There are tons of sequels these days. Look at Marvel and Star Wars and the Fast and the Furious. If a movie does semi well a sequel gets announced. Book Club is getting a sequel this May. In this day and age anything is possible. There are no rules. Look at Hocus Pocus 2 and Top Gun: Maverick. Both came out thirty or more years after its predecessors. Hocus Pocus 2 became the biggest movie ever for Disney Plus while Top Gun: Maverick became the number 1 movie of 2022 and one of the only films that year to gross a billion worldwide. Here is a rundown of some long in development or talked about sequels and where they currently stand.

Legally Blonde 3

It is being worked on. This actually had several release dates and missed them all. It originally was supposed to come out in 2020. Obviously, that didn’t happen for several reasons. Mindy Kaling is one of the writers of the current script. It is still being worked on. They want to get it right. Top Gun: Maverick has been said to be the inspiration for Legally Blonde 3 probably in terms of how to do a sequel the right way. This will probably happen. Current cast would include Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, and Jennifer Coolidge. Reese Witherspoon said recently there is no Legally Blonde without Jennifer Coolidge. At this point the earliest this could come out would be in either 2024 or 2025. Given its only the beginning of March, there is enough time for this to film later this year and come out next year.

Now You See Me 3

This was announced years ago. After Now You See Me 2 opened and did not do as well as Now You See Me, talk of a third one seemed to die down. The last update was last fall when director Ruben Fleischer who directed Zombieland was announced as the director for Now You See Me 3. Jesse Eisenberg is still interested in doing another one. Presumably Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, possibly Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan would reprise their roles. The way the second one left off, there is the chance for Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Daniel Radcliffe to pop up as well. Since there is renewed interest from the studio, this has a decent shot of actually coming to fruition. The earliest this could be released would probably be either 2024 or 2025 if not beyond that.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 3

It has been almost fifteen years since the second film. The most recent update from Amber Tamblyn was that the cast still wants to do one. Scheduling is a big reason why it is taking so long for this one to happen. Since the last one, all four of the leads have been busy between motherhood, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds just had their fourth child, and their respective careers. Blake Lively headlined Gossip Girl for its entire run. She is gearing up to film A Simple Favor 2 later this year with Anna Kendrick. Alexis Bledel reunited with Lauren Graham for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and she also was on The Handmaid’s Tale. Amber Tamblyn did movies and television including House and Two and a Half Men. America Ferrera headlined Superstore for five out of the six seasons it was on, and she will be in the Barbie movie later this year. Amber Tamblyn also said there is a script and they also need a studio to pick it up. If this gets off the ground all four leading ladies would return. It is also possible some of the other characters from the prior movies could turn up as well specifically the significant others. This seems it is still far off from happening. Unless a miracle happens and a studio picks it up and wants to get a move on it, the earliest this could be released is 2025 or 2026 or way beyond.

Charlie’s Angels 3

Plans for a third film died near the end of the 2000s. In 2011 there was a reboot TV show for ABC that was quickly canceled due to low ratings. In 2018, there was a movie reboot with three Bosleys and three new angels including Kristen Stewart. That movie bombed. Recently Drew Barrymore has expressed interest in wanting to do a third movie reuniting her with Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu. It is possible this could get off the ground now that Drew Barrymore wants to revisit it. If this happens Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu would return. Presumably they would find a new Bosley since Bernie Mac who played the Bosley in the second film passed away. Bernie Mac was the brother of Bill Murray’s Bosley from the first movie. Also, John Forsythe who voiced Charlie in the prior movies passed away also. There would have to be some casting changes. Presumably Matt Leblanc and Luke Wilson who played the boyfriends of Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz would return. This is a ways off. The earlirest this film would realistically be able to film would be 2024 based off Drew Barrymore’s busy schedule due to her talk show if a script were ready by that point.

Hocus Pocus 3

Bette Midler said she would be interested in doing another one. This has not been officially announced. Given the success of Hocus Pocus 2, one would think Disney would want to hop another one. We’ll see if it is something of interest for them. If a third one happens expect Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy to reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters.

