It occurs so usually {that a} film turns into an enormous hit and a sequel is straight away greenlit. Studios cannot wait to launch the subsequent film, hoping it’ll flip right into a franchise and assist them reap the monetary advantages. Followers oftentimes cannot get sufficient of the characters, making these films a no brainer in all elements. Jurassic World: Rebirth was lately launched, marking the fourth Jurassic World movie and the seventh general within the Jurassic Park franchise. Whereas these big-budget sequels aren’t at all times essentially the most critically profitable movies, they bring about followers out in droves.
Sadly for followers, there are many films that come out, have a sequel greenlit, after which one thing occurs, and issues get stalled. It may be a change in author or director. The solid might want extra money and negotiations break down. The script might not be deemed prepared by the studio. Regardless of the case could also be, the film has been talked about, mentioned, and hyped as much as followers, however nothing else has actually occurred.
Listed here are among the longest-gestating sequels audiences cannot wait to look at however will not get to see for a while.
10
‘I Am Legend 2’
I Am Legend
- Launch Date
-
December 14, 2007
- Runtime
-
101 minutes
It took practically 15 years for Warner Bros. to get I Am Legend out of growth and into film theaters when it premiered in 2007. It stars Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, the final human alive in New York Metropolis as he shares the land with mutants who had been modified by a lethal virus. He tries to discover a treatment for the virus by conducting experiments on the mutant. The movie was an enormous hit on the field workplace, incomes $585M.
A 12 months after it was launched, there have been rumors {that a} prequel could be launched highlighting how the virus got here to be. In 2011, the prequel was scrapped however in 2012, the studio introduced it was negotiating to provide a sequel with Smith reprising his function. It took one other 10 years for an additional replace to come back, however in 2022, it was introduced {that a} sequel was in growth with Michael B. Jordan becoming a member of Smith as a star. No official bulletins have been made aside from Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the unique, saying the script was completed for the sequel in 2024.
Associated
Solely Two Sequels Have Ever Gained Finest Image on the Oscars, and We Hope It Stays That Approach
Why do the Academy Awards (and all of us) have such an aversion to sequels?
9
‘The Incredibles 3’
The Incredibles 2
- Launch Date
-
June 15, 2018
- Runtime
-
126 Minutes
It has been seven years since The Incredibles 2 premiered and the Parr household returned to battle crime and acquire the general public’s belief in superheroes once more. The movie, which options Catherine Keener and Bob Odenkirk within the solid alongside the returning Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Brad Fowl, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sarah Vowell, was a smash hit for Disney and Pixar, incomes $1.2B on the world field workplace, together with $182.7M in its opening weekend, the very best for any animated movie at that time. It was nominated for the Finest Animated Function Academy Award.
It took six years for Pixar to announce there could be a sequel, because it revealed in August 2024 that The Incredibles 3 was in growth. There was no launch date scheduled, however in June 2025, it was introduced that Pete Sohn could be directing, changing Fowl, who helmed the primary two movies.
8
‘Hocus Pocus 3’
29 years after the unique premiered, Hocus Pocus 2 was launched in 2022 on Disney+. Hocus Pocus turned a cult traditional for a lot of ’90s children who grew up watching the unique round Halloween. The sequel noticed its three stars, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy all return because the Sanderson sisters, who had been conjured once more and introduced again to Salem, Massachusetts.
It was the most-viewed streaming movie in its first three days of 2022, as folks flocked in droves to the platform to look at it. The sequel costars Tony Hale, Hannah Waddingham, Sam Richardson, Doug Jones, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham. Shortly after its launch, government producer Adam Shankman stated there have been choices for spin-offs and sequels. In June 2023, Disney confirmed a 3rd one was within the works with Anne Fletcher returning as director and Jen D’Angelo writing the script. Nevertheless, no launch date has been introduced but, and the challenge hasn’t been filmed.
7
‘Jumanji 4’
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle earned $962 million worldwide on the field workplace in 2017. Jumanji: The Subsequent Stage was launched in 2019, incomes $801 million globally. These two sequels got here 22 and 24 years after the unique Jumanji, which starred Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt, and earned $262 million in 1995. The sequels function Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan as participant characters within the online game Jumanji.
The Subsequent Stage options Rory McCann because the warlord Jurgen the Brutal, the principle antagonist inside the sport. Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, and Danny Glover additionally joined the solid for the third movie within the franchise. It was introduced in 2021 that author/director Jake Kasdan was supposedly engaged on a pitch for the studio for Jumanji 4. Kevin Hart stated in 2023 that it will be the ultimate movie of the franchise. Sony confirmed in 2024 that the movie was greenlit and it’s at present on the schedule for December 11, 2026, nevertheless it has but to start filming. It’s unclear whether or not Johnson or Black will return.
6
‘Shang Chi 2’
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was launched in 2021 and earned $432 million on the field workplace. The movie stars Simu Liu because the titular character and was part of Section 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the primary part within the second saga of the MCU, initially anticipated to give attention to the Kang Dynasty. Shang-Chi was written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who was speculated to direct Avengers: Kang Dynasty, one of many principal movies of Section Six.
