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Coming Soon
Shrek 2
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz
Release Date: May 21st, 2004
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the $250+ million hit film, Shrek, itself based upon the children's book by William Steig.
Premise: Picking up exactly where the first movie left off, this movie takes us to the kingdom of Far, Far Away, as Shrek and Fiona return to her homeland to tell her parents the good news. Not everyone is happy to find her married to an ogre, with the most irate in this group being Prince Charming, who was supposed to be the one who lifted Fiona's curse. We're also introduced to the mysterious Fairy Godmother, and a bar called the Poison Apple, where the villains of the fairy tale world hang out, including the great ogre-slayer... Puss-in-Boots.
Coming Someday
2004
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Release Date: June 4th, 2004
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis (Professor Remis Lupin), Emma Thompson (Professor Sibyll Trelawney), Peter Best (MacNair), David Bradley (Argus Filch), Julie Christie (Madam Rosmerta), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Emily Dale (Katie Bell), Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Alfie Enoch (Dean Thomas), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge), Dawn French (The Fat Lady), Michael Gambon (Professor Albus Dumbledore), Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Dursley), Joshua Herdman (Gregory Goyle), Lee Ingleby (Stan Shunpike), Matt Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Hugh Mitchell (Colin Creevey), Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan), Katharine Nicholson (Pansy Parkinson), Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley), Alan Rickman (Professor Snape), Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia), Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew), Jim Tavare (Tom, the Leaky Cauldron Innkeeper), Danielle Taylor (Angelina Johnson), Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley), Jamie Waylett (Vincent Crabbe), Paul Whitehouse (Sir Cadogan), Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Luke Youngblood (Lee Jordan)
Based Upon: The third book in the popular series of children's books by J.K. Rowling, following Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Next up will be Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (in 2005 or 2006) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (in 2006 or 2007?).
Premise: Starting during the summer before Harry's third year at Hogwarts, this is the adventure that happens when he has to go on the run after an incident where he was unable to control his anger... getting on a bus, he hears about Sirius Black, a renegade wizard who was a Prisoner at Azkaban. What Harry doesn't suspect is that Black escaped to look for... him.
The Bourne Supremacy
Release Date: July 23rd, 2004
Cast: Matt Damon (David Webb, AKA Jason Bourne), Franka Potente (Marie Kreutz), Joan Allen (CIA Agent Helen Landy), Tomas Arana, Brian Cox (Ward Abbott), Tom Gallop, Julia Stiles (Nicolette), Karl Urban; other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: The 1986 novel, "The Bourne Supremacy", by Robert Ludlum, which forms the middle third of the Bourne Trilogy. Universal is dedicated to adapting all three books, with the first movie, The Bourne Identity, released in 2002 and the final one, "The Bourne Ultimatum", also in development. Made for $75 million, The Bourne Identity was a mid-size hit in the summer of 2002 ($121 million domestically), and a huge hit when it reached home video in January, 2003, setting a new five-day record (previously held by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone).
Premise: When a Chinese vice-premier is executed by notorious assassin Jason Bourne, it causes serious trouble and hubbub in the CIA. Why? There is no "Jason Bourne", as that name is just a cover for CIA agent David Webb (Damon), so it appears that someone has taken the "Bourne identity" (get it?) away from him, creating a diplomatic crisis between the U.S.A. and China. It's up to the real "Bourne" to find out who's behind this ruse, and hopefully return peace to the two nations before they go to war over it, while also protecting his girlfriend, Marie Kreutz (Potente), whose life is threatened by this latest imbroglio. Meanwhile, Nicolette (Stiles), who was the only survivor of the events in the first movie besides David/Jason and Marie, finds herself being suspected by her CIA superiors as being in cahoots with Jason. (Joan Allen plays a CIA agent who spends most of the movie trying to track him down; Urban plays one of the bad guys; Arana plays Allen's boss at the CIA)
Before Sunset
Release Date: June 25th, 2004 (limited release)
Cast: Ethan Hawke (Jesse), Julie Delpy (Celine)
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the 1995 film, Before Sunrise, also directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Their characters also appeared together (in bed) in a sequence in Linklater animated (and philosophy-soaked) drama, Waking Life.
Premise: Nine years after he first met and hung out with her for a single night, American author Jesse (Hawke) once again meets up with Celine (Delpy) in Paris while there on a book tour.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Release Date: August 11th, 2004
Cast: Anne Hathaway (Mia Thermopolis), Julie Andrews (Clarisse Renaldi), Callum Blue, Hector Elizondo (Joe), Caroline Goodall (Mia's Mother), Joel McCrary (Prime Minister Motaz), Heather Matarazzo (Lilly Moscovitz), Sean O'Bryan; other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to Disney's 2001 surprise hit, The Princess Diaries (grossing $108 million in the U.S. on a budget of $37 million), which was itself based upon the young adults novel of the same title by Meg Cabot. Cabot did write a sequel novel called 'Princess in the Spotlight,' but this movie is not based upon that book (which dealt more with a storyline involving Mia doing being interviewed on national [U.S.] television).
Premise: After getting over the revelation that she is a princess and part of the royal family of the small and obscure European nation of Genovia (with a population of just 50,000), American teenager Mia (Hathaway) moves to the actual country she represents, with her best friend, Lilly (Matarazzo) tagging along during summer vacation (note: they're both now high school graduates). As she learns the job of being a country's future ruler, one challenge she's faced with is the prospect of being set up in an arranged marriage...
Alien vs Predator
Release Date: August 13th, 2004
Cast: Sanaa Lathan (Lex Kline), Lance Henriksen (Charles Weyland), Raoul Bova (Sebastian Wells), Ewen Bremner (Miller); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This movie is based upon two of 20th Century Fox's most popular franchises: Alien and Predator. If considered the next movie in each of those franchises, this would be 'Alien 5' (with the next Sigourney Weaver movie likely to be Alien 6) and 'Predator 3.' The idea for putting these two alien races up against each originated in a popular franchise of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics called 'Aliens vs Predator,' which eventually spawned video games. The apparent reason for this movie being called 'Alien vs Predator' (rather than 'Aliens vs Predator') is to distinguish it from the storyline of the many different comic books and video games, which take place in the future. This movie is perceived by Fox as being a good way to getting interest in both of the franchises restarted again (ie, possibly leading to the eventual production of Alien 6 and 'Predator 4'?), but it's possible that if it's a *really* big hit, we could see 'Alien vs Predator' emerge as a separate franchise altogether.
Premise: Set in the early 21st century (ie, now), this movie follows a team of drillers, scientists and archaeologists led by a billionaire industrialist (Henriksen) who travel to Antarctica to investigate ancient pyramid ruins buried deep beneath the ice which predate those in Egypt and Mexico, suggesting they were once the home of a great empire that ruled over the Earth first. When they finally reach one of the pyramids, however, they discover human skeletons and fossilized remains of alien creatures that appear to hug faces and burst out of chests (wink wink), along with evidence that such aliens may still be alive somewhere in the ruins. The danger below them is frightening, but what the scientists also don't know is that something as dangerous lurks above them, happy to have had someone uncover the Aliens: a group of five teenage Predators, following a tradition wherein young Predators come to Earth every thousand years to go through their hunting rituals to reach manhood (or die horribly). The humans on the scene have to just hope they don't join them...
Anacondas
Release Date: August 27th, 2004
Cast: Johnny Messner, Morris Chestnut, Eugene Byrd, Peter Curtis, Nicholas Gonzalez, Nicholas Hope, Salli Richardson, Kadee Strickland, Carl Yune
Based Upon: (12/6/00) This is, of course, the sequel to the successful 1997 monster movie, Anaconda, starring Jon Voight, Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez, and Owen Wilson. That first film, budgeted at $35 million, ended up with a sweet (relative to cost) $65+ million.
