Diksha Sundriyal
There are so many films we have fallen in love with over the years. While some are quite recent, there are others that were left as they were a long time ago. The future looks good in the regard that we have a handful of sequels lined up for the movies that previously dazzled us. So, without further ado, here is the list of upcoming movie sequels coming out in 2020 and 2021. We hope that these new movie sequels are as good as some of the recent ones.
29. Bad Boys for Life (January 17, 2020)
The ‘Bad Boys’ series has returned with its third instalment. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, it stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the lead roles. It follows the story of two police officers who come together to fight the ruthless gangsters terrorising the city. The supporting cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Joe Pantoliano, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton and Paolo Nunez. In this film, the officers are forced to come out of their almost-retirement to fight against the brother of the mercenary they had killed a long time ago.
28. The King’s Man (February 12, 2020)
Every year we get at least one or, at times, more spy thrillers. ‘Bond franchise’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’ series deliver their fair share of films every couple of years, while other standalone films also jump in the game. There is one thing common in these films. They are all action-packed, yet very serious and heavy in drama, with a little bit of humour, here and there. ‘Kingsman’ dares to be different from them. It has all the trademarks of a spy film, yet it manages to be quirkier, funnier and more stylish than all of them. The first two films introduce us to the British and the American branches of this espionage service. The third in line is a prequel and explores the roots of the tailors turned into secret agents.
27. No Time to Die (February 14, 2020)
James Bond is, perhaps, the most iconic spy in the world. The man is as stylish and suave as he is deadly and dangerous, which makes his character mystifying. Many actors have donned the black suit and have had “shaken, not stirred” martini, but Daniel Craig has epitomised this character with his acting. But his time as Bond is almost over now, and this very well could be his last film. The faint idea that we have of the plot suggests that this film takes a different turn than other stories of Bond. We might even see him married and settled.
26. A Quiet Place: Part II (March 20, 2020)
‘A Quiet Place’ is set in a world where vicious monsters have taken over the Earth. Most of the human population has been killed due to the ability of the monsters to respond to the slightest of sounds. The Abbott family tries to carefully spend their time and resources, keeping themselves safe. But it’s not long before they have to face their worst nightmare. Directed by John Krasinski, the film became so successful that a sequel was quickly put into works. Part 2 brings back Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds. ‘Peaky Blinders’ star Cillian Murphy has joined the cast, along with Djimon Hounsou, Wayne Duvall and Lauren-Ashley Cristiano.
25. Legally Blonde 3 (May 8, 2020)
Starring Reese Witherspoon in the lead role, ‘Legally Blonde’ follows the story of girl named Elle Woods, whose boyfriend breaks up with her because he claims that she is not serious enough for him. Elle follows him to the Harvard Law School, and in the effort to convince him to come back to her, she finds a career for herself as a lawyer. Based on the book of the same name by Amanda Brown, the film spawned a couple of sequels as well as a Broadway musical. With the third film in the franchise, which picks up after the events of the second film and ignores the rest of the movies, Witherspoon returns to don the role of Woods. Directed by Jamie Suk, it also stars Alanna Ubach and Jessica Cauffiel.
24. Fast and Furious 9 (May 22, 2020)
Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz) and Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges (Tej Parker) are reprising their roles in the next instalment of this action-packed franchise. After missing out on the last film, Jordana Brewster has also been confirmed to return as Dom’s sister Mia. The plot of the movie is not revealed yet and is very much under wraps. So we can only speculate on the basis of what happened in the last movie. Vin Diesel has teased that the next instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise is set to be “bigger” than its predecessor and might be set in Africa. Over the years, the Fast and Furious films have been set in different countries including Brazil, UK, Spain, Japan, Mexico and UAE, and Diesel has said in his interviews that the next movie might take them to Africa as it has been “long overdue”.
23. Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020)
Behind the success of DC Extended Universe is ‘Wonder Woman’. Keeping aside the comparisons to the success of MCU, I was really sceptic about the path that the DC movies were taking. It started okay with ‘Man of Steel’, but with ‘Batman vs Superman’ it all went downhill. Hadn’t it been for Gal Gadot’s impeccable ‘Wonder Woman’, the time of DC would have been over even before it started. But they seem to be on the right track now and some exciting new projects have been lined up, the most anticipated of them is the sequel to ‘Wonder Woman’. The last time we saw Diana Prince, she had lost her love interest in a plane crash, and the World War was over. As the title suggests the story picks up a couple of decades after the events of the first film and pits the Amazonian warrior against a new enemy.
22. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10, 2020)
After revamping the story of ‘Ghostbusters’ with Melissa McCarthy in the lead, the series is connecting back to the originals with ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’. Directed by Jason Reitman, it stars Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard and Paul Rudd in the main roles. The cast of the original ‘Ghostbusters’ is also supposed to make an appearance. The film follows the story of a family that moves into a house that they have recently inherited. With the mysterious events going on in the town, they discover their connection with the ghostbusters.
21. Top Gun: Maverick (June 26, 2020)
It is never too late to have a sequel, and the producers of ‘Top Gun’ finally understood that. It was more than three decades ago that the career-defining movie of Tom Cruise came out in theatres. It met with massive success and is still considered one of the best films of Cruise’s career. Had it been released in recent times, it wouldn’t have taken so long for a sequel, because generally, the success of a movie decides whether it is worth continuing. What took so long to make this sequel makes ground for a lot of discussions, but let bygones be bygones now. The addition of Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly to the cast makes it interesting, and the return of Val Kilmer as Iceman makes it exciting.
20. Minions 2 (July 3, 2020)
They speak a mix of Hindi, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, French and Russian; yet what they say is total gibberish and thankfully we don’t need the brains to understand a word of Minion-ese! While the pill-shaped, yellow creatures looked to serve the greatest super-villain of all time, they toppled civilizations inadvertently and bumped off the fierce T-Rex in the process, finally settling for Scarlett Overkill. The sequel to ‘Minions’ is set to release on the big screens in 2020, and it is to be seen what act the harebrained Minions have up their sleeve next.
19. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (September 11, 2020)
Adding another chapter to ‘The Conjuring’ series, the third instalment in the franchise stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as the Warren couple. Michael Chaves (‘The Curse of La Llorona’) has directed the film. Additional cast includes Julian Hilliard, Sterling Jerins, Charlene Amoia and Sarah Catherine Hook. It is based on the true story of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who became the first defendant to plead innocence on the basis of demonic possession. The real-life Warren couple had been involved in the exorcism, and that is what the story primarily focuses on.
18. Halloween Kills (October 16, 2020)
Created by John Carpenter, the ‘Halloween’ franchise began back in 1978. It follows the story of a man who goes on a murdering spree. The film became an instant hit and has since, spawned a number of sequels. In 2018, the series received a makeover when ‘Halloween’ was released. It serves as the direct sequel of the 1978 film, ignoring the events of the ones in between. The horror saga continues with ‘Halloween Kills’. Directed by David Gordon Green, it has Jamie Lee Curtis and James Jude Courtney reprising their roles as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.
17. Avatar 2 (December 18, 2020)
James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ is a landmark in filmmaking. A huge success, the film was loved for its unique storytelling and the use of advanced CGIs in its making. Two successive movies had already been announced for the series, but it took ten years for making them, at least one of them. Cameron has patiently worked on the project and what he has in store for us has increased our anticipation for this sequel. The use of graphics and CGI has developed a lot since the last film came out, but reports suggest that Cameron is going to use the tech that hasn’t been used before. I have no idea what the story is about, but I am pretty sure that it is spectacular.
16. The Croods 2 (December 23, 2020)
They were the first people on the planet and they were the ones that named certain things as we know today! ‘The Croods’ is an affable tale set in the pre-historic times and follows the adventures of a family that discovers new lands and new animals as it starts moving out of the cave-home fearing an impending apocalypse. The movie is a good watch and Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds do a great job in the voice-over department. ‘The Croods 2’ has the family pitted against the Bettermans. A rivalry develops between them, and laughter cues for the audience.
