It’s often been said that Hollywood loves a sequel, but there are some upcoming comedy seques that nobody could have anticipated. Classic comedies from 20, 30, or even 40 years ago are suddenly being given sequels. This isn’t exactly uncharted territory, since franchises like Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop and Bill & Ted have all been resurrected in recent years, but there are some upcoming sequels even stranger than these.
Comedy sequels are notoriously difficult, since so many comedies rely on a solid premise. Once that premise is used up, it isn’t easy to construct a movie that brings the best out of the same characters. This can be especially difficult if there is a big gap between sequels, since tastes could change. Movies like Zoolander 2 and Dumb and Dumber To show how much can go wrong with a comedy sequel, but this hasn’t prevented studios from bringing some old ideas back to life.
10 Ocean’s 14
Last Movie: Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)
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Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean ‘s trilogy created a new wave of stylish heist comedies in the 2000s. This was an enormous success for Ocean’s Eleven, which was envisioned as a standalone movie, just like the 1960 version starring members of the Rat Pack. With a cast led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, Ocean ‘s Eleven managed to surpass the original in both style and substance.
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Demand has been high for another Ocean’s sequel since the success of Ocean’s 8 in 2018, but will there ever be an Ocean’s 14?
Although each of the first three Ocean’s movies were big hits at the box office, it seemed like a trilogy was enough. The announcement of Ocean’s 8 therefore came as a surprise. Although this all-female spinoff also made a lot of money, it received mixed reviews, suggesting that there may not be a future for the franchise. Now, fresh reports about Ocean’s 14 come while Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are still set to star in a prequel movie as Danny Ocean’s parents. The heist franchise is seeemingly back in full swing.
9 The Devil Wears Prada 2
Last Movie: The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
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Meryl Streep delivered one of her most iconic performances in The Devil Wears Prada, and a rare comedic masterclass for an actor who has won dozens of awards for dramas. Alongside Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway, Streep strikes the perfect tone as an abusive, domineering fashion magazine editor. The Devil Wears Prada is full of memorable quotes, largely thanks to Streep’s acid-tongued delivery.
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The 2006 smash-hit comedy The Devil Wears Prada is finally getting a sequel after nearly 20 years, and there are already exciting details.
The most important news for The Devil Wears Prada 2 is that Meryl Streep has agreed to star. Emily Blunt is also set to return, but there has been no news yet on whether Anne Hathaway will be involved. Reassembling the cast will be the first big hurdle for the sequel to overcome, but it could also be a challenge coming up with a story that warrants the movie. Early reports suggest that the plot will follow Miranda as the magazine starts facing trouble in a digital age.
8 The Princess Diaries 3
Last Movie: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
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The Devil Wears Prada isn’t the only Anne Hathaway comedy which is getting a sequel years later. Hathaway’s role in The Princess Diaries was one of her first career successes, along with the first sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Since the second movie came out in 2004, not many people would have been expecting a sequel to come two decades later, but Hathaway is reportedly ready for more.
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Anne Hathaway arguably got her big break with Disney’s The Princess Diaries franchise, and the Queen of Genovia’s story will continue 20 years later.
Since the first two Princess Diaries tell the story of Mia’s coming-of-age and taking the throne of Genovia, the third movie in the franchise will have to strike a different tone. Mia will be much older now, so a young adult comedy wouldn’t make sense. The Princess Diaries 3 has the chance to be a different kind of comedy movie altogether. The one sad piece of news is that Julie Andrews has stated her reluctance to return. The Mary Poppins star is turning 89 in October, and she doesn’t see a place for Queen Clarisse Renaldi in the sequel, although many fans would love to see her again.
7 Happy Gilmore 2
Last Movie: Happy Gilmore (1996)
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Happy Gilmore is one of Adam Sandler’s funniest movies, since it provides a great structure for his typical idiot savant character. Despite this, a sequel never seemed like it was on the cards. None of his other big hits of the 1990s and 2000s ever got sequels, but Sandler has chosen Happy Gilmore over other options such as Billy Madison, Big Daddy and The Waterboy.
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The original is one of the funniest films of Adam Sandler’s career but will Happy Gilmore 2 ever happen? Here’s what we know about the sequel.
Adam Sandler is no stranger to sequels, having made Grown Ups 2, Murder Mystery 2 and the animated Hotel Transylvania franchise. However, none of his true classics have been anything more than standalone comedies. Since it’s a sports movie, Happy Gilmore could have a lot of potential to create an original story that’s just as interesting as the first. If Sandler brings back characters like Shooter McGavin and Virginia Venit, there’s no reason Happy Gilmore 2 can’t be a hit.
6 Sister Act 3
Last Movie: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1994)
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After more than 30 years, the Sister Act series is finally getting a third movie. 1991’s Sister Act was an enormous box office hit, and it was soon followed by Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. While the sequel couldn’t quite live up to the original, the Sister Act movies still had a big cultural impact. Whoopi Goldberg has confirmed that she is back on board for Sister Act 3, although there are plenty of unanswered questions about the sequel.