Not Based Upon: (3/22/04) This movie has nothing to do with the popular Marvel Comics character, 'Venom,' who, oddly enough, has a chance of someday appearing in his own movie or as a villain in one of Sony's Spider-Man movies.
Premise: A scientific expedition is sent to the jungles of Borneo to search for a rare black orchid by a powerful pharmaceutical company that hopes the orchid can be used to unlock the secrets of youth and immortality. What they discover is that the orchid is already being used by a powerful group... a swarm of giant snakes that derive their super strength, size and vitality from the flowers, and extremely large snakes are also extremely hungry snakes...
Benji Returns: Rags to Riches
Release Date: Summer, 2004
Cast: Benji (Benji), Nick Whitaker, Chris Kendrick, Christy Summerhays, Neil Barth, Randall Newsome, Duane Stephens, Carlton W. Bluford, Nate Bynum, Melinda Clarkson-Haynes, Lincoln Hoppe; Like the other Benji movies, there is no narration for Benji; Benji's not a "talking dog".
Based Upon: This film is a revival of the series about a loveable stray mutt dog that started in 1974 with Benji. The daughter of the original Benji starred in 1977's For the Love of Benji (when she was young) and 1987's Benji the Hunted (when she was quite old). The second Benji also appeared in a 1978 half-hour TV special called Benji's Very Own Christmas Story, but this is the first theatrical holiday movie. The original Benji, whose name was actually Higgins, also appeared on the TV show Petticoat Junction, while the second Benji (his daughter), costarred with Chevy Chase in Oh, Heavenly Dog!, which Camp directed, but she was not "playing" Benji.
Premise: Set in Gulfport, Mississippi (where the new Benji was found), this movie follows the adventures of a loveable mutt named Benji, who enters into an unwanted partnership with a shaggy dog (named "Shaggy"), as the pair struggles to save Benji's mother from a greedy backyard breeder.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Release Date: October 1st, 2004
Cast: Milla Jovovich (Alice), Sienna Guillory (Jill Valentine), Mike Epps (L.J.), Oded Fehr (Carlos Oliviera), Jared Harris (Dr. Ashford), Sandrine Holt (Terri Morales), Thomas Kretschmann, Matthew G. Taylor, Sophie Vavasseur, Zack Ward (Nicholai)
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the 2002 horror film, Resident Evil, which grossed $39.7 million in the U.S. on a budget of $35 million. Both movies are based on the very popular video game series, with the first movie being a prequel of sorts to the original 'Resident Evil' game, and this movie loosely adapting the third game, 'Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.' At least three characters from the games are appearing in this movie: Jill Valentine ('Resident Evil' & 'Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'), Carlos Olivera (RE3) and Nicholai Sokolov (RE3).
(10/2/03) Screen Gems also plans on producing a third 'Resident Evil' film, which currently has the working title of 'Resident Evil: Afterlife,' but details about that film's premise aren't currently known.
Premise: Picking up where the end of the first movie left off, an elite military agent, Alice (Jovovich), finds herself stranded in the ruins of Raccoon City folowing a virus outbreak which has turned the city's inhabitants into bloodthirsty zombies. Searching for a way to contain the virus, Alice also teams up with other survivors, who include Jill Valentine (the key heroine from the games) (Guillory), who finds herself being hunted down by a massive monster called Nemesis (Mabius) with ties to Alice, and the tendency to moan 'Starrrrssss' a lot (Valentine is a recently-demoted member of S.T.A.R.S., the Umbrella Corp's "Special Tactics and Rescue Services"). (Oded Fehr plays the head of Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Force, Carlos, who was one of the playable characters in 'Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'; Jared Harris plays Dr. Ashford, the wheelchair-bound scientist who developed the formula causing the zombie problem.)
Seed of Chucky
Release Date: October 29th, 2004
Cast: Billy Boyd (voice of Glen), Brad Dourif (voice of Chucky), Jennifer Tilly (voice of Tiffany), Redman, Hannah Spearitt, John Waters; other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the 5th film in this series (Child's Play) about a killer doll that has proven surprisingly successful (in other words, it's one of the few horror franchises that hasn't gone "direct to video" yet).
Premise: Following the events of 'Bride of Chucky,' killer dolls Chucky and Tiffany are now faced with the challenge of raising their child, Glen (Boyd), becoming a family of killer dolls.
The Devil's Rejects
Release Date: October, 2004
Cast: Bill Moseley (Otis Driftwood), Sid Haig (Captain Spaulding), Sheri Moon (Baby Firefly), Karen Black (Mother Firefly); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: (8/3/03) This is the sequel to the horror film, House of 1000 Corpses, which was finally released in April, 2003 by Lions Gate Films after being kept on a shelf for quite some time by Universal Pictures, the film's original distributor. In sharp contrast, Lions Gate is looking to produce and release this movie within a year of the first film's release. The original film started with a limited release, and ended up making $12.5 million in the U.S. Lions Gate is going to try a wide release right away this time, referring to the first film's $7,700+ per-screen-average for its first week, which if duplicated with a wide release of say, 2,500 theaters, could result in a weekend gross in the $20 million range. Lions Gate is hoping this second film will be successful enough for the "House of 1,000 Corpses" series to keep going with further sequels.
Premise: The unthinkable horror and chaos continues a few weeks after the events depicted in House of 1000 Corpses, as this film's focus shifts to a conflict between the various evil family members of the first movie and a new set of murderous loonies, in a blood-soaked road movie that leaves that 'House' with all its corpses. With two gangs of bloodthirsty bodily mutilation enthusiasts set loose at each other's necks, who will emerge victorious? The conflict starts when the 'house of 1000 corpses' is raided by a S.W.A.T. team, where the events of the first film are discovered in all of their shocking horror... As the maniacs the media dubs "The Devil's Rejects" flee the scene of the many, many crimes as their house burns down, they take off on a bloody road trip...
The Ring 2
Release Date: November 10th, 2004
Cast: Naomi Watts (Rachel Keller), David Dorfman (Aidan Keller), Daveigh Chase (Samara Morgan); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the 2002 surprise hit, The Ring, which was itself a (loose) English-language remake of the 1998 Japanese horror hit, Ringu. That film inspired a prequel, 'Ringu 0,' and two sequels, 'Rasen' and 'Ringu 2,' but this movie will not be based on any of them, but will be an original sequel, spinning off from the English-language remake.
Premise: No details are currently known about this film, except that it will have something to do with the mysterious video tapes from the first movie which seemed to cause people who saw them to die seven days later. The only other things that are currently known is that journalist Rachel Keller (Watts) will be returning, and that the film will have plot elements that make it both a prequel (showing the origins of the character played by Daveigh Chase) and a sequel.
Scary Movie 4
Release Date: Fall 2004
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: This is, of course, the fourth film in the series of horror-spoofing comedies that started with the surprise blockbuster, Scary Movie, which grossed $157 million in the U.S. on a budget of $19 million. This movie is also preceded by 2001's Scary Movie 2, which "only" made $71 million, and Scary Movie 3, which is scheduled for release in October, 2003.
Premise: Not much is known about this movie yet, except that it will continue the series' spoofing of recent horror movies, as well as a special focus this time around on superhero movies like Spider-Man, Daredevil, X-Men and The Hulk.
Ocean's Twelve
Release Date: December 10th, 2004
Cast Note: George Clooney has been quoted by a few sources recently as saying that "everybody" is coming back, so until I hear otherwise, I'm going to list them all.
