Tag Archives: sequel

Sequel notes: The Hangover 2, Harold & Kumar 3, American Pie 4, Saw VII 3D

The Hangover 2 is a done deal.  The script is underway and the film will be directed and produced by The Hangover director Todd Phillips.  Warner Bros. recently signed a deal to bring back the three stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zack Galifianakis.  The actors will be getting $5 million each for their roles in the sequel (they received $1 million combined in the first film).  But then again, The Hangover made $467 million dollars worldwide, and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.  All we know what the plot is this: it will not take place in Las Vegas again.  Rumors swirled that it would be set in Thailand, but Phillips shot that down.  Shooting begins November 1 with an expected release during Memorial Day weekend in 2011.

So where have Harold & Kumar been lately?  John Cho (Harold) has been working hard at Agent Demetri Noh on ABC’s FlashForward and Kal Penn went from playing doctor on FOX’s House to working along President Obama as associate director of the White House Office Of Public Engagement.  Cho and Penn have decided to team up for a third time to make A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas.  It will be a Christmas-themed adventure, with pot of course.  Neil Patrick Harris is expected to reprise his role (didn’t he die in the last one?).  New Line Studios confirmed that Todd Strauss Schulson will direct (creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg penned the script but are moving on to direct American Pie 4, see below) and it’s being contemplated whether or not the film will be shot in 3D.  Shooting starts this summer and it’s slated to hit theatres Christmas 2011.

As noted above, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have signed on to write and direct American Pie 4, the first Pie movie to hit theatres since American Wedding in 2003.  Though no deals have been made yet, the entire cast from the original trilogy is expected to come aboard for the “reboot.”  They include: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge, Thomas Ian Nichols, and Chris Owen.  Pie proved to be a lucrative franchise with its original movies and the four direct-to-DVD films.  The plot is being kept under wraps for now and  release info has not been disclosed.

You know the drill: another Halloween, another Saw movie.  Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures confirm Saw VI director Kevin Greutert will reprise his directorial role.  Also, the move will be shot in 3D, hence the title, Saw VII 3D.  No plot details, but come on now, you know what to expect: blood, guts, and more blood–now in mind-boggling 3D!  Saw is being pitted directly against Paranormal Activity 2; they both release on October 22 later this year.

[Via ReelzChannel; EW, here & here; Newsinfilm; THR; IGN]

Paranormal Activity sequel finds a director

Paranormal Activity 2 is starting to come together.  Writer and director of the original film Oren Peli posted a note to the film’s website sharing news that a new director has been chosen for the sequel.  Kip Williams (The Door in the Floor) got the job.  Peli says: “Kip is the guy we want at the helm, because he knows exactly what we want to deliver to the fans.”  Peli will remain on the team as a writer and producer, and Michael Perry is set to pen the screenplay.  Production starts in May and if all goes as planned, Paranormal Activity 2 should hit theatres right before Halloween on October 22.  Any plot details, you ask?  Tight-lipped Peli has this to say: “I don’t want to spoil the story but I promise it will surprise you.  Stay tuned.”

[Via EW-PopWatch; ParanormalMovie]

Wall Street 2 gets pushed to September

[Wall+Street+Money+2+Shia+Labeouf.jpg]

Just as we were all getting excited to see the return of Gordon Gekko and the introduction to his new friend Shia LaBeouf, distributer FOX has decided to delay the release of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.  Instead of hitting theatres April 23, WS2 will wait until September 24.  Why, you ask?  According to the original Variety report, the date was changed so that the film could enter the Cannes Film Festival, which runs from May 12-23.  Being selected for viewing at Cannes helps promote a film before its worldwide release, helps create more buzz.  Oh well.

[Via LATimesBlog]

Trailer: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

GORDON GEKKO IS BACK.

Wall Street 2 takes place 26 years after the conclusion of the 1987 Academy Award-winning Wall Street; both are directed by Oliver Stone.  It stars Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, and Carey Mulligan.  SPOILER: Charlie Sheen is rumored to make a cameo.  The sequel hits theatres April 21.  Watch the trailer below.  Do it.