That movie was speculated to closely function Shang-Chi as he fought alongside the Avengers to battle Kang the Conqueror. However after Jonathan Majors was fired from his function as Kang, Marvel reworked its whole Section 5 and Section Six, shifting in the direction of Victor Von Doom as the large villain and organising Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Sadly for Shang-Chi, this meant different initiatives moved in entrance of a sequel and Cretton is ready to direct the subsequent Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Model New Day. Liu has been introduced to be reprising his function for Doomsday, however there’s at present no slot in Marvel’s launch schedule for Shang-Chi 2.
5
‘Sherlock Holmes 3’
Sherlock Holmes; A Sport of Shadows was the second Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jr. because the well-known detective and Jude Regulation as his sidekick, Dr. Watson. The movie was launched in 2011 with the unique premiering two years prior. It was a large hit, incomes $543M. on the field workplace. Each of the primary movies had been directed by Man Ritchie, incomes him two of his larger field workplace smashes. Proper after the sequel premiered, it was introduced by Warner Bros. that the primary draft of a 3rd movie was written.
In 2015, it was confirmed that Downey Jr. and Regulation would reprise their roles within the third movie. In 2018, the movie was positioned on Warner Bros. launch schedule for Christmas Day 2020 with Dexter Fletcher stepping in for Ritchie as director. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the movie was delayed indefinitely. In 2023, a number of folks concerned stated the movie continues to be a precedence for Downey and his manufacturing firm, though no script or bulletins have been made since.
Associated
The 30 Most Extremely Anticipated Films of 2025
2025 may even see a resurgence of the DCU and MCU, together with loads of thrilling reboots of fan-favorite titles.
4
‘Mamma Mia 3’
Mamma Mia! has been within the cultural zeitgeist for a few years following its smash success as a Broadway musical. The musical based mostly on the songs of ABBA was became a feature-length movie in 2008. Mamma Mia! made $611 million on the world field workplace and spawned a sequel, Mamma Mia! Right here We Go Once more. The sequel earned $402 million worldwide and options Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, and Julie Walters all reprising their roles from the unique. The massive addition to the solid of the sequel was Cher as Meryl Streep’s mom.
Producer Julie Craymer acknowledged in 2020 {that a} third movie was in growth, as ABBA was set to launch a brand new album which may provide songs for the subsequent sequel. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it was unclear if a brand new sequel would go into manufacturing, as Craymer expressed doubt in 2023 that it will occur. However later that 12 months, Craymer stated a 3rd movie would occur, although nothing has been introduced since.
3
‘Cloverfield 2’
Cloverfield
- Launch Date
-
January 15, 2008
- Runtime
-
85 minutes
Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield took the discovered footage horror style in a brand new route with its monster film that made $172 million on a $30 million price range. It stars Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, and Odette Yustman as buddies who’re at a going-away get together for a good friend when a large earthquake hits. Amidst the panic, considered one of them continues to movie on his camcorder what is going on and a monster that has invaded New York Metropolis is revealed to be the offender for the earthquake. The group should attempt to survive the chaos and flee to security.
Since Cloverfield was launched in 2008, there have been two movies which might be associated to it however not direct sequels. 10 Cloverfield Lane got here out in 2016 and The Cloverfield Paradox premiered in 2018. 10 Cloverfield Lane was lauded by critics whereas The Cloverfield Paradox was panned. In 2018, J.J. Abrams, a producer on all three movies, acknowledged {that a} direct sequel to Cloverfield was being made and in 2021 Joe Barton was employed as the author. In 2022, Babak Anvari was connected to direct the movie, and this 12 months, Anvari stated a script was nonetheless being written.
2
‘Fringe of Tomorrow 2’
If a sequel to Fringe of Tomorrow does come out, it will be the “repeat” portion of the unique movie’s tagline “Dwell. Die. Repeat.” The modern sci-fi thriller got here out in 2014 and stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt as troopers caught in a time loop in a world the place most of Europe is inhabited by aliens. The troopers should battle the alien race sooner or later to attempt to reclaim Earth. The film made $370 million on the field workplace and earned a 91% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
A sequel has been mentioned since 2015, as author Christopher McQuarrie stated that Cruise had give you the thought for one. McQuarrie and Cruise have been busy since, making quite a lot of Mission: Unimaginable movies in addition to Prime Gun: Maverick. Nevertheless, following a brand new partnership between Cruise and Warner Bros. Photos in 2024, it appears extra seemingly {that a} sequel may occur as there have been discussions immediately to convey a follow-up to the movie for the studio.
Associated
The Greatest Field Workplace Hits of the 2020s (So Far)
The 2020s are shaping as much as be a particularly profitable and widespread decade for Hollywood and moviegoers, with numerous hits dominating theaters.
1
‘Constantine 2’
Constantine
- Launch Date
-
February 18, 2005
- Runtime
-
121 minutes
- Director
-
Francis Lawrence
Constantine has amassed an enormous cult following after it was launched in 2005. The movie stars Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, an exorcist who can see half-angels and half-demons on Earth. He has to cease evil forces from making an attempt to convey Hell on Earth. The movie costars Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Peter Stormare, Shia Labeouf, and Djimon Hounsou. It made $230 million worldwide however acquired middling opinions from critics.
Nevertheless, followers have been clamoring for a sequel because it was launched. Director Francis Lawrence and Reeves have been working to attempt to convey the character again, however solely with the appropriate script. For the previous 5 years, it has been in growth, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the WGA strike inflicting delays. This 12 months, Lawrence and Reeves pitched a narrative thought to DC Studios and had been accredited to jot down the script.