Cast: George Clooney (Danny Ocean), Julia Roberts (Tess Ocean), Matt Damon (Linus Caldwell), Brad Pitt (Rusty Ryan), Catherine Zeta-Jones, Casey Affleck (Virgil Malloy), Scott Caan (Turk Malloy), Vincent Cassel, Don Cheadle (Basher Tarr), Andy Garcia (Terrence "Terry" Benedict), Elliott Gould (Reuben Tishkoff), Eddie Jemison (Livingston Dell), Bernie Mac (Frank Catton), Carl Reiner (Saul Bloom); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the December, 2001 crime caper hit, Ocean's Eleven, which was itself a remake of the 1960 "Rat Pack" movie, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Angie Dickinson, Cesar Romero and Norman Fell, which was famously filmed in Las Vegas while each of the Rat Pack members were also performing at the Sands Hotel. The 2001 movie opened to $50 million, and ended up grossing $183 million in the U.S. alone.
Premise: Danny Ocean (Clooney), reignited flame Tess (Roberts) and the rest of a band of thieves and con men (some returning and some new), team up for another three huge heists, but this time they're in three different locations (Rome, Paris and Amsterdam) (perhaps handled by three groups of four thieves each?). In Amsterdam, the prize is Rembrandt's "De Nachtwacht" painting, which resides at the Rijksmuseum. Meanwhile, casino owner Terry Benedict (Garcia), whom Ocean and crew ripped off in Las Vegas, is hot on their tail, looking for revenge...
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Release Date: December, 2004 (limited release); January, 2005 (expands to wide)
Cast: Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones), Colin Firth (Mark Darcy), Hugh Grant (Daniel Cleaver), Jacinda Barrett (Rebecca), Morne Botes, Jim Broadbent (Colin Jones), James Callis (Tom), Shirley Henderson (Jude), Gemma Jones (Pam Jones), Sally Phillips (Shazzer), Catherine Russell, Jessica Stevenson; other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: (2/21/04) This movie is both based upon the novel of the same title by Helen Fielding, and is a sequel to the 2001 film, Bridget Jones's Diary (with the novel by that title of course being what started it all).
Franchise Notes: (2/21/04) Renee Zellweger has recently been quoted as saying that she would be interested in signing on for a third 'Bridget Jones' movie if the opportunity arose. Ms. Fielding has not yet written a third novel.
Premise: Starting four weeks after the events of the first movie, former British singleton Bridget Jones (Zellweger) discovers that life with beau (and barrister) Mark Darcy (Firth) isn't exactly everything she thought it might be, and neither is her new job as a news reporter for the 'Sit Up Britain' TV show (Jacinda Barrett plays a coworker of Mark's that Bridget has a lesbian encounter with).
Underworld 2
Release Date: TBA 2004/2005
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman
Notes: (10/8/03) Director Len Wiseman and screenwriter Danny McBride are currently working on a sequel script, with plans for a 3rd film, a prequel also lined up. Kate Beckinsale is not yet signed on for the sequel. (11/15/03) Although the third film is being planned entirely as a prequel, there will be some prequel elements in the second movie as well, with the film starting with a 15-minute sequence set in the distant past during an epic battle between the werewolves and vampires (part of which was shown briefly in the first movie). (3/12/04) Production is now tentatively scheduled to start on 'Underworld 2' in the fall of 2004, with Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman already signed on to return. Premise: This sequel picks up where the original Underworld left off. No plot details have been announced.
2005 and Beyond
Son of the Mask
Release Date: February 18th, 2005
Cast: Jamie Kennedy (Tim Avery), Alan Cumming (Loki), Traylor Howard (Mrs. Avery), Bob Hoskins (Odin), Ben Stein (Dr. Arthur Neuman); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This movie will be the sequel to the 1994 comedy blockbuster, The Mask, which was likewise based upon a comic book published by Dark Horse. Apparently, New Line is suggesting that this be considered more like the "second film in the franchise" than a direct sequel to the first film.
Premise: Starting over from scratch, this newest film in the "Mask" series focuses on aspiring cartoonist Tim Avery (Kennedy) who's feeling reluctant to become a father when he finds that he has to take care of a baby with amazing abilities... somehow, the baby has the powers of the Mask of Loki, a mythological object that transforms its user into a manic shapeshifter alter-ego. As bad as a baby with godlike powers might seem, the *really* bad news is that Loki (Cumming) wants his mask back (Howard plays Kennedy's wife).
XXX2: State of the Union
Release Date: May 13th, 2005
Cast: Ice Cube, Samuel L Jackson (Agent Augustus Gibbons); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: (2/3/03) This is the sequel to the 2002 spy movie, XXX, which ended up making $141 million in the U.S. on a budget of $85 million. In an unusual move, director Rob Cohen and star Vin Diesel (for $20 million) both signed on for this sequel before the first film had even opened. (10/6/03) Their haste probably guaranteed this film was put on the fast track, but as it turns out, neither Cohen nor Diesel will be returning for this sequel, just like how they didn't return for 2 Fast 2 Furious either.
Premise: The exact details of this sequel aren't yet known, except that it follows the adventures of another criminal (Ice Cube) who is coerced by NSA Agent Gibbons (Jackson) into becoming a super field agent under their new "XXX" program (which stands for "three strikes and you're out"). The one thing that is known is that the story will be at least partly set in Washington, D.C., involving high-level political intrigue and action (including rumors of something like him surfing down the capitol building's dome, etc.).
Mission Impossible 3
Release Date: May 6th, 2005
Cast: Tom Cruise (in talks) (Ethan Hunt), Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This will be the third in a series of movies starring Tom Cruise based upon the 1960's TV series starring Martin Landau, following 1996's Mission: Impossible and 2000's Mission: Impossible 2.
Premise: No details about this third film are currently known. I'm guessing, however, that it will feature at least one scene each of Ethan Hunt (Cruise) ripping a mask off his face, and dangling precipitously from a very high altitude... Ethan may also be sporting a scar from that nasty cut he's sporting on his cheek in the M:I-2 poster.
Star Wars Episode III
Release Date: May 19th, 2005
Cast: Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker, AKA Darth Vader), Natalie Portman (Padme Amidala), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Ian McDiarmid (Supreme Chancellor Palpatine), Frank Oz (voice of Yoda), Kenny Baker (R2D2), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Keisha Castle-Hughes, Anthony Daniels (C3PO), James Earl Jones (voice of Darth Vader), Jay Laga'aia (Captain Typho), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Temuera Morrison, Jimmy Smits (Senator Bail Organa), Tux Akindoyeni (Agen Kolar), Dave Bowers (Mas Amedda), Mimi Daraphet (Bultar Swan), Paul Davies, Sandi Finlay (Sly Moore), Nalini Krishan (Barriss Offee), Kenji Oates (Saesee Tiin), Genevieve O'Reilly (Mon Mothma), Mary Oyaya (Luminara Unduli), Matt Rowan (Orn Free Taa), Orli Shoshan (Shaak Ti), Bruce Spence, Sandy Thompson (Rune Haako), Marty Wetherill (Passel Argente)
Based Upon: This is the third film in the popular science fiction series, chronologically, following Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and preceding Star Wars: A New Hope.
Premise: The exact details of how this movie will bridge the gap between the original 'Star Wars' and the prequels aren't known yet. Expect this film to see Anakin completely changing into Darth Vader, the rise of the Empire, the end of the Clone Wars, the fall of the Republic, the scattering of the Jedi, etc... it's going to seem pretty "down". There will also be the little rays of light, though, such as the introduction of Luke and Leia as infants. This movie starts three years after the ending of Episode II, during a massive battle that is part of the final days of the Clone Wars.