[Via TrailerAddict]

Tom Cruise & J.J. Abrams join forces again for Mission: Impossible IV

This Tuesday Paramount Pictures announced that actor Tom Cruise will star in the next installment of the Mission: Impossible series.  J.J. Abrams returns as well, this time as producer not director.  Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec are penning the script that’s based on a story arc formulated by Cruise and Abrams.  Mission: Impossible IV is due out in theatres Memorial Day weekend in 2011.

[Via The Canadian Press]

Paranormal Activity story continues in comic form

Paranormal Activity: The Search For Katie, A Case Study by Dr. Johann Averys DMN is the title of the comic that picks off right where the movie leaves us all hanging.  Where is Micah?  What happened to demon-captured Katie?  It tells the story of Dr. Averys, the demon expert who we were not acquainted with in the film, and his search for Katie and some concrete answers.  It’s written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by Mark Badger.  When Gizmodo questioned Lobdell about the need for a comic book sequel he responded:

Even before I left the movie theater my mind was racing though a hundred different questions! Where did Katie go? How long had she been in thrall to the demon? Why did he do what he did to Micah… or have Katie do it? What about the mysterious Dr. Johann Averys — often mentioned but never seen? Could the case he was working on in Europe have anything to do with the case in San Diego? What would the investigation into the murder be like? One part cop forensics, one part study in demonology? The demon seemed like it had much larger fish to fry to scaring young women… could it have followers? A lot of this is set up in the first installment of the online comic book, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to further explore the world of Paranormal Activity.

Catch the “first installment” of Paranormal Activity investigation, comic-style in digital form at the Apple App Store (it’s 99 cents).

[Via Gizmodo]

Dr. Horrible sequel notes

Now that Dollhouse has been (sadly) cancelled, Joss Whedon now undoubedly has time to focus on his highly successful Internet-series project, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  New comments have surfaced concerning the anticipated sequel.  MTV News has the scoop…

Joss’ brother Zack Whedon: “We’ve been planning it pretty much from the minute we finished the first one.”  “They finish up ‘Dollhouse’ in the winter—at least what they’ve scheduled to shoot thus far—so hopefully when that’s done, we’ll all be able to get together more frequently and grind it out,” he explained. “There are a couple of songs written. It’s very promising. We’re all very excited about where it goes.”  “Yeah, you have to see them [Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer] in the sequel.  We will expand the world a little bit into other areas you have not seen… and it will be hilarious.”  He concludes, “We’re doing it for fun and for ourselves and for the fans.  So doing a sequel is really a no-brainer.”

Star Nathan Fillion (Captain Hammer): “There are plans.”  “The media for the sequel has not yet been decided, but there is a title.”  “Joss, I was talking to him right before we won the Emmy.  He said that he’s finished writing a song or two.  He told me a couple of verses to the song.”  “It’s going to be great.  I know a bunch of cast members of Dr. Horrible who would love to get back into it.”

So, a SEQUEL is coming…a TITLE has been selected…and some SONGS have been written.  Still no word on “dead” Penny (Felicia Day).  I’m sure some way or another the Brothers Whedon will figure a way to get her back.  Can’t wait.

[Via MTV, here & here]

Rock Band 3 to actually teach gamers how to play real instruments; Natal support?

Dhani Harrison (son of The Beatles’ George Harrison and developer on The Beatles: Rock Band) sat down with The Chicago Tribune and spilled some new information of what’s to come with the next installment of Harmonix’s Rock Band.

“I’m working on ‘Rock Band 3’ and making the controllers more real so people can actually learn how to play music while playing the game.  Give me a couple years, it’s going to happen.”

When asked about potential integration with Microsoft’s upcoming Project Natal interface, MTV Games general manager Scott Guthrie: “We aren’t standing still – we will keep moving into new areas and look at new technologies that our platform holder partners are also developing, such as Project Natal from Microsoft.”