15. Sherlock Holmes 3 (December 25, 2020)
The character of Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the most adapted character on screen. All these years, there have been various types of Sherlocks, with each actor bringing a specific texture to the most famous detective in the world. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in the contemporary ‘Sherlock’ shot him to stardom and established him as one of the finest actors of this generation. However, he is not the only one who has worn the deerstalker. Before the show came out, Robert Downey Jr. had already starred in two ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies, which also became a reason for the fans to argue over who was the better Sherlock.
Keeping differences aside, Guy Ritchie’s movies were a great success, and while a sequel should have been made a long time ago, it was kept on hold because of the busy schedules of the lead actors. The stars have aligned now and the film is in production. Downey Jr and Jude Law reprise their roles in the next film.
14. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2020)
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson return for the sequel of their hit action-comedy, ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’. The first film gives us a glimpse into the profession, rivalry and the eventual friendship of the lead characters. Salma Hayek stars as Kincaid’s (Jackson’s character) wife, Sonia. While the first film had her on the side-lines, she becomes the central focus of the sequel. Directed by Patrick Hughes, the film also stars Morgan Freeman, Richard E. Grant, Antonio Banderas and Frank Grillo.
13. Now You See Me 3 (2020)
Combining magic and heist, ‘Now You See Me’ follows the story of the Four Horsemen who are brought together by a mysterious man. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco as the magicians, the film also has Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman in the main roles. The second film continues with the jaw-dropping illusions of the team, replacing Fisher with the character of Lizzy Caplan. The fans demanded Fisher to come back for the third film, but it seems unlikely for now. While the rest of the cast is expected to return, the name of Benedict Cumberbatch has also been floating around to play the next villain.
12. The Matrix 4 (May 21, 2021)
Keanu Reeves is set to return to the world of Matrix as Neo Anderson in the fourth run of the film. The cult-classic is returning after the hiatus of two decades, in the midst of which Reeves has seen some good ups and downs in his career. Written by Aleksandar Hemon, David Mitchell and Lana Wachowski, it brings back Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett Smith. Jonathan Groff, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, Jessica Henwick and Neil Patrick Harris have also joined the cast in yet undisclosed roles.
11. John Wick 4 (May 21, 2021)
‘John Wick’ follows the story of the titular character who embarks on a killing spree when some gangsters kill his dog. Keanu Reeves turned on his revenge mode for this one, and the film became an instant success, praised for its action sequences. The success allowed the filmmakers to bet their money on a second and then a third film. Earlier, it was supposed to be a trilogy, but with a shocking twist at the end of ‘John Wick: Parabellum’, the audience knew that the assassin would return to finish the job.
10. Untitled Indiana Jones Film (July 9, 2021)
Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors ever. He has given us so many stories, in all sorts of genre, and is credited for making some of the best films of all time. ‘The Indiana Jones series’ is one of those Spielberg films that are a must-watch for the fans of the director. The character of the adventurous archaeologist, wearing a fedora and wielding a whip, is one of the most iconic characters. There have been four films about the adventures of Indiana Jones, but even in the last film, his story didn’t meet a proper end. A sequel was expected and though it has taken so much time to happen, we finally have a release date set and a promise that Harrison Ford is to reprise the titular role.
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9. The Suicide Squad (August 6, 2021)
2016’s ‘Suicide Squad’ might not have managed to please the critics, it was a huge box-office hit nonetheless. Introducing new characters to the DC cinematic universe, it was another step in creating the elaborate world of the superheroes. A sequel had been intended even before the film was released, however, in the aftermath, significant changes were made, keeping in mind the development of the rest of the films. James Gunn has written and directed the sequel that doesn’t follow after the events of the original. It brings back Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman and Jai Courtney, who also appeared in the first film. Additionally, Idris Elba, John Cena, Nathan Fillion, Sean Gunn and Taika Waititi have also joined the cast.
8. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3 (November 12, 2021)
A spin-off from the massively successful ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, ‘Fantastic Beasts’ is set before the era of Lord Voldemort and his eventual fight with Harry Potter. The central character of the show is Newt Scamander, played by Academy Award-winner, Eddie Redmayne. The film also stars Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol. In the second part, Jude Law and Johnny Depp joined the cast as Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, respectively. The third film continues the fight ensued by Grindelwald who wants to take over the world, a plan which involves dominating and even killing Muggles or No-Majs.
7. Hotel Transylvania (December 21, 2021)
‘Hotel Transylvania’ is set to further the franchise by adding one more film. The film follows the story of Count Dracula who has made a home for himself away from civilization. He lives there with his teenage (in terms of vampire years) daughter, Mavis. The hotel is open for all monsters from every part of the world. When a human finds his way through and falls in love with Mavis, trouble stirs for Dracula. The story has moved forward, bit by bit, with every film, and the film has even been turned into a tv series. It is set to return to charm the audience once again with the fourth film. The original cast is expected to reprise their roles.
6. Madagascar 4 (TBA)
The ‘Madagascar’ franchise tells the story of a group of animals who live in the Central Park Zoo. When they discover that it is not really their home, they venture out to find their true place. In the three films, they embark on a journey that takes them across the globe. With the fourth film, they are set to return to New York City. The film is directed by Tom McGrath. The original cast is expected to return and voice the characters.
5. Disenchanted (TBA)
In her long and shining career, Amy Adams has played a lot of roles. To not have a Disney princess amongst them would have been a shame. But Adams locked in that opportunity early in her career when she played Princess Giselle in ‘Enchanted’. Released in 2007, it follows the story of a princess who is transferred from the kingdom of Andalasia to New York. Her betrothed and the evil queen follow her there. The film met with great success and fans have been asking for a sequel, which is finally in works now. Adams is set to reprise the role, and the film focuses on what happily ever after means for Giselle.
4. The Adventures of Tintin 2 (TBA)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ follows the story of a journalist who stumbles upon the mystery of a lost treasure. This brings him in contact with Captain Haddock, who tells him about a rivalry that has lasted generations. Nominated for an Academy Award, the film is based on a comic book series, which means there is enough material to continue the adventures of the character and his dog, Snowy. The long-gestating sequel is helmed by Peter Jackson and sends Tintin and Haddock to South America on another adventure.
3. Mad Max: The Wasteland (TBA)
2015’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ revitalises the story of Max Rockatansky. The original stars Mel Gibson as the titular character and the remake has Tom Hardy as the lead. ‘Fury Road’ is set in a post-apocalyptic world where Max crosses paths with Furiosa who is helping the wives of the tyrant in running away. The film was a massive critical and commercial success and there have been the talks of the sequel since them. Hardy has been signed on for a three-film contract which means there is more in store for the fans. ‘The Wasteland’ is supposed to be a prequel. Miller is set to direct the film based on the screenplay by himself and Nick Lathouris.
2. Kill Bill Vol. 3 (TBA)
‘Kill Bill’ is one of Quentin Tarantino’s most popular films. It tells the story of the Bride (Uma Thurman) who wakes up from a 4-year-coma to kill her former boss and his assassins who had tried to kill her. The sequel was released in 2004 and since then, Tarantino has come up with a number of other films. And all this while, he has also been teasing the fans about a potential third film in the franchise. The rumours picked up the pace again recently, and there is an idea of where the director could go with the third film. No more details have been released as of yet, but according to Tarantino, it is definitely on the cards.
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1. Rush Hour 4 (TBA)
Jackie Chan is one of the most beloved action heroes and his movies are a joy to watch. In ‘Rush Hour’, he teamed up with Chris Tucker to tell the story of a mismatched dynamic duo that saves the world while delivering many laughs to the audience. The last instalment of the series came out about a decade ago and fans have been waiting for the sequel. Recently, it was confirmed that the film is finally turning towards something substantial and that soon, we’ll have another adventure of Inspector Lee and Detective Carter on our screens.
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