The Pink Panther
Release Date: July 22nd, 2005
Cast: Steve Martin (Inspector Clouseau), Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles (Xania), Jean Reno (Ponton); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: The Pink Panther series of films about the bumbling adventures of French Inspector Clouseau. This will be the 10th in the series, even though it's only the 8th with Pink Panther in the title. Why? The second and third movies, A Shot in the Dark, and Inspector Clouseau, didn't.
Sequel Note: (11/18/03) According to "Variety," MGM (unsurprisingly) included a sequel option clause in Steve Martin's contract for this first movie.
The Previous Pink Panthers: The Pink Panther (1963) (Peter Sellers); A Shot in the Dark (1964) (Sellers); Inspector Clouseau (1968) (Alan Arkin); The Return of the Pink Panther (1974) (Sellers); The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) (Sellers); Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) (Sellers); Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) (Sellers; this movie was essentially a "best of" package of clips); Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) (Roger Moore as Jacques Clouseau; Ted Wass as Clifton Sleigh); Son of the Pink Panther (1993) (Robert Benigni as Jacques son, Jacques)
Premise: In this new Inspector Clouseau adventure, the incompetent French detective (Martin) investigates the murder of the nation's soccer team coach while also looking into the disappearance of the famous Pink Panther diamond, the national treasure of the nation of Lugash (Knowles plays the #1 suspect, a pop singer whose boyfriend has recently died; Reno plays Clouseau's chauffeur and sidekick, who is really an undercover cop assigned to make sure he doesn't screw up).
Rush Hour 3
Release Date: August, 2005
Cast: Chris Tucker (Detective J. Carter); other cast not announced yet.
Cast Notes: (2/13/04) This is completely unconfirmed, but last month, Dark Horizons reported a rumor that Jackie Chan may be tired of this franchise, and Chow Yun-Fat *may* have been approached to replace him. (4/9/04) The verdict may still be out on who will play his partner this time around, but New Line recently revealed that Chris Tucker's deal to return in this third movie comes along with him also signing on to star in 'Money Talks 2' with Charlie Sheen, which was *also* directed by Brett Ratner (no word yet about whether he will also return). Will Chris Tucker ever star in a movie not somehow tied or directed by Brett Ratner?!
Based Upon: This is the second sequel to the 1998 hit film, Rush Hour, which scored $141 million in the USA on a budget of less than $35 million. Rush Hour 2, in 2001, took in over $206 million (as of 9/19/01) in the USA on a budget of around $90 million.
Premise: Not much is known yet about this film's premise, except that it will be set primarily somewhere on the continent of Africa. Jackie Chan told Empire Online that he prefers Egypt, while Tucker prefers South Africa. Possibly, like in Rush Hour 2, they'll just do both, starting in one, and then moving to the other? One has to wonder, that if they go to Egypt, we may get to see Jackie doing his kung fu on a pyramid? New Line's Bob Shaye told About.com that this may instead be set in New York City. That same site has since spoken to director Brett Ratner, who confirmed the New York City setting, plus one other where both heroes will be "fish out of water."
Jurassic Park IV
Release Date: Summer, 2005
Cast: Keira Knightley (in talks), Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant); other cast not announced yet
Based Upon: This is the fourth in the Jurassic Park series. Jurassic Park III scored a five day opening box office of over $80 million, putting it on track to possibly make over $200 million by late August. Presuming this project was only going to be "killed" by poor b.o. for III, this project should now continue through development.
Premise: There are no confirmed details about this sequel. One rumor is that it may involve the return of Nick Van Owen (Vaughn), although in what capacity isn't known. The last we saw his character, he was handling the Lost World problem in San Diego. If there's any truth to that, it suggests the story may next pick up, not on Isla Sorna, but on a much bigger island... North America (since this is what many fans would love to see, however, it's possible the whole Vince Vaughn thing could be wishful thinking, hoping to spur just such a film). Anderson Jones of E! Online reports that the fourth movie may "pretend Jurassic Park III never happened." I wouldn't read that the wrong way... they probably just mean there would be no references to that film's events/characters. One detail that was recently announced about this project is that it will not take place in a jungle like the first three movies. There are also rumors that Keira Knightley's character would actually be Lex Murphy, the grown-up granddaughter of Jurassic Park founder John Hammond who was the little girl in the first movie. Knightley is *slightly* young (she would have been 8 in 1993), but she's not far off. Please note this rumor is unconfirmed.
James Bond 21
Release Date: November 18th, 2005
Cast: Pierce Brosnan (James Bond, AKA 007), Dame Judi Dench (in talks) (M), John Cleese (in talks) (Q), Samantha Bond (in talks) (Miss Moneypenny); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: (3/26/03) This is, of course, the latest film in the James Bond series, the 21st in the "Broccoli series", following 2002's Die Another Day. This is Brosnan's fifth time as Bond, and although there had once been reports that his fifth might be his last, it appears now that he may still sign on for a sixth or seventh. Brosnan is definitely closer to the end of his Bond run than the beginning, however. MGM is also developing a spin-off movie, Jinx, based on the American spy character that Halle Berry played in Die Another Day. (10/14/03) A British newspaper recently reported that Clive Owen may soon be announced as the 6th official James Bond after Pierce Brosnan, with #22 being his first. If their story is accurate, an official announcement is going to be made later this fall... we'll see.
Premise: There is currently no official word about what the premise of this movie might be. The latest film in the James Bond series is *always* besieged by dozens of premise rumors (often fueled by creative writers working for British tabloid newspapers), so this movie is expected to be no different. What is known, of course, is that this film will depict the further adventures of British secret agent James Bond (Brosnan), AKA 007, which will no doubt take him around the world at least once, engaging in elaborate action sequences in exotic locales, trying to foil someone's evil plans.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Release Date: November, 2005
Cast: (tentative) Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), David Bradley (Argus Filch), Richard Bremner (voice of Voldemort), John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Christian Coulson (Tom Marvolo Riddle), Alfie Enoch (Dean Thomas), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge), Michael Gambon (Professor Albus Dumbledore), Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon Dursley), Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle), Joshua Herdman (Gregory Goyle), John Hurt (Mr. Ollivander), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), Toby Jones (voice of Dobby), Matt Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Miriam Margolyes (Professor Sprout), Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley), Hugh Mitchell (Colin Creevey), Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan), Katharine Nicholson (Pansy Parkinson), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), James Phelps (Fred Weasley), Oliver Phelps (George Weasley), Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley), Adrian Rawlins (James Potter), Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape), Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia Dursley), Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Geraldine Somerville (Lily Potter), Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew, AKA Wormtail), Jim Tavare (Tom, the Leaky Cauldron Innkeeper), Julie Walters (Mrs. Molly Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Jamie Waylett (Vincent Crabbe), Paul Whitehouse (Sir Cadogan), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
Based Upon: This film is based upon the bestselling fourth novel (the halfway point) in the 'Harry Potter' 7-part series by British author J.K. Rowling, first published in hardcover on July 8th, 2000. The previous films were Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and next up is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2006 or 2007?).
Premise: I've not yet read this fourth book in the series, so I will just quote Scholastic's official site about what happens in 14-year-old Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwart's:
"Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal, even by wizarding standards."
The Santa Clause 3
Release Date: December, 2005
Cast: Tim Allen (in talks) (Scott Calvin, AKA Santa Claus); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This will be the third movie in the Christmas-themed franchise that started in 1994 with The Santa Clause and continued in 2002 with The Santa Clause 2. Both movies were produced on budgets in the $60 million range, and made about the same in U.S. box office ($144.8 million and $139.2 million).
