ID4-Ever

That really is Roland Emmerich’s preferred title if he can get his planned sequel to Independence Day off the ground. He was talking about the film during the promotion for his hit flick 2012, and Emmerich has plans to make two sequels to his mid-90s blockbuster. Emmerich hasn’t got a script ready yet (hasn’t stopped him before! Boom boom!), but said that Will Smith will definitely be involved. It will also definitely be Earth-based, rather than heading off into outer space.

Indiana Jones 5

Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford and George Lucas are all reported to be keen to eek one more adventure out of the Indy franchise before we all rumble just how underwhelming the last one was. The stumbling block is currently George Lucas, who’s currently trying to work out a story that everyone is happy with. Once he’s cracked that, Indy 5 will be on its way. Our guess is that summer 2012 is a fair bet. Time, after all, is not on their side. If they need some help, here’s are list of five requirements for the next film.

Iron Man 3

The second Iron Man film arrives on May 7th, but all concerned are locked in for at least one more outing, which we’d wager will be turning up around May 2012…

Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3D 2

Interesting one, this. The first Journey (which was itself a remake) pretty much sold off the back of its 3D technology, back when 3D wasn’t as prevalent as it is now (i.e. a year ago). Most seemed to agree it was a fairly crappy film, but it still crept over the $100m mark in the US, and a follow-up is in development, with the option on it being taken up. Might we suggest it’ll need to work a lot harder now that it doesn’t have a novelty in its corner, however?

Jurassic Park 4

And Jurassic Park 5 and 6 too, if director Joe Johnston gets his way. He recently confirmed that plans were still afoot for a fourth Jurassic Park movie, which he also revealed would mark the beginning of a new planned trilogy of dino adventures. Details are light though at the moment, and Johnston is busy with Captain America for the time being. 2013 would probably be about right if the project is to come together.

Kick-Ass 2

The first film doesn’t come out until April, but the early word on it – including from ourselves (“Hit-girl is going to make the Daily Mail shit kittens”) – is nothing less than sensational at the moment. It’s going to take something really special now for it not to be the comic book movie of the year. And it’s already been confirmed that a sequel will definitely be happening. Director Matthew Vaughn, talking to MTV back in September, said, “We don’t want to sound too cocky, but we know this is good .It didn’t cost that much money to make. There will definitely be another one.” Expect it to take two to three years to come to fruition.

Kill Bill Vol 3

Quentin Tarantino has signalled his attention to make a third adventure for The Bride, ideally ten years after the first two films. That means that we’re looking at a 2014-ish release. Uma Thurman, as you might expect given that it’s the best part she’s had in her career (clearly Poison Ivy runs it a close second), is keen to return.

Kung Fu Panda 2

This one’s already well into production, and will be arriving next year. Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman have signed up for voicing duties, and the film has a title too: Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom Of Doom. Splendid.

Lemony Snicket 2

Here’s one we’d love to see. We can’t see Jim Carrey necessarily returning – he’s not done a sequel since Batman Forever/Ace Ventura 2 – yet director Brad Siberling is still keen to do a new Lemony Snicket film. Rightly so, too. He told CineFools last year that “I would love nothing more than to do that and we’ve been hoping to, so I think there will be a chance it may take a wildly different form but I think it will probably happen.” Watch this space…

Madagascar 3

DreamWorks is bringing the animals back for a third adventure, and it’ll be arriving in 2012. Eric Darnell is returning to direct, having helmed the first two films (and made the far superior Antz – can we have a sequel to that instead?).

Mad Max 4

George Miller is hard at work on a fourth Mad Max film, which won’t be featuring Mel Gibson, not even in a cameo role. Instead, Mad Max: Fury Road will feature Tom Hardy in the lead role, and Teresa Palmer has joined the cast (replacing Charlize Theron, who was originally on-board the project). Pre-production work has begun, ahead of a release on June 9th 2011.

Mamma Mia! 2

It’s likely to happen, but the original cast are set to be disposed of, as a prequel story is the current favourite. It’s likely to be a year or two away yet. That is all.

Men In Black 3

Sony is keen to get a third Men In Black outing before the cameras this year, with the idea being to pass the baton on to some degree. As such, Josh Brolin has been linked with the project, and Will Smith is a cert to return as well. Tommy Lee Jones? He should be back, but we couldn’t say for definite. Etan Cohen, the writer of Tropic Thunder, is working on the screenplay, and it’s unclear as of yet whether Barry Sonnenfeld will be back to helm the third film. Sony wants to get this one in cinemas for the summer of 2011, though.

Midnight Run 2

Revealed in the midst of Robert De Niro’s change of agent, all we know on this one is that De Niro is reportedly “mid-development” on a new, proper Midnight Run sequel. That’s marvellous news. Here’s hoping it comes to fruition, with Charles Grodin back on board too….

