Sequel Bits: 'Jurassic World', 'Barbershop 3', 'Atlas Shrugged', 'Minions'
MGM's Barbershop franchise is opening up again. Also after the jump:
Writers are currently being sought for the sequel. In addition to starring, Cube will also produce, alongside Matt Alvarez, Bob Teitel, and George Tillman Jr. Tim Story, who directed Cube's Ride Along as well as the original Barbershop, will return to the director's chair. [Deadline]
Chris Pratt is deep into preparation for his upcoming role in Jurassic World, and he has taken to Facebook to share his excitement.
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Jurassic World opens June 12, 2015. [Facebook]
The free market has so far rejected both installments of the Atlas Shrugged trilogy, but the franchise is nevertheless pressing onward with a conclusion. The third and final movie, Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?, has just been set for release on September 12.
Why September 12? The hope is to capitalize on the contentious political mood ahead of the midterm elections on November 4. Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? features an all-new cast that includes Laura Regan, Rob Morrow, and Kristoffer Polaha. [THR]
We know that the Despicable Me spinoff Minions will pick up with the inept yellow henchmen in a time before Gru. Now a sizzle reel shown at Cinema Con reveals that the story will stretch way back before Gru, serving as a sort of origin story for the critters. The footage hasn't hit the web (yet), but here's a description:
The sizzle reel showed the Minions beginning as creatures on the bottom of the sea (the animation style of this sequence was reminiscent of Yellow Submarine) in prehistoric times as they literally latch onto increasingly nasty predators in this natural quest to serve only the very worst masters.
We then see the Minions throughout human history inadvertently causing mayhem, whether it's while building the pyramids of Egypt, serving a Genghis Khan-style warlord, or accidentally destroying their Dracula-like master on his 347th birthday.
Read more at IGN. Minions opens in 3D (with special customized glasses, no less) on July 10, 2015.
A Haunted House 2 is a sequel to A Haunted House, obviously. But the new poster has more in common with Insidious Chapter 2 than anything else. Here's the poster for A Haunted House 2:
And here's the one for Insidious Chapter 2:
You could play a Highlights-style "spot the difference" game with these two. It's a safe bet that the movies will be pretty different, though. A Haunted House 2 opens April 18. [Moviefone]
Lifetime's Flowers in the Attic was a success. However, because of the time jump between it and the sequel, Petals on the Wind, the main characters have been recast.
Here's a look at the grown-up versions of Cathy and Christopher, played by Kiernan Shipka and Mason Dye in the last movie and by Rose McIver and Wyatt Nash here. Also present are Heather Graham, reprising her role as their mom Corrine, and Will Kemp as new character Julian.
Petals on the Wind will air on Lifetime on May 26. [EW]
The first Rio didn't end well for Nigel, the sinister cockatoo voiced by Jemaine Clement, but he's back and badder than ever in the sequel. In a new trailer, he borrows liberally from Gloria Gaynor to explain what's happened to him in the time since.
Rio 2 flies into theaters April 11. [YouTube]
A new clip from How to Train Your Dragon 2 reveals that Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and his faithful companion Toothless have become quite the explorers since we last saw them.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 soars in June 13. [YouTube]George R.R. Martin has been taking his sweet time releasing new installments of A Song of Ice and Fire, the series that inspired HBO's Game of Thrones. But The Winds of Winter is coming, slowly but surely. To prove it, Martin has revealed another new chapter titled "Mercy" on his website this week.
She woke with a gasp, not knowing who she was, or where.
The smell of blood was heavy in her nostrils... or was that her nightmare, lingering? She had dreamed of wolves again, of running through some dark pine forest with a great pack at her hells, hard on the scent of prey.
Half-light filled the room, grey and gloomy. Shivering, she sat up in bed and ran a hand across her scalp. Stubble bristled against her palm. I need to shave before Izembaro sees. Mercy, I'm Mercy, and tonight I'll be raped and murdered. Her true name was Mercedene, but Mercy was all anyone ever called her...
Intriguing! Read the rest of the sample here. Be warned that The Winds of Winter takes place after the events of Season 4 of Game of Thrones, so there will be spoilers up ahead. [via EW]