Premise: Since there is currently no screenwriter, there is no script, and therefore, there is no firm idea of what the story might be about yet. What is known, however, is that this movie will continue to follow the holiday-themed adventures of the current Santa Clause, AKA Scott Calvin (Allen), with a special focus on his son, Charlie Calvin, who is now living with him at the North Pole. Might there be some sort of "Santa, Jr. Clause"?
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Release Date: TBA 2005
Cast: Lindsay Lohan (in talks); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This will be the fifth feature film in the Herbie series that started with The Love Bug (1969), followed by Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977), and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980). These movies were followed in 1982 by a very short-lived TV series called Herbie the Love Bug, and in 1997 by a Wonderful World of Disney movie, The Love Bug.
Car Note: Though this is the first Herbie movie in 20 years, and that time has seen the advent of The New Beetle, Disney is currently leaning towards keeping Herbie an older model car, with racing stripes, labeled with the number 53, though they're still open to a possible redesign. The Hollywood Reporter quoted Disney sources as saying they don't want this movie to merely serve as "a commercial for the new VW Beetle" (10/18/00).
Premise: Herbie, a Volkswagen Bug that can drive itself, becomes involved in the world of NASCAR racing.
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
Release Date: TBA 2005
Cast: Rob Schneider (Deuce Bigalow), Eddie Griffin (T.J. Hicks), Jean Reno; other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the 1999 surprise comedy hit, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, which made back its $18 million budget in its first 10 days of U.S. release, totalling out at $65.5 million in the U.S. The film has been a bigger hit on video, and also pulled the rare trick (for comedies) of being a hit in many overseas nations as well. The basic premise of a "British school for gigolos" is also an ackwowledged reference to the Harry Potter series, so it's possible there will be some elements that spoof Hogwart's, the various Houses, etc.
Premise: This movie continues the wondrous adventures of Deuce Bigalow (Schneider), whose gift to the world is the amazing ability to please women (AKA "Janes") in his role as a he-whore, a gigolo. Deuce is still relatively green to the profession, however, and so he is sent off to a school for gigolos in England where he can be trained to develop his full potential as a man whore. Once there, however, he discovers that 1) there is a secret society of he-whores that he didn't know about, 2) his rank in that society is very low and 3) someone is killing off many of the higher class gigolo cadets. Deuce is also introduced to a whole new gaggle of eager clientele, like Katrina, who lost her nose in a car accident which killed her brother, but luckily, one of his organs survived to be used as a skin graft... but it was the sort that now causes her nose to get longer when she gets sexually aroused (think about it). The fun all leads up to a big finale at the 73rd Annual Man Whore Awards.
Premise Note: (3/12/04) It's possible that the premise may have been changed from being a 'Harry Potter' spoof set at a man-whore school in England to focusing on a vacation that Deuce takes in Amsterdam. Even if the school concept is retained, the "Amsterdam vacation" plot point is confirmed to be part of the story now.
The X-Files 2
Release Date: TBA 2005 (possibly in the summer)
Cast: David Duchovny (Agent Fox Mulder), Gillian Anderson (Agent Dana Scully); other cast not announced yet. It's quite possible that some of the TV show's other cast will also make some sort of appearance.
Based Upon: This will be the second movie based upon the popular Fox show, The X-Files, that debuted in 1993, and will be entering its eighth season in 2000-2001. The first movie was released in 1998, and grossed $83.8 million (USA) for a total of over $180 million worldwide. (1/8/01) The TV show may yet have a 9th season, 2001-2002. (1/27/02) Yep, and it's also the last... the series ends this May.
Premise: Not much is currently known about the possible plot of this one. Like much about the show, there are rumors... but not much that's confirmed. Since there will be some time between the finale and the movie, we'll probably get a better idea of what the movie might be once the series is over. That's when you can expect Chris Carter and others to start thinking, planning, and talking about this next film... (11/7/01) Variety reports that the film will indeed focus on Mulder and Scully, even though Mulder (Duchovny) is no longer on the TV show. Also expect it to be a "stand alone" plot not tied in with the show's complex conspiracy theories (like the first film was).
The Return of Zorro
Release Date: TBA 2005
Cast: Antonio Banderas (Alejandro "Zorro" Murrieta), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Elena Murrieta), Anthony Hopkins (in talks) (Don Diego "Zorro" de la Vega); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to 1998's The Mask of Zorro, which was itself based upon the character popularized by dozens of previous movies, several TV series, comic books, books, etc. The Mask of Zorro ended up pulling in $93 million in the USA, for a global total of $200 million.
Premise: The details of this film aren't known, except that it will have a story that shows the continuing growth of the new Zorro (Banderas) as a hero. One possibility (quoted from Elliott by Mania.com) is that we may also see Zorro getting a partner: Elena (CZJ) in a mask. Touche! For those unfamiliar with Zorro, he is a swashbuckling hero of California in the 19th century (wears all black, etches a big "Z" in things with his sword, etc).
Easy Rider 2
Release Date: TBA 2005
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the classic 1969 film, Easy Rider.
Premise: (6/27/00) Producer Richard Abramson told The London Sunday Times that the plot will be about the son of someone imprisoned for the murder of Jack Nicholson's character in the first film. Seeking clues about what truly happened, the young man gets on his motorcycle, retracing the path his father took in 1969... (5/28/01) Martin Landau recently told columnist Marilyn Beck that it's Fonda's character who's in jail, and it's his son who gets together with Nicholson's son for another motorcycle trip, this time to find the real murderer... (9/27/02) The "Variety" story about this project today didn't mention that the new character was Captain America's son.
Scooby-Doo 3
Release Date: Spring, 2006 (estimated)
Cast: Matthew Lillard (in talks) (Norville "Shaggy" Rogers), Neil Fanning (in talks) (voice of Scooby-Doo), Linda Cardellini (in talks) (Velma Dinkley), Sarah Michelle Gellar (in talks) (Daphne Blake), Freddie Prinze Jr. (in talks) (Fred); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: (6/29/03) This movie will be the third in a series of live-action (with a CGI Scooby-Doo) movies based upon the 1970s Hanna-Barbera/ABC Saturday morning cartoon show, "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" (and its spinoffs). The first Scooby-Doo was released in June, 2002 and grossed $153.3 million in the U.S. on a budget of $84 million. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is scheduled for release on March 26th, 2004.
Premise: (6/29/03) Since the second movie is still another 8+ months away from release as I write this, and no details have been leaked out about what this third movie might entail, there's really nothing known at all about this movie, except that it will follow the continued adventures of the Mystery Inc. gang of young detectives, who are accompanied by a big brown Great Dane named Scooby-Doo. One could speculate that the gang might be joined this time around by one of the many different sidekick characters that appeared in the original cartoons (Scooby-Dum, Scooby-Dee, Shaggy's Uncle Shagworthy, etc.), or possibly even another Hanna-Barbera character from another show (Dyno-Mutt and the Blue Falcon, for example), but at this point, there's nothing to really confirm or deny such speculation.
Indiana Jones 4
Release Date: Summer, 2006 (estimate)
Cast: Harrison Ford (Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr.), Sean Connery (Dr. H. Jones Sr.), Karen Allen (cameo) (Marion Ravenwood), Kate Capshaw (cameo) (Wilhelmina Scott), John Rhys-Davies (Sallah); Other cast are not yet announced.
Based Upon: This is, of course, the 4th in the world-famous Indiana Jones series. The third film was 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indiana Jones, is of course, an archaelogist who has amazing, roller-coaster-ride adventures, usually in the 1930's, but this 4th film, released over 12 years after the last, may be set as far in the future as the 1950's or 1960's when Indy is about the age that Harrison Ford is now. (6/3/02) My guess on the setting has been confirmed. Also, the specific "source" for Darabont's script is a story idea by George Lucas, which has been approved by both Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg.
