Hollywood can be a town of sequels, prequels, and remakes. It seems that every successful project is being given a sequel in the hopes that even more success will come. It's rare, but some sequels are better than the original, at times improving what came before. The recent release of the critically acclaimed A Quiet Place Part 2 proved that, when done right, a sequel can be the right way to go.
With so many projects in development, it's easy for some to slip through the cracks. Audiences can only remember so many sequel announcements, and chances are these upcoming movies aren't as well-known as some of the other blockbuster sequels to come.
Sing 2
Sing, released in December 2016, became an unexpected hit for Universal. The film, which told the story of a group of anthropomorphic animals who came together for a singing competition, made more than $600 million at the box office and received generally positive reviews.
Returning cast members include Mattew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Taron Egerton, and Scarlett Johansson, while Bono will also join the sequel. Sing 2 will come out in December of this year, after its original release date of December 2020 got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sherlock Holmes 3
The last Sherlock Holmes movie came out nearly ten years ago, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Talk about a third movie dwindled in the mid-2010s, but things heated in 2019 when Warner Bros. announced Rocketman helmer, Dexter Fletcher, as the film's director.
However, things slowed down again, and by October 2020, Fletcher declared that a potential third film was "sitting on the back burner." Fletcher made those comments in the thick of the pandemic, so it's reasonable that he'd be uncertain of the film's future. Also, in October, Downey and his wife, Susan, announced their wish to expand the property and turn it into a franchise, including spin-offs and even an HBO Max series.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
Puss in Boots is already a spin-off of the wildly successful Shrek franchise. The first movie starring the orange Antonio Banderas-voiced cat came out in 2011 and was a box office success, grossing $555 million worldwide. The film also received positive reviews and an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
The film walked a long road before materializing. At one point, it had the title Puss in Boots: Nine Live and 40 Thieves and a release date of late 2018. In March 2021, the film received a new release date, September 2022, and a pair of new directors. Banderas will reprise his role, but further casting announcements remain unknown.
Legally Blonde 3
Reese Witherspoon will return to her career-defining role in Legally Blonde 3. After the spectacular success of the first movie and the underwhelming performance of the second, plans for a third remained dormant until 2018, when Witherspoon entered negotiations to star in and produce it.
In 2018, MGM officially confirmed the movie, alongside a 2020 release date. Due to the pandemic, the movie got pushed back, and in May 2020, Mindy Kailing and Dan Goor came on board to rewrite the screenplay. Legally Blonde 3 currently has a May 2022 release date, but after so many changes, nothing is certain.
Sister Act 3
For years, Whoopi Goldberg remained adamant that she would never return to the role of Deloris van Cartier. During a 2013 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she outright refused. In the last couple of years, however, she changed her opinion, and by 2018 she actively wanted a third movie.
In December 2020, during Disney Investor Day, the company officially confirmed the third movie, with Goldberg returning and Tyler Perry producing. There is no release date as of yet, but the film is expected to debut on Disney+.
Enola Holmes 2
Netflix scored a victory with the 2020 release of Enola Holmes. The film, which centers on Sherlock's younger sister, starred Millie Bobbie Brown in the title role, alongside Henry Cavill as the detective from Baker Street. Enola Holmes was a massive hit for the streamer and currently stands as Netflix's seventh most-watched original film, with an audience of 76 million households.
In May 2021, Netflix officially announced a sequel. Both Brown and Cavill will reprise their roles, although the streamer gave no release date for the project.
Death Note 2
Based on Death Note's reception, no one would've guessed a sequel would ever happen. Released in 2017, the movie received negative reviews from critics and fans of the anime and manga. However, in 2018, THR reported that a sequel was in the works, with Greg Russo writing the screenplay.
This past April, Russo declared that the sequel would draw more inspiration from the source material than the first film. It remains a mystery if director Adam Wingard or star Natt Wolf will return, and there is no currently no release date for the sequel.
Crazy Rich Asians 2 & 3
2018's Crazy Rich Asians was a massive hit for Warner Bros. It grossed $238 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics and audiences. A sequel seemed imminent, and in December 2018, producer Nina Jacobson confirmed the plan was to shoot two sequels back-to-back in 2020.
Controversy arose in 2019 when screenwriter Adele Lim left the sequels following a pay dispute. Director John M. Chu supported Lim, stating he'd continue working with her outside of the Crazy Rich Asians franchise.
Beverly Hills Cop 4
For years, a potential fourth entry in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise remained in development hell. In 2011, Eddie Murphy stated that a fourth Beverly Hills Cop wouldn't happen, citing problems with the screenplay. Instead, he would produce a TV show focusing on Axel Foley's son.
CBS passed on the Pilot, and a fourth movie came back in the mix. Netflix currently has the license to distribute, and director duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah remain attached to helm the movie. By March 2021, Murphy confirmed the script is still in development.
Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City
The Resident Evil franchise spawned six movies starring Milla Jovovich. The last one premiered in 2016, although fan interest remained consistent. Last October, Sony announced the cast for a reboot titled Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, including Kaya Scodelario, Hannah-John Kamen, Robbie Amell, and Tom Hopper.
Welcome to Racoon City will feature classic characters from the games, with Scodelario and Kamen playing Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine, respectively. Filming wrapped up in December 2020, although reshoots took place in May for an apparent November 2021 release.