Mission: Impossible 4

Ignore the rumours and suggestions that Tom Cruise is being replaced by Brad Pitt on the Mission: Impossible franchise. The plan is still very much to have Mr Cruise front and centre of the fourth MI adventure, which is currently at the outline stage. JJ Abrams is involved again, after helming the third movie, but we’d be surprised if he could fit in directing this time around. Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec (who wrote for Abrams’ Alias TV show) are working on the script. A 2012 release date is possible.

Monsters Inc 2

Pixar is looking to bring one of its biggest hits – and characters – back to the screen with a sequel to Monsters Inc. The film is pencilled in for 2012, but it’s not clear yet who’s directing. Pete Docter, who helmed the original, won’t be steering the ship this time, having moved on to a different project within Pixar. No formal announcement has been forthcoming on the film from the firm yet, but it’s understood that ideas are being bandied around for it.

National Lampoon’s Vacation 2

New Line has recruited Wedding Crashers’ David Dobkin to explore a follow-up to the original National Lampoon’s Vacation from way back in 1983. This one may yet turn into some kind of reboot or remake, but the current thinking is for it to centre around the next generation of the Griswold family heading off on a new road trip, taking their grandparents – including Chevy Chase, of course – along for the ride. The film is currently in the development phase.

National Treasure 3

Once they’re done with this summer’s The Sorceror’s Apprentice, Nicolas Cage and director Jon Turteltaub are likely to turn their attentions to a third outing in the utterly implausible but still fun National Treasure series. The summer of 2012 is looking primed for it from here, and the project is currently at the outline stage.

Night At The Museum 3

Script work has begun on a third Night At The Museum film, unsurprising given the commercial success of the second. Thomas Lennon, co-writer of the first two films, has hinted that work is underway on the story, although as of yet, there’s no timescale known for the film.

Paranormal Activity 2

Not a sequel we’re looking forward to at all, with the warning bells of Blair Witch 2 showing no sign of being heeded. We’ve got a feeling that the first Paranormal Activity might be a true one off, but Paramount is keen to capitalise on its success and generate a sequel in time for Halloween this year. There’s no sign of a script, and its original choice of director – Kevin Greutert – has been hauled back to Lionsgate to make Saw VII (here are his feelings on that). But still, expect Paranormal Activity 2 sometime around Halloween. Sigh.

The Phantom 2

Odd one to believe, this, but plans are afoot for a belated follow-up to Billy Zane-starring superhero flick The Phantom. Entitled The Phantom Legacy, word has been quiet on the project for a little while, but Sherlock Symington Productions in Australia is trying to get the film off the ground. Tim Boyle is on writing duties, and they’re keen to pump more money into a sequel, arguing that the first film failed because of its low budget. That isn’t quite how we remembered it, to be fair. No word on when the film is heading before the cameras right now…

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Johnny Depp is back aboard, and Rob Marshall is taking the helm for the fourth Pirates Of The Caribbean. This one has a bit of a reboot feel to it, with most of the cast of the first three films being tossed overboard. It’s shooting in Hawaii this summer, ahead of a release in May 2011. And pleasingly, it seems that most of our requests for the next film are being followed.

Saw VII

This one may yet be known as Saw 3D, and after a bit of a tussle with Paramount Pictures, Kevin Greutert is returning to direct, having being at the helm of last year’s commercially disappointing (but still hugely profitable) Saw VI. It’s arriving in October, and with Saw VIII not actually yet confirmed, it’s going to have to arrest the slide of revenues for the franchise that have come with the last two entries in the series.

Scary Movie 5

They’re insanely profitable films, no matter how unfunny they may have become. There’s still keenness, therefore, in a fifth Scary Movie outing, although it may yet turn into a reboot without Anna Faris on board. Currently estimated release date is 2011, but a lot has to slot into place to meet that.

Scream 4

Ready for a brand new trilogy of Scream films? Neve Campbell is back, Courtney Cox is back and David Arquette are back. Furthermore, Kevin Williamson – who wrote the first two films – is penning the screenplay for Scream 4, and director Wes Craven is likely to be lured back for another go too. Production is set to begin in April – and that may yet allow a release before the end of the year if they really get their skates on…

Sherlock Holmes 2

Even before the first film hit big – as it did last Christmas, albeit in the shadow of Avatar – Warner Bros had got script work started on a Sherlock Holmes sequel. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law are both locked back in to return, and rumours abound that Brad Pitt will be appearing as Moriarty. Kieran and Michele Mulroney are working on a script, and a Christmas 2011 release date is being targeted. It seems that Guy Ritchie will be returning behind the camera, too.