Premise: This isn't known, to the slightest degree. Check out the Reality Check site linked below... there you can read about ELEVEN possiblities that have been either reported or rumored in recent years. Yikes. With Harrison Ford saying he's waiting for a script everyone likes, it's very likely that the script that eventually gets made may not be one of those 11 at all (or maybe it will be... hard to tell). Anyway, 11 different stories is just too much for me to get into, so I refer you to Indyfan.com for now. (6/3/02) Not much is known yet about the story that Frank Darabont is working on, except that it is set in the 1950's.
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Release Date: Summer, 2006 (estimated)
Cast: Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow), Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: (3/24/04) This is, of course, the sequel to the surprise blockbuster hit of summer, 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which grossed $305 million theatrically in the U.S. for a worldwide theatrical gross of over $600 million. That movie was loosely inspired by the long-running Disney theme park ride (though not really directly "based upon" it). This is actually one of *two* planned sequels, with the third movie possibly being filmed back-to-back with this one at the same time in 2005 (although the three stars are not yet signed on for that possible third movie).
Premise: (3/24/04) The exact details of this film aren't yet known, but it's likely to depict the continuing adventure of Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp), and the young couple (Bloom, Knightley) who discovered they have piracy in their blood and hearts in the first movie.
Gladiator 2
Release Date: TBA 2006
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: This film will be a continuation of the themes and characters of 2000's Gladiator, which went on to win five Academy Awards, and which ended its U.S. theatrical run with a $188 million gross, after a $34.8 opening weekend, starting on May 5th, 2000. There is currently no firm word about whether it will be a prequel, a sequel, or possibly... both (like The Godfather Part II).
(9/28/03) In a recent interview with Latino Review, Ridley Scott confirmed that this film is a sequel, not a prequel.
Premise: There is currently no firm word about what direction this next film might take, except that it will *not* focus so much on gladiators this time around, and will instead tell a story about the fascinating world of Roman politics, senators, generals and praetorian guards. That, and it will flip ahead to the next generation in Rome's history, focusing on Lucius, Lucilla's son from the first movie, who is now a grown man and a Roman politician.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Release Date: June, 2007
Cast: (tentative) Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), David Bradley (Argus Filch), John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Alfie Enoch, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge), Michael Gambon (Professor Albus Dumbledore), Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon Dursley), Joshua Herdman (Gregory Goyle), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), Matt Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Miriam Margolyes (Profesor Sprout), Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley), Hugh Mitchell (Colin Creevey), Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan), Katharine Nicholson (Pansy Parkinson), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), James Phelps (Fred Weasley), Oliver Phelps (George Weasley), Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley), Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape), Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia Dursley), Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew), David Thewlis (Remus Lupin), Julie Walters (Mrs. Molly Weasley), Jamie Waylett (Vincent Crabbe), Paul Whitehouse (Sir Cadogan), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
Based Upon: This movie will be based upon the fifth novel in the 7-part 'Harry Potter' series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (which is 896 pages, the longest thus far), by British author J.K. Rowling, which will reach stores (in hardcover) on June 21st, 2003. The previous four films are: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005 or 2006). (9/28/03) The British tabloid newspaper The Sun reported earlier this month that Warner Bros. has registered two titles that could be the titles of the sixth and seventh novels (and therefore, the sixth and seventh movies). The thing to remember, of course, is that the titles could be red herrings made up by Warner Bros. to throw people off. If they're real, however, the titles are 'Harry Potter and the Mudblood Revolt' and 'Harry Potter and the Quest of the Centaur.'
Premise: (3/23/03) Not much is officially known yet about this fifth entry in the series, except that it will follow 15-year-old Harry Potter in his fifth year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Two things that *are* known are: 1) Professor Albus Dumbledore tells Harry the full story of Harry's past and connections to Voldemort, which is sure to include some details readers don't yet know; 2) one of Harry's friends will likely be made Prefect (something that happens when each class reaches 5th year); 3) one of the major characters (Dumbledore? Hagrid? one of the students?) is expected to die.
Unknown
Mad Max: Fury Road
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when/if filming eventually gets scheduled
Cast: Mel Gibson (Mad Max); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the third sequel to Mad Max, the 1979 film starring Mel Gibson as a cop in a post-apocalyptic Australia. Mad Max was followed in 1981 by The Road Warrior, and in 1985 by Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
Premise: There are no firm details about the premise of this film, except that it *is* likely to star Mel Gibson as the aging post-apocalyptic hero, Mad Max, with a young actor possibly costarring as his son (or the "Feral Kid").
Men in Black III
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when filming eventually gets started.
Starring: Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones
Based Upon: This will be, of course, the third film in the Men in Black series that was originally based upon the short-lived (and obscure at the time) 1990s Marvel comic book series, "Men in Black."
Premise: Apparently, there is a story idea, which was pitched to Barry Sonnenfeld by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, but what exactly that idea entails hasn't been hinted at yet.
Terminator 4
Release Date: Unknown; there's been no firm word yet about when this movie might be produced (or released).
Cast: Nick Stahl (John Connor), Claire Danes (Kate Brewster); other cast not announced yet
Cast Notes: It's been confirmed that if Arnold Schwarzenegger has to give up acting for a few years due to his political aspirations, the producers have plans to go on without him.
Based Upon: This movie is of course a sequel to 1984's Terminator, following 1991's T2: Judgement Day and 2003's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
Premise: The 80-page treatment that currently exists for this movie takes place farther in the future as humanity is waging their war against the robots. John Connor will be the star, and beyond that... not much is known. Will the T-800 (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the first three movies) return?
Blue Streak 2
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when (if) filming actually does get started.
Cast: Martin Lawrence; other cast not announced yet. There's a rumor that Martin and Luke Wilson were discussing this sequel while Wilson visited the Big Momma's House set. Others likely to be returning are William Fichtner, Dave Chappelle, and Nicole Ari Parker.
Based Upon: This will be the sequel to 1998's Blue Streak, which grossed $68.2 million.
Premise: There's no known details about this sequel yet, except that it will follow the further adventures of Miles Logan (Lawrence; in talks), a jewel thief pretending to be a police detective. (2/10/01) Entertainment Weekly got the scoop that this time, Logan will be working as a spy for the CIA.
Rocky VI
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when (if) filming actually does get started.
Cast: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: If this film is made, it will be the sixth in the series of boxing films that started with Rocky in 1976, followed by II in 1979, III in 1982, IV in 1985, and V in 1990. This film will most likely be the last, if Stallone's comments above are accurate.
Premise: The story this time around has an aging Rocky Balboa (in his 50s) (Stallone) getting in the ring one last time as a fund raiser for the youth center he now runs. Comparisons to George Foreman's comeback have been made.
Lethal Weapon 5
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when (if) filming actually does get started.
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: This will be the fifth in the series that started with Lethal Weapon in 1987, followed by sequels in 1989, 1992, and 1998. Each movie in this definitive "buddy cop" series is another adventure of the team of Los Angeles police detectives Riggs and Murtagh.
Preview Thoughts: Give a project like this two years to simmer, and sure enough, it gets life again. Richard Donner, as quoted by the "Calgary Sun" (and via ComingSoon.net) is now saying that he has been talking to Mel Gibson about doing one more movie, to "put the franchise to bed properly." I'm betting that producer Joel Silver's attitude about this project might have changed as well, now that those two overhyped "Matrix" sequels are done and out, with The Matrix Revolutions particularly plummetting down the box office charts like a rock and both sequels receiving (at best) mixed reviews from both fans and critics alike. There's nothing like your next big hope disappointing you to make you remember the good old days and those old reliable projects that keep churning out box office dollars.