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Sister Act has grown in popularity ever since the stage musical became a success in the 2000s, but not many people anticipated another sequel so many years later. Goldberg is the only star who has confirmed her involvement, so it’s possible that Sister Act may try to hand the franchise over to a younger generation of stars like other legacy sequels. Madea creator Tyler Perry has signed on as a producer and writer, suggesting that he may also be in the director’s chair.
5 Dodgeball 2
Last Movie: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
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Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller’s sports comedy ends with all its plot threads neatly tied up, so there wasn’t much talk of a sequel back when it was released. However, 20 years later, Dodgeball 2 is set to go ahead. Vaughn is the only star confirmed to be returning so far, although others such as Justin Long have previously expressed an interest. It’s possible that the entire Average Joe’s team will meet up on the court once again.
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White Goodman is one of Ben Stiller’s funniest characters, and he’s a big part of Dodgeball‘s appeal. He ends the movie severely overweight and financially ruined, so Dodgeball 2 could be his chance for revenge if Stiller decides to return. Stiller has been cagey about a potential return, although he is emerging from his acting hiatus. Without him, Dodgeball 2 will have to come up with an equally enjoyable villain.
4 Freakier Friday
Last Movie: Freaky Friday (2003)
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Freaky Friday is one of Jamie Lee Curtis’ best movies, but she entered a sort of semi-retirement shortly afterward to spend more time with her family. Now that her career is back in full swing with a return to form for the Halloween franchise and an Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once, she is returning to the body swap comedy with Lindsay Lohan, over 20 years later.
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Freakier Friday is arriving over 20 years after the beloved original, and what Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan have teased so far sounds promising.
Part of what makes Freaky Friday so enjoyable is the intergenerational clash between Tess and Anna Coleman. Now that both characters are fully-grown adults, Freakier Friday has been forced to get creative. There will be more body-swapping shenanigans, but they will involve Anna’s children too. It will also be interesting to see how Freakier Friday explains such a bizarre occurence happening twice, and whether fortune cookies will be a key to the story again.
3 Legally Blonde 3
Last Movie: Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003)
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In the last decade, Reese Witherspoon has been primarily in TV, making huge hits such as Big Little Lies and The Morning Show. She has also been doing a lot of work behind-the-scenes, developing her career as a producer as well as an actor. She has decided that now is the time to return to one of her most iconic movie roles. She hasn’t played Elle Woods since 2003’s Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde.
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Legally Blonde 3 will finally hit theaters more than two decades after the first movie. Here are the details about the film’s cast, crew, and story.
Legally Blonde is a feel-good feminist classic, but the sequel suffered from the common problem with comedy sequels, as it couldn’t come up with a story that felt as relevant or interesting. With 20 more years experience under her belt, Witherspoon could be in a great position to put things right. Mindy Kaling is attached to write the script, which will catch up with Elle Woods 20 years later. There are plenty of potential plots, as Elle could have made a move into politics or started her own law firm. Fans will also be eager to see Jennifer Coolidge and Luke Wilson return, but their involvement is unconfirmed as of yet.
2 Spaceballs 2
Last Movie: Spaceballs (1987)
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Mel Brooks’ sci-fi spoofing comedy is remembered as one of his best movies, but this doesn’t mean that people were begging for a sequel. Brooks doesn’t usually make sequels, with his TV series History of the World, Part II being one notable exception. However, with so many more Star Wars movies to make fun of, Brooks has decided that now is the time for Lone Starr and the rest of the gang to make a comeback.
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Decades after the original film’s release, Mel Brooks is returning to make Spaceballs 2, and there are already a ton of exciting updates.
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Brooks has passed the reins of the project over to Josh Gad. Brooks is now 98 years old, and he may not be interested in reprising his roles as President Skroob or Yogurt either. One star who will definitely be absent is John Candy. The actor who played Barf sadly passed away in 1994. Spaceballs will most likely cast a few younger stars, just like the Star Wars sequel trilogy did. Luring Rick Moranis out of retirement would be a huge coup, but it’s unknown whether Brooks and Gad will try.
1 This Is Spinal Tap 2
Last Movie: This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
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This Is Spinal Tap didn’t invent the mockumentary format, but it showed its comedic potential like never before. It’s no exaggeration to say that shows like The Office would look completely different without the influence of Rob Reiner’s comedy about a British rock band who see their fame and fortune starting to wane as the music industry moves on without them. A sequel is now in the works 40 years later.
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Most of the dialogue in This Is Spinal Tap is improvised, which gives it a hilariously spontaneous and naturalistic feeling. With the cast back together, it’s safe to expect more of the same. Spinal Tap were going out of fashion four decades ago, so there’s no telling how the band have fared since then. The music industry has certainly changed a lot with the advent of streaming, sold-out stadium tours and social media. In some ways, there has never been a better time for a sequel.