Zombieland 3

This will probably happen at some point. Given it was ten years in between the first and second movies, Emma Stone thought it would be fitting if this one came out ten years after the second one. If that were to happen that would see this getting released in 2028. It is safe to presume all four stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin would return.

Mean Girls 2

This has never been officially announced. It is one fans have wanted for a long time including the cast. Lindsay Lohan said a Mean Girls 2 is completely up to Tina Fey. There is a chance this will happen. Tina Fey is a busy lady. Lindsay Lohan said she would return. Rachel McAdams also said she would be open to returning. Next year marks the twentieth anniversary of Mean Girls. Maybe it could happen sooner than later.

Austin Powers 4

There are still plans for a fourth Austin Powers movie. When will that happen? Who knows. There is still interest even after Verne Troyer passed away. Hopefully this will happen sooner than later. Besides Mike Myers, it is safe to assume Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Robert Wagner, and Michael York would return.

Shrek 5

This one might have new steam given the release of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish which ended up setting up a fifth Shrek. There has been talk of a fifth one since the fourth one came out. Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas would all return. Given the success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, this may be enough to get Dreamworks to finally move forward with Shrek 5.

Cars 4

There have been some rumors of Disney wanting to do a fourth one. Nothing has really been said about this since Cars 3. To be seen. I’m not really sure what else they could do but I also had those same thoughts for Toy Story 5 and that is happening.

The Greatest Showman 2

This was a smash hit and has a beloved soundtrack. This is Me should have won the Oscar for song. Hugh Jackman would like to do another one.  If this one can happen, I think along with Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, and Zendaya would reprise their roles. It would be cool to see what they do with this movie and what great music they would come up with.

National Treasure 3

There is still interest in this. Nicolas Cage is still open to doing another one. Disney may finally move forward with this. There was concern that the film was not going to happen once Disney announced a spin-off TV show for Disney Plus, National Treasure: Edge of History. Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of the films said the third film was still being worked on. The show is set in the same universe as the films. This could be an opportunity to incorporate the characters from the show and vice versa. There was at one point talks of a fourth National Treasure as well. If this moves forward and does as well if not better it could lead to a fourth one. I would think Disney would want to strike while the iron is hot and before Nicolas Cage gets any older.

The Princess Diaries 3

Fans and the cast have wanted another one for many years. It almost was going to happen but then Gary Marshall, the director of the first two films passed away. He wanted to do a third one with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. Since then not much movement had happened. Last year Disney finally announced plans to move forward with a third film. Anne Hathaway wants to do it. The big question will be if they can be able to get Julie Andrews to return. Julie Andrews was open to doing another one but that seemed to change when Gary Marshall passed away. Also, Julie Andrews is currently 87 years old. If Disney truly wants to move forward with this and try to convince Julie Andrews to do it, they better get a move on it. If they moved forward with this back when Gary Marshall was alive, it would have had the whole cast and Gary Marshall as the director. We’ll see if this finally moves forward. If Disney is serious about this, then the earliest it could come out is 2024 with filming sometime later this year assuming there is a finished script. Anne Hathaway has suggested that a script has been ready for a while. The ball is Disney’s court.

Freaky Friday 2

Jaime Lee Curtis recently said that Freaky Friday 2 will happen. Disney has yet to officially announce it but sounds like this could actually happen. Jaime Lee Curtis has been pushing for a sequel and wants to reunite with Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Lohan said she would do it if it happens. If this will happen, filming could take place later this year and aim for a release date in 2024.

Wedding Crashers 2

It will be eighteen years in the summer since Wedding Crashers came out. At this point it is doubtful this will happen, but Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn still seem interested in doing it. There were rumors that suggested that Wedding Crashers 2 was close to happening but then Owen Wilson got cast in The Haunted Mansion and that set this film back. We will see if it does eventually happen. Never say never. Look at Top Gun and Hocus Pocus that happened at least thirty years after their predecessors. Wedding Crashers will turn twenty in 2025. This has plenty of time.