Premise: There are currently no known details about this next film in the series.
Possible Premises: However, one thing that was firmly established in LW4 is that Lee Butters (Chris Rock) is likely to return. Another likelihood is that either Riggs or Murtaugh (most likely; especially considering Glover's expressed interest in not coming back) will retire in the next film, which might mean Butters would then team up with whichever older detective is still on the force. Another possibility is that both Riggs and Murtaugh could settle into retirement (or desk jobs), and the series would bring in another partner for Butters, though I would guess that option is probably more likely for LW6. Even if that last scenario did happen, I think it's likely that Riggs and Murtaugh would still be around for the fun, perhaps to come in at the end, say they're really getting too old for this, etc.
Godzilla 2
Release Date: Unknown; there's currently no production date, hence no release date
Cast: None officially announced.
Possible Returning Cast: Matthew Broderick (Nick Tatopoulos), Hank Azaria (Animal), Jean Reno (Philippe Roche), Maria Pitillo (Audrey) (These actors had sequel agreements in their contracts for the first film)
Based Upon: If it is produced, this would be the sequel to the 1998 monster movie, Godzilla, which depicted the roamings of an all-CGI giant iguana. Please note the differences between these CGI-lizard movies by Sony, the guy-in-a-rubber-suit movies by Toho, like Godzilla 2000. When this sequel was still at Centropolis, they were thinking of having a trilogy, but that plan may now be out the window. (11/5/00) The next Toho project is Godzilla Vs Megaguiras.
Premise: There is no confirmed premise for this sequel.
Premise Rumors: The two most likely possibilities are that it would either feature the "babies" from the first film in some sort of Godzillas plot (multiple lizards), or that it would feature a more traditional Godzilla motif, something like Godzilla Vs. Anothermonsterilla. There have been some fan rumors about Mothra, Ghidrah, etc., but some of those may be held back by Tojo from being used by Sony's sequels (rights, etc). Another rumored possibility would basically combine those two ideas and be like a remake of Destroy All Monsters, where many monsters would duke it out big time. These are all just rumors though, until Sony announces what they plan to do.
True Lies 2
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when filming actually does get started
Cast: None officially announced yet.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the 1994's True Lies, the story of a spy who hides his real job from his wife.
Premise: Officially, no details about this film's plot have been announced yet. However...
Rumored Premise: Back in August of 1999, Harry Knowles of AICN posted what he says is the premise of this film, based on a look at the treatment. If Knowles is correct, the story would deal with marital problems (surprise) between Harry and Helen that arise when the two spies (she signed on after the first film) are split by the suspicion that one of them might be... a double agent. Anyway, there's also the usual plan by the bad guys to take over the world with chemical weapons, etc.
Zathura
(aka Jumanji 2)
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when (if) filming actually does get started.
Cast: None announced as confirmed yet.
Based Upon: This is, of course, the sequel to the popular 1995 movie about a boardgame that could come to life, which was itself based on a novel by Chris Van Allsburg. (11/13/01) Variety reports that there are actually two sequels coming. (11/18/01) Clarifying this a bit, Variety reports that the two projects are the Don Rhymer script (which may actually be Jumanji 3), and Zathura, the film version of a sequel novel by Van Allsburg due in bookstores in the fall of 2002. Zathura is about an "intergalactic board game." The question is whether Zathura, which is being adapted by screenwriter Eric Fogel (TV's Celebrity Deathmatch), will be Jumanji 2 or a stand-alone project (which may happen if Rhymer's project gets a greenlight first). (4/25/02) Variety reports that Zathura is now likely to end up being the Jumanji 3 project.
Premise: The details of David Koepp's idea to revitalize this project aren't yet known, except that it revolves around a magical board game with an outer space theme.
The Goonies 2: Goonies Never Say Die
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when (if) filming actually does get started.
Cast: None announced as confirmed yet.
Cast Notes: (7/26/01) If all of the (former) kids from the original movie returns, the cast would be: Sean Astin (Michael "Mikey" Walsh), Josh Brolin (Brandon "Brand" Walsh), Jeff Cohen (Lawrence "Chunk" Cohen), Corey Feldman (Clark "Mouth" Devereaux), Kerri Green (Andrea "Andy" Carmichael), Martha Plimpton (Stefanie "Stef" Steinbrenner) and Jonathan Ke Quan (Richard "Data" Wang). It's likely Joe Pantoliano and Robert Davi would return as Francis and Jake Fratelli. The performers who played Mama Fratelli (Anne Ramsey) and "Sloth" Fratelli (John Matuszak) are both dead. Out of Corey Feldman's last 18 feature-length projects, only Bordello of Blood in 1996 made it to theaters in the USA, with the other 17 going direct to video or cable. So, if this project gets a theatrical release, it will have a distinction.
Based Upon: This is the sequel to the 1985 kids movie that grossed $61.4 million in the U.S. (that was enough to land it at the #9 spot for the year, between The Jewel of the Nile at #8 and Spies Like Us at #10). The DVD special edition will be released in the fall of 2001.
Premise: A new mystery arises, so Mikey (Astin) rounds up the old crew again, who are all now in their 20's, and they're off for another Goonies adventure... (11/25/01) The script is apparently being rewritten to focus on a new group of kids, with some of the aforementioned original Goonies also joining in.
Premise Note: Here is what MTV.com said about this film while talking the Richard Donner the director of the first film:
Mikey, Mouth, Data, Chunk and Sloth may be returning to the big screen, and with a whole new gang of Goonies or more accurately, Groonies joining them.
Richard Donner, who directed the 1985 classic "The Goonies," and Steven Spielberg, who executive produced it and co-wrote the script with future "Harry Potter" director Chris Columbus, have purchased a sequel script and are pushing to get it made.
"We're trying desperately," Donner said. "We're just trying to get Warner Bros., who owns it, to say yes." Warner Bros. did not return a request for comment.
The sequel would reunite the original cast, which included Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin and others, with a new bunch of suburban kids, Donner said.
"The new group is called the Groonies, because they happen to live in a town where [Data], the Chinese kid, lives ... and he's got an electronics repair shop and all the kids hang out at his shop. He has this Chinese accent and he calls the Goonies the Groonies, and so the new kids call themselves the Groonies, until they get into a situation where the old Goonies have to save the new Groonies, or vice versa."
Donner would not say much more about the plot or the casting but said Astin's character, Mikey, would be prominent, and Jeff Cohen's Chunk would return.
"He is a lawyer now, you know," Donner said of Cohen. "He graduated UC Berkeley Law School top of his class and he's now a practicing lawyer here in [Hollywood] and phenomenal. Damn right we'll see him. I'm very proud of every one of those kids. They all turned out great."
"The Goonies," which also starred Martha Plimpton ("Beautiful Girls") and Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos"), centered on a group of teenagers who stumble upon a map of pirate "One-Eyed" Willy's hidden fortune.
Donner will continue developing the sequel after taking a few weeks to promote his latest movie, the sci-fi thriller "Timeline," starring Paul Walker as an archaeological student who travels back to 14th century France to rescue his professor.
Battlefield Earth 2
Release Date: Unknown/never; it's quite likely this film will never be made.
Confirmed Returning Cast: John Travolta (Terl), Barry Pepper (Jonnie)
Returning Cast in Talks: Forest Whitaker (Ker), Kim Coates (Carlo); there may be other supporting cast from the first film who would return as well.
Based Upon: This film is both the sequel to Battlefield Earth, and a continuation of the adaptation of the same novel by L. Ron Hubbard that the first film adapted: Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000. The first film only adapted the first 436 pages of the book; this film will adapt the other 614 pages.
