Yes, Hollywood will churn out at least 36 sequels in the next 24 months. Here's a look at the most anticipated ones of the year and what's waiting around the corner.
Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides
Release date: May 20
Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin McNally
Directed by: Rob Marshall
What's interesting: After Gore Verbinski who helmed the first three instalments of the franchise, expressed his disinterest, Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer roped in Rob Marshall (who last made Nine ) and convinced Depp to come back as Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack Sparrow is on a brand new adventure in search of the Fountain of Youth where he crosses path with the mysterious Angelica (Penelope Cruz). The casting has ensured that people are going to queue up for tickets. A fresh start was exactly what the franchise required after the third episode of Sparrow's adventure was heavily criticised for its wandering narrative, as reviewers used a quote from the film: “Do you suppose he plans it or makes it up as he goes along”? Plus this time, it's in 3D.
The Hangover 2
Release date: May 26
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Jamie Chung
Directed by: Todd Phillips
What's interesting: Well, first, no Heather Graham. And the synopsis says the guys are heading to Bangkok this time around for Stu's wedding. With Ken Jeong playing Stu's fiancé, we can best assume that Stu's romance with Jade (Heather) was short-lived. The stills also show Zach with a shaven head and Ed Helms with a tattoo on his face. Looks like much fun is going to be had with the boys with plenty of racist jokes. Get set for more political incorrectness, irreverence and revelry as the buddies go through another zany adventure. Psst: Bill Clinton has a cameo along with Mike Tyson, Liam Neeson and Paul Giamatti!
Kung Fu Panda 2
Release date: May 27
Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, James Hong, Jean Claude Van Damme, Gary Oldman
Directed by: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
What's interesting: To begin with, the cast just got bigger as Po and the Furious Five need to team up with another bunch of kung fu masters to take on a more powerful adversary. Though there's a change in the director, hopefully, the touch wouldn't be missed since the charge has gone to someone from the same technical team from the original and the franchise has retained the original writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Panda and assorted animals doing kung fu and Jack Black reprising his role is enough reason for us to get all excited. Again in 3D.
Transformers – Dark of the Moon
Release date: July 1
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, Francis McDormand
Directed by: Michael Bay
What's interesting: After Megan Fox fell out with Michael Bay when the last film came out, Bay replaced Fox with Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. So slow motion shots of Megan Fox running will be replaced with that of Rosie. Who cares about the rest of it any way after a terrible soul-less instalment the last time around? There will be more Bay style machine on machine, automobile on automobile action as Optimus Prime and his bunch of Autobots takes on the Decepticons. More toys need to be sold. So this one jumps on the 3D bandwagon too.
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows 2
Release date: July 15
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, John Hurt
Directed by: David Yates
What's interesting: Duh! It's the grand finale to the longest running franchise of this generation. We watched the kids grow up all these years as the films stayed somewhat loyal to Rowling's books. Hollywood market constraints demanded that the leads Radcliffe and Watson go naked and make out even if they weren't playing each other's love interests. So we did get a peek at Harry Potter kiss Hermione in Part 1. Let's see what other liberties the makers have taken to make the most anticipated finale appeal to a larger market. The trio will go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy the Horcruxes and fight Voldemort. Visually, this has got to be the best of the lot. Or let's hope.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
Release date: November 18
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen
Directed by: Bill Condon
What's interesting: How are they going to make potential R-rated material within the PG-13 fan base? The buzz from social media is that the makers have made it as hot as they can within what's permissible. We can guess all the hotness will unravel in Part 1 of Breaking Dawn since Bella Swan and Edward Cullen go honeymooning and “finally give in to their passions” as the synopsis tells us. The producers have split Breaking Dawn into two parts, similar to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . And so, the sequel to this sequel will release in November 2012.
Sherlock Holmes 2
Release date: December 16
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
What's interesting: Now that the TV series Sherlock has come up with a modern adaptation of the world's favourite detective, it will be interesting to see if what Guy Ritchie does with Sherlock Holmes this time around. One thing's for certain, Holmes and Watson will go after Prof. Moriarty (to be played by Jared Harris of Mad Men). There's likely to be more set-piece action but who's complaining? Purists can catch the old Sherlock on DVD and the radicals can catch the new Sherlock on TV as the new season begins a month before the film releases. Ritchie's falls in between the two sensibilities as he tries to stay honest to the time making it modern only in “tone and texture.” We'll watch it for Downey Jr.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Release date: December 16
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Anil Kapoor, Josh Holloway, Paula Patton
Directed by: Brad Bird
What's interesting: By now, we all know that Anil Kapoor is playing the villain and with JJ Abrams credited with the writing, we can be pretty much assured that the franchise will maintain the balance between action and intellect as we saw in the last part, which many believe, was the best of the three (the first was criticised for being too cerebral and the second for being too action oriented). Brad Bird ( Ratatouille, Incredibles ) to helm this is a curious choice and may be a clue that this is going to be visual effects intensive. But hey, all that's secondary. Tom Cruise is going to be back again as Ethan Hunt. We missed him.
Other 2011 sequels
Cars 2
Happy Feet 2 in 3D
Zombieland 2
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Scream 4
Paranormal Activity 3
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Final Destination 5
Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D
Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
Fast & the Furious – 5 – April 29
Sequel Slate for 2012
The Dark Knight Rises, Bond 23, Spider-Man in 3D, Star Trek 2, The Ring 3D, The Bourne Legacy, The Hobbit – Part 1, Underworld 4, The Wolverine, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Ghostbusters 3