It’s starting to look like Rock Band 3 will not just be another rhythm game in the serieswith a new tracklist and an updated online catalogue.  With more realistic instruments and potential Project Natal integration Rock Band 3 will surely make gamers and newcomers alike ready to rock out all over again.

[Via IGN]

Independence Day 2 is in the works

And it’s been a long time coming!  The highly anticiapted sequel to the 1996 summer smash hit Independence Day, starring Will Smith, is currently being figured out.

Director Roland Emmerich: “Dean Devlin [writer] and I are still set to make a sequel because we’ve found some sort of idea and we approached [studio 20th Century] Fox and Fox has not quite figured out how to incorporate Dean’s and my deal, and Will’s [Smith] deal. Will wants to do it in some sort of a package they can live with.  So it’s just been in negotiations now since forever, and naturally Fox says “Why don’t you do it without Will Smith?” I said Will is essential for us, for this movie and actually for the audience too. And, so, it’s in limbo and lately the studios are fighting. Like gross players, and Will is a gross player and is probably the only gross player right now who’s worth his gross. So we’ll see what happens. I would love to do it.”

Though Emmerich could not speak about the plot he did say that “There’s a very really great story, a very cool one.”  Can’t wait.

[Via IGN]

Michael Bay signs on for Transformers 3, welcomes back Megan Fox

Last Thursday director Michael Bay made it official that he would helm the next Transformers flick.  In a short blurb he posted on his website, Bay confirms a July 1, 2011 release date, that a “great Transformers story” is in the works, and he pokes fun at Megan Fox’s remarks she made in an interview with UK’s Wonder Magazine.

When asked about working with Bay on Transformers Fox said: “He’s like Napoleon and he wants to create this insane, infamous mad-man reputation. He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is. So he’s a nightmare to work for but when you get him away from set, and he’s not in director mode, I kind of really enjoy his personality because he’s so awkward, so hopelessly awkward. He has no social skills at all. And it’s endearing to watch him. He’s vulnerable and fragile in real life and then on set he’s a tyrant. Shia [Labeouf] and I almost die when we make a Transformers movie. He has you do some really insane things that insurance would never let you do.”

And here is Michael Bay’s official statement:

Transformers 3: July 1st, 2011
10/01/2009 09:41 AM
Well its official: We have a great Transformers 3 story. The release date is now July 1st 2011. Not 2012.

Today is Day One. This morning started with an ILM meeting for five hours in San Francisco. Currently I’m flying with writer Ehren Kruger to Rhode Island to talk to Hasbro about new characters.

P.S. Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture. Please consult your Physician when working under my direction because some side effects can occur, such as mild dizziness, intense nausea, suicidal tendencies, depression, minor chest hair growth, random internal hemorrhaging and inability to sleep. As some directors may be hazardous to your health, please consult your Doctor to determine if this is right for you.

Pain and Gain is right after shooting of Trans 3.

[Via Deadline; Justjared]

Kill Bill 3 is in the works, says Tarantino

EW reports that writer/director Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds) is looking forward to making Kill Bill: Volume 3.  On an Italian talk show Tarantino said “he will make another installment of his successful Kill Bill series, but that he wants there to be a 10-year break between the second and third film.”  This pegs the third installment for a 2014 release and, as EW notes, “star Uma Thurman at 44, just the right age to kick more ass.”

[Via IGN; via EW]

Quote of the Year (so far)

Take-Two Interactive’s Chairman Strauss Zelnick on the release of the next true Grand Theft Auto sequel, GTA V:

“We’re not going to announce it.  We’re not going to announce when we’re going to announce it.  And we’re not going to announce a strategy about announcing it or about when we’re going to announce it either, or about the announcement strategy surrounding the announcement of the strategy.”

Nobody is squeezing any information about a new GTA game from this guy, huh?

[Via IGN]