Movies

Sequel Bits: 'Transformers 4', 'Expendables 3', 'Transporter 4-6', 'The Hobbit', 'Anchorman 2', 'Pacific Rim 2'

Ian McKellen as Gandalf in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."
By Angie Han

Guess who's been hanging out in Middle-earth again! Also after the jump:

  • There will be three more Transporter movies
  • Sly Stallone wants The Raid stars for Expendables 3
  • "F***, yeah," Guillermo del Toro says about having Pacific Rim 2 ideas
  • Details uncovered on Transformers 4's new robots
  • Who else has an Anchorman 2 cameo lined up?

    • More Transporter pics are racing our way. Luc Besson's EuropaCorp has teamed with China's Fundamental Films to produce three more installments of the thriller series. Each will be budgeted at $30-$40 million, and at least one of the three will shoot in China.

    Part 4 is currently in development though it seems to be in the early stages. There's no word yet on whether Jason Statham will reprise the lead role, or who might helm the new pictures. [THR]

    Once again, Sylvester Stallone turned to Twitter to reveal the latest in casting for The Expendables 3. Stallone let slip that he's looking at some of the stars of The Raid, though it doesn't sound like anything's confirmed yet.

    He also suggested that Steven Seagal could be on board for the next film.

    In addition, Stallone confirms that Wesley Snipes, Jackie Chan, and Mickey Rourke are good to go. Patrick Hughes is directing the new film, with production expected to get underway this fall. [@TheSlyStallone]

    Peter Jackson has headed back to Middle-earth once again. The director recently reunited with Ian McKellan (Gandalf) in New Zealand to do a few more reshoots for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, and while there snapped a photo to mark the occasion.Peter Jackson and Ian McKellan (Gandalf)

    Back on set for our last Hobbit pick ups. Our last ever Tolkien pick ups, in fact. It's going to be an intense few weeks, but we're looking forward to shooting some powerful scenes with our great cast. Our next blog is coming soon!

    Part 2 of the Hobbit trilogy opens December 13, 2013. Part 3 lands a year later on December 17, 2014. [Facebook]

    If Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim turns out to be as good as it looks, you'll probably be glad to here the director has much more where that came from. "F***, yeah!" was del Toro's response when Legendary CEO Thomas Tull asked him if he could come up with a great idea for a sequel.

    The filmmaker wouldn't divulge many details, but he did reveal that the new film wouldn't just pit giant creatures against each other again. Instead, he plans to dive deeper into the kaiju mythology.

    "[With the old movies] it was Godzilla versus so-and-so, and that was all you needed to know," he says. "It was like a wrestling match." Instead, del Toro and co-writer Travis Beacham plan to delve deeper into the alien forces behind the kaiju (Japanese for "giant monsters"), who in the first film invade Earth from their so-called "antiverse" through a breach at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, only to be met by a last stand of human defenders (including Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam). "They're a race of blind consumers grabbing planets, consuming them, and moving to the next," says del Toro. "The idea [with the sequel] is to explore a little bit of that. I won't spoil it, but I don't think we'll repeat a single beat from the first movie."

    Read more at EW.com. Pacific Rim hits theaters July 12.

    The following two items contain spoilers for Transformers 4 and Anchorman 2, respectively. Tread carefully, or just skip ahead to the comments.

    Earlier today we learned some more details about Transformers 4's new human leads. Now we also have some info about its new robot stars. (Spoilers start here.)

    According to a source who spoke with Jo Blo, the film will feature Dinobot characters including Grimlock; the Autobot Hound; a Samurai Decepticon that wants to be an Autobot; and Galvatron, a.k.a. Megatron reborn.

    But perhaps the most intriguing new name is Lockdown.

    One of the villains of the film will be a character named Lockdown, who has a ship full of decommissioned Transformers, including the dinobots, which are somehow brought back to life by a captured Optimus Prime. Prime is joined by returning autobot Bumblebee and at one point both characters (and potentially others) will "ride" the Dinobots into battle in Hong Kong (which fits well within the announcement that the film would film partially in China), with Prime on Grimlock and Bumblebee on a Pterandon, presumably Swoop.

    Transformers 4 opens June 27, 2014. [Jo Blo]Anchorman: The Legend Continues already has a list of celebrity cameos about a mile long, but somehow they've found room to fit in a couple more. (Spoilers ahead if you would rather be surprised.)

    The comedy sequel has been shooting in New York City as of late, and paparazzi photos reveal the presence of rappers Drake and West in costume and on set. For Drake, that means an Afro, a leather Members Only jacket, and acid washed jeans to go with the 1977 setting. Click here to see photos. [Vulture]

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