date.

Election 2: Tracy Flick Can't Win - TBA

One of the definitive films of the '90s, "Election" is a pitch-black satire, taking aim at the U.S. political system and '90s America through the lens of a high school election. The movie finds Reese Witherspoon's Tracy Flick tirelessly campaigning to become student body president — doing whatever it takes to win. All the while, bitter teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) is desperately trying to destroy Tracy's chances of earning any votes.

Now, all these years later, it looks like Tracy Flick is coming back, determined as ever to be #1. "Tracy Flick Can't Win" will bring Witherspoon back to the role and Alexander Payne — who directed the original '99 film — back to the director's seat. The project is based on the novel by Tom Perrotta (who wrote the first book, along with other novels adapted for the screen, such as "Little Children" and "The Leftovers"), and it finds Flick back at high school, trying to become principal while struggling with a life that hasn't panned out how she planned.

While we don't have a release date yet, expect the "Election" sequel to campaign its way to Paramount+.

The Tomorrow War 2 - TBA

Mere days after the 2021 Chris Pratt sci-fi action film "The Tomorrow War" dropped on Amazon Prime, Amazon Studios and Skydance were already talking about a sequel. The first film — which also starred Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, Edwin Hodge, and J.K. Simmons — centered around Pratt's character, who's recruited as a soldier to travel to the future and fight a war to save humanity. The sequel would reportedly bring back the entire main cast, along with director Chris McKay and writer Zach Dean.

"The Tomorrow War" earned an enthusiastic reaction from Amazon Prime subscribers, who viewed it enough for it to debut as the number one film across streaming platforms over the July 4 holiday weekend. So it's no wonder that the studios would be eagerly circling a sequel, although no plans are confirmed yet. And while we don't yet know what the story of a potential "The Tomorrow War 2" would be, we have no doubt it will be just as thrilling and action-packed as the first film.