Premise: I'll try to say this without giving away too many spoilers. Continuing the story of humanity's war against the alien Psychlos, this film tells what happens after the success of the human rebellion led by Jonny (Pepper) over Terl's (Travolta) forces in Denver. Human civilization tries to rebuild itself, even as even more forces from outside come to Earth...
Grosse Pointe Blank 2
Release Date: Unknown; That will obviously depend upon when/if this project ever gets a greenlight and is actually filmed.
Confirmed Cast: John Cusack (Martin Q. Blank)
Likely Cast: Jeremy Piven told his fan club that he is interested in returning for the sequel. Other cast that could return include Joan Cusack (extremely likely), Alan Arkin, Hank Azaria, and Minnie Driver (likely as well). Based Upon: This film will be the sequel to the 1997 Generation X hometown nostalgia comedy (by way of mercenary assassins), Grosse Pointe Blank.
Premise: Not much is known yet about this film's plot except that Cusack's character goes on a mission to find God, which takes him outside his hometown of Grosse Pointe, MI.
Caddyshack III
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when/if filming eventually gets started.
Cast: None announced as confirmed yet.
Based Upon: (7/1/03) This movie will be (if it's really made) a sequel to the extremely popular 1980 golf comedy hit, Caddyshack (starring Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Ted Knight), which was followed in 1988 by the critical and box office flop, Caddyshack II (starring Jackie Mason).
Premise: (7/1/03) Nothing is currently known about this movie's premise, except that it will be a direct sequel to Caddyshack, and will not incorporate much from Caddyshack 2. We can count on it being a comedy about the sort of well-to-do men who spend most of their time playing golf, making wagers, and generally carousing and merrymaking at the club's bar, most likely to the chagrin of a tight-shirt upper-crust type.
Alien 5
Release Date: Unknown; there are currently no firm plans (ie, a script, director, production start date, cast besides Sigourney weaver, etc.) to make another film. That doesn't mean the possiblity isn't there... it just hasn't gotten started yet.
Cast: None announced yet; however, Sigourney Weaver told SCI FI Wire while promoting Galaxy Quest that she might be interested in coming back if a 5th film was ever planned.
Based Upon: If this film is ever made, it would of course be a sequel to Alien, the 1979 film about, well, aliens. The last film was Alien: Resurrection, the 4th, released in late 1997.
Premise: Officially, there is no script, so there is no premise.
Premise Rumors: (6/7/00) The ending of Alien: Resurrection suggested that the next film could be about the aliens on Earth, but when she talked to SCI FI Wire in December, 1999, Sigourney Weaver mentioned that she'd like to do one that took place not on humanity's homeworld, but on the homeworld of the aliens... (4/23/03) Three years later, and Sigourney Weaver is still basically saying the same thing.
Dead Reckoning
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when Romero is able to someday start production
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: This will be the fourth film in the George A. Romero zombie series that began with Night of the Living Dead in 1968, and continued with Dawn of the Dead in 1978, and Day of the Dead in 1985, along with a 1990 remake of NOTLD. Tthe Return of the Living Dead series is completely unrelated, as is Children of the Dead, an unofficial sequel to the trilogy directed by John A. Russo, who collaborated on NOTLD. (3/23/03) The preview page for the newest remake of one of Romero's Dead films, 2004's Dawn of the Dead, was added this week.
Premise: Set many years after Day of the Dead, society has returned to life in a new way, with the zombies rotting away into irrelevance (disregarded the way homeless people are), as human survivors live in a fortified city, trying to live normal lives. Protecting them is an enormous tank-like vehicle called the Dead Reckoning, the length of four city buses, with the artillery and firepower of a small nation. This story shows what happens when the Dead Reckoning's reasonable leader, Riley, loses control of his command, and the destructive Cholo takes over instead. Now, Riley must try to take back control of this powerful vehicle, while at the same time... having to battle his way through a city filled with zombies...
King Conan: King of Iron
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when/if filming eventually gets started.
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: (7/31/03) This movie will be the third film in the series that began with Conan the Barbarian in 1982 and Conan the Destroyer. Those movies were loosely based upon the character of Conan of Cimmeria as he originally appeared in early 20th century pulp magazine stories and novellas by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), which were later collected as twelve paperback books, and starting in the 1970s, (partly) adapted in comic book form in two different titles published by Marvel Comics (which also featured new stories not written by Howard). Curiously, none of those original eleven books were called 'Conan the Barbarian,' 'Conan the Destroyer,' or 'King Conan' (though he was a king in the last few books). Of course, those twelve books were only partly written by Robert E. Howard, with L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter filling in gaps from Howard's original stories, outlines or notes. Besides the movies his work has inspired, Robert E. Howard himself was the focus of the 1996 Renee Zellweger/Vincent D'Onofrio romantic drama, The Whole Wide World.
Premise: Cimmerian barbarian Conan has risen through the ranks of the nation of Aquilonia during its wars with the Picts and the Hyrkanians, earning Emperor Fortuna's trust enough to be named king of the land of Zingara, though Fortuna keeps Conan's adopted son Kon in his custody as collateral so that Conan will remain faithful to him. As twenty years pass, and Kon becomes a man educated and trained in the ways of Aquilonia. When Conan invokes the anger of Aquilonia by making peace with the Picts whom he had once helped Aquilonia conquer, an assassination attempt is made against him. Conan, however, escapes, finding the warrior spirit that 20 years on the throne had dulled. Taken in by the Picts, can Conan exact revenge against the Aquilonians and reunite with his son, who has now taken his father's place as the king of Zingara (and after twenty years, does Kon *want* to reunite with a father he hardly remembers?).
Stargate: SG-1
Release Date: Unknown; that will depend upon when production eventually gets started.
Cast: No cast has been officially announced yet, but it's likely that most of the cast of the TV series will make the transition, including Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver) and Don S. Davis (Major Briggs from Twin Peaks). See IMDb listing for more cast. (3/8/02) Michael Shanks is expected to be costarring.
Based Upon: This film is both a sequel to the 1994 film, Stargate, and a feature version of the Showtime/Sci-Fi series that followed it, Stargate: SG1. (5/3/02) Scifi.com reports that there's also an animated TV series for FOX coming soon. (2/4/03) The 7th season of the TV show starts filming on February 7th, 2003. (8/19/03) The word now is that the upcoming 8th season will be the last, which will lead into a new spin-off water-based series called 'Stargate: Atlantis' and eventually... to this movie.
Premise: The details of this film aren't yet (4/9/01) known. Presumably, since filming of this follows the fifth season of the show, the story will likewise be somehow connected to the resolution to that season, at which point the series will be past the 100+ episode mark.
Romancing the Stone 3
Release Date: Unknown; there is no production date for this film, so there is no release date.
Cast: Michael Douglas (Jack Colton); other cast not announced yet.
Based Upon: If this movie is ever made, it would be the third Jack Colton movie, following Romancing the Stone in 1984 and The Jewel of the Nile in 1985.
Premise: The details of this film aren't yet known. What is known is that Jack Colton (Douglas) is basically a modern-day adventurer of some low repute, and the first two films followed the course of his relationship with Joan Wilder (Turner), a romance novelist who (in the first film) was searching for her sister in South America. It's not known whether or not Joan or Ralph (DeVito) would return.
Pretty Woman 2
Release Date: Unknown; there's no production date, so there is no release date.
Cast: None announced yet.
Based Upon: If this movie is made, it will be the sequel to the 1990 romantic comedy about a hooker (with a heart of gold) and a rich businessman, that nearly singlehandedly launched the career of Julia Roberts as a major movie star. It seems like it's been much more than 10 years, but that's all it's been.
Premise: There are no known details about what this film might be about, if it's even made.
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