Silent Hill 2

There’s been no crushing demand for it last time we checked, but there are still plans for a second visit to Silent Hill. Roger Avary has done script work (and is still involved, in spite of his current incarceration), and the plan is to shoot the film this year, with a release likely to be in 2011. Radha Mitchell is set to return, but there’s no word on a director just yet.

Sin City 2

Hopefully, Robert Rodriguez will find room on his slate soon for this eagerly-awaited follow-up to his superb 2005 hit. Frank Miller is again involved as you might hope (although whether he will direct part of it again after having his fingers burned with The Spirit remains to be seen), and Rodriguez will be plucking another collection of stories from Sin City to form the sequel. A Sin City 3 is also mooted.

Star Trek 2 (or 12, depending on your preference)

June 29th 2012 will see the USS Enterprise and its crew of returning cast members beaming back onto cinema screens. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are again penning the script, with the emphasis more on a villain story this time around. JJ Abrams is expected to direct again. We might even get Khaaaaaaaaaaaaan…

The Strangers 2

A solid hit back in 2008, Rogue Pictures commissioned Bryan Bertino to return and write a screenplay for a sequel. Bertino, who also directed the first film, won’t be helming this time. Instead, that chair has been handed over to Laurent Briet. Liv Tyler is still reported to return, and the shoot is set to begin in the autumn, pending a release next year.

Super Troopers 2

The Broken Lizard team came a bit of a cropper with their Dukes Of Hazzard film, but it’s on far safer ground with a follow-up to cult hit Super Troopers. The second film reunites the same players in front of and behind the camera, and it’s going to be shooting this year for release in 2011.

Taken 2

A massive surprise hit in 2009, and a brief one at that (clocking in just shy of 90 minutes), a second outing for Liam Neeson’s former spy is at the treatment stage. Luc Besson is once more involved, and is one of those working on a script. Expect that it’ll be before the cameras by next year at the latest. Expect Liam to kick ass too…

The Thing

The follow-up to The Thing is going to be a prequel story that’s being directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Shooting on the film starts in the spring, and we guess we’re looking at a release date in 2011, unless it proves to be a very swift production and they try and sneak it out before the end of the year.

Transformers 3

You know the drill. Michael Bay. Big robots. Shia LaBeouf. Megan Fox. Lots of cash. Summer 2011. Ker-ching.

Trick ‘R Treat 2

Trick ‘R Treat is slowly turning into something of a video hit, with it generating really impressive word of mouth from those who managed to find it, in spite of it being buried in the DVD release schedules. Writer-director Michael Dougherty is working on ideas for a welcome sequel, although the green light remains in the hands of the bean counters. Might be worth picking up a copy of the original if you haven’t already…

Twilight: Breaking Dawn

It’s unconfirmed as of yet whether the final Twilight book is going to be cut into two films or if it’ll stay as one, but the cast and crew will be heading off to Vancouver by the end of the year to film the last novel in the series. Summit Entertainment is likely to go with a two-film approach if it can work everyone’s deal, and the first part should be ready for Christmas 2011 at the latest.

Twister 2

A tentative one, this, based on an idea that Bill Paxton has been pushing. Twister was a perfectly functional one-off effects fest, most notorious for its flying cow. Now, with the advent of 3D technology (and, more importantly, the amount of money Avatar is bringing in from 3D screenings), there could well be fresh appetite for a Twister follow-up. The new film would be based on the Tri-State tornado of 1925. Producer Kathleen Kennedy is believed to be mulling over the idea.

Underworld 4

This one’s even got a firm release date: 21st January 2011 (although, of course, release dates can and do change). The fourth Underworld adventure is rumoured to bring Kate Beckinsale back to the series, with Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy also in line to return. No word yet on who’s going to be directing, though.

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

John Cho and Kal Penn are both back on board for a third Harold & Kumar adventure. The film is currently in production, ahead of its release on 5th November this year.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2

Robert Zemeckis has added a follow up to his mid-80s mix of animation and live action to his slate. Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 won’t be his next film, though, as he’s opted to press ahead with his Yellow Submarine remake instead. However, he’s still keen to do a Rabbit 2 using the same kind of performance capture technology that’s sat at the heart of his last three films (most recently A Christmas Carol). Christopher Lloyd told us that he’s keen to return, but the earliest we’ll get this one is 2013, we’d imagine.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2

A far more promising proposition than the original deathly serious origins film we got, Wolverine 2 will, hopefully, allow the title character to actually have a bit more fun. That said, he’s heading off to Japan to train with a Samurai warrior, based on one of the most popular comic book storylines for the character. The film is currently being written by Christopher McQuarrie (who has done uncredited script work on earlier X-Men films), and Hugh Jackman will be returning too. Don’t expect director Gavin Hood to be behind the camera again, though. The film is out in 2012.

XXx: The Return Of Xander Cage

Vin Diesel skipped the last xXxfilm, the fairly poor State Of The Union, but as his career continues to falter, he’s reportedly keen to return to the role of Xander Cage in a third movie. Director Rob Cohen won’t be back this time, though, with the director’s chair instead being handed to Ericson Core, who previously helmed The Prodigy and Invincible. Production is planned for this year, ahead of a 2011 release.

Zombieland 2

One of the cinematic treats of 2009 was the marvellous horror comedy Zombieland, which ached for a sequel. Sony stuttered for a while, citing movie piracy as the reason for its reticence, but it’s now greenlit a fresh Zombieland adventure. Ruben Fleischer will return to direct, writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are back on-board with scripting duties, and both Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are expected to reprise their roles. No word yet on when it’ll go before the cameras, though…

Zoolander 2

He’s taking his time about it, but Ben Stiller is still keen to give another big screen outing to Derek Zoolander. Last we heard was that he was working his way through a few potential scripts for the project, although his slate seems pretty full right now. We could be waiting another few years yet…

UPDATES: FEBRUARY 2010

2 Days In New York

Julie Delpy is helming a sequel to her indie flick 2 Days In Paris, which came out in 2007. Described as an “atypical sequel”, she’s finished the script for the project, and shooting is set to begin in October for release next year.

Bloodrayne: The Third Reich

Dr Uwe Boll continues to bomb his way through films like a human force of nature, and he’s currently in pre-production on the third Bloodrayne move. It’s kind of him to cater to the half dozen people who enjoyed the first two. Filming is underway any minute, and Natassia Malthe returns as Rayne. Expect it in your video store in the next year or so.

Enchanted 2

The original Enchanted was a bit of a treat, and arguably paved the way for the return of hand-drawn animation to Disney that we’ve now seen with The Princess And The Frog (although the films were in production at the same time). It was also a sizeable success, giving Amy Adams a star-making role in the process. And as such, Disney is looking to bring the original stars back for a follow-up, and has hired Jessie Nelson (scribe of Because I Said So) to write a script. Anne Fletcher is down to direct this time (having scored big for Disney with The Proposal last year).

Five Brothers

Mark Wahlberg has apparently come up with the plan for this follow-up to Four Brothers, in conjunction with original screenplay writers David Elliot and Paul Lovett. John Singleton directed the first film, although his involvement has yet to be confirmed. Lorenzo Di Bonaventura will be on producing duties.

Rambo

We missed this off, to our shame, first time around. Sylvester Stallone, once he’s done and dusted with The Expendables, is gearing up to make a fifth Rambo movie. After toying with supernatural elements for the plotline, he seems to have settled on a tale of drug lords and human trafficking instead. Expect lots of violence, and expect it to potentially move into production by the end of the year.

Taxi Driver 2

It’s a story that’s set our bullshit radar blaring, and the idea that Lars Von Trier and Martin Scorsese are teaming up on a Taxi Driver follow-up seems to have been nixed as soon as the story arose. However, what was interesting, and what may yet give life to the project, is what screenwriter told the New York Post. There, he revealed that Scorsese has been considering doing a follow-up film for some time, looking at an older Travis Bickle. Will it ever happen? Probably not, but perhaps there’s a little bit more to the story than first throught. File this one as ‘maybe’.

Valentine’s Day 2

Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall has enjoyed the best opening weekend of his movie career with his tepid ensemble romance movie Valentine’s Day. And he’s not done yet: not wishing to mess with the formula, the plan is now for a follow-up movie called New Year’s Eve. The first draft is reportedly already in, and Julia Roberts will be hoping, you’d assume, for such a lucrative payday once more in exchange for so little work. Heck, we’re hoping for that kind of gig ourselves…

Wanted 2

Writer Mark Millar has given an update on the status of the follow-up to Universal’s 2008 hit, and he’s revealed that the script to the film is just about done. Wanted 2 will pick up immediately after the first film, and the original cast – including Angelina Jolie – are being chased to return. He’s revealed, too, that the film is set to start shooting soon, which means a summer 2011 release is likely, we’d wager.

White Chicks 2

The only film on this list that makes the prospect of Big Momma’s House 3 look in the slightest bit palatable. The Wayans Brothers are working on a sequel to their piss-poor comedy White Chicks, with the details of the script right now being kept a secret. They can keep it that way for some time, if they like. Keenan Ivory Wayans is likely to direct. And to everyone who bought one of the tickets that brought the original White Chicks over $100m in box office change: this is your fault…

Phew. Leave your thoughts on any of these in the comments below…

See also:75 remakes and reboots currently in development