They're Back: 19 Movie Sequels to Hit Theaters in 2018
by Meena Jang
Marvel's highly anticipated 'Avengers: Infinity War' and 'Deadpool 2' are arriving in the new year, along with the follow-up to 2008's 'Mamma Mia!'
Courtesy of Marvel/Ryan Meinerding
Insidious: The Last Key
Jan. 5
In the latest installment of the Insidious franchise from Blumhouse Productions, Lin Shaye reprises her role as brilliant parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier, who is haunted by her own personal fears when she goes to investigate supernatural disturbances occurring in her childhood home. The horror film is directed by Adam Robitel and written by returning scribe Leigh Whannell, who also co-stars alongside Shaye.
Following the events of director Paul King's 2015 animated feature Paddington, the sequel picks up with Paddington the bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) happily adjusted to life at home with the Brown family. He sets out on yet another wild adventure when the present he plans to gift his aunt for her 100th birthday is stolen by a thief and Paddington is accused of the crime. The London-set family film was released in November in the U.K., and hits theaters in the U.S. in January.
The third and final installment of the Maze Runner trilogy, which last left off with 2015's The Scorch Trials, follows Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) as he leads his group of escaped Gladers on their most dangerous mission yet — through the deadly labyrinth Last City. The film, directed by Wes Ball, features returning stars Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee and Rosa Salazar.
The final chapter in E.L. James' Fifty Shades trilogy, directed by James Foley, sees Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) as a newly wedded couple. Their marriage faces new threats when Steele's former boss (Eric Johnson), who was fired by Grey in the previous film installment, vows to get revenge and Grey's ex-lover (Kim Basinger) makes her return.
The sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 sci-fi flick Pacific Rim focuses on Jake Pentecost (John Beyoga), a former Jaeger pilot and the son of the original film's Stacker Pentecost, and his journey leading a new generation of Jaeger pilots against another Kaiju threat. Joining the cast are Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny, Jing Tian, and Adria Arjona. Original stars Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, and Rinko Kikuchi are set to reprise their roles in the Steven S. DeKnight-directed film.
In the John Stevenson-directed sequel to 2011's Gnomeo & Juliet, detective Sherlock Gnomes (voiced by newcomer Johnny Depp) is recruited by Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) to investigate the mysterious disappearances of garden gnomes. Mary J. Blige and Chiwetel Ejiofor round out the voice cast in the Paramount Pictures animation.
Super Troopers 2
The wacky Vermont state troopers first introduced in the 2001 crime-comedy Super Troopers are back. Director/star Jay Chandrasekhar and original co-stars Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske, Kevin Heffernan, Paul Soter make their return in Fox Searchlight's long-awaited sequel, which centers on the antics that ensue when the group attempts to set up a new highway patrol station. Jim Gaffigan, Rob Lowe and Lynda Carter also make appearances.
The Avengers will assemble once more next year — this time joining forces with a fleet of other Marvel characters — to take down a new dark enemy, Thanos (Josh Brolin). Anthony and Joe Russo are directing the follow-up to 2015's Age of Ultron, which sees the return of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). The Avengers encounter Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy along the way.
The "Merc with a Mouth" returns in the sequel to 2016's Deadpool, the first feature film based on the Marvel antihero, starring Ryan Reynolds. David Leitch is helming the film following the exit of Tim Miller, who was originally set to return to the director's chair. Returning stars include Morena Baccarin (as Vanessa), T.J. Miller (Weasel), Stefan Kapicic (Colossus), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), Leslie Uggams (Blind Al) and Karan Soni (Dopinder). Josh Brolin (Cable) and Zazie Beetz (Domino) will be introduced for the first time in Deadpool 2.
14 years after the release of the Pixar original, 2004's The Incredibles, director Brad Bird is bringing the superhero family back together again. Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Vowell and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their voice roles in the animated film, which centers on Mr. Incredible taking care of his newborn baby Jack-Jack (and discovering his secret powers) while Elastigirl is out fighting crime.
Chris Pratt's Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire head back to the island of Isla Nublar to help save the remaining population of dinosaurs from going extinct after a massive volcanic eruption in the J. A. Bayona-directed film, which picks up four years after the events of 2015's Jurassic World. Justice Smith, James Cromwell, Toby Jones and Jeff Goldblum (who appeared in the original Jurassic Park film and its 1997 sequel) round out the cast.
Sicario 2: Soldado
FBI agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and former undercover operative Alejandro (Benicio del Toro) re-team to once again fight the drug war, which has escalated with cartels now smuggling terrorists across the U.S. border. Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Matthew Modine and Catherine Keener also star in the follow-up to 2015's Sicario, directed by Stefano Sollima.
2015's 'Ant-Man'
Zade Rosenthal/Marvel
Marvel's ant-sized superhero makes his return next year, this time on a new mission fighting alongside the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly). Paul Rudd reprises his role as Ant-Man, with Peyton Reed back in the director's chair. Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Tip "T.I." Harris, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer and Laurence Fishburne round out the cast.
Adam Sandler reprises his role as Dracula in Sony's animated comedy, also featuring Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Molly Shannon, Keegan-Michael Key and Mel Brooks in the voice cast. The third installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise, helmed by Genndy Tartakovsky, follows Dracula, Mavis and the rest of the family as they spend their summer aboard a luxury Monster Cruise Ship. Things get messy when Drac falls for the ship's mysterious captain, Ericka.
In the sequel to 2008's Mamma Mia!, Universal's adaptation of the stage musical based on ABBA songs, a pregnant Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) is doubtful she can succeed as a single mom until she hears the inspiring story of how her mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), came to raise her on her own. Here We Go Again introduces Lily James as a young Donna and Cher as Sophie's grandmother, while Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård and Dominic Cooper reprise their roles in the musical comedy directed by Ol Parker.
Aug. 3
2014's 'The Equalizer'
Columbia Pictures/Photofest
Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua are re-teaming for Sony's sequel to 2014's The Equalizer, based on the TV show of the same name. Though plot details are still under wraps, Moonlight breakout Ashton Sanders and Pedro Pascal are set to join the cast, which also includes returning stars Melissa Leo, Chloe Grace Moretz and Bill Pullman.
One year after Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and director David Yates brought viewers back to the wizarding world with 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, its sequel will see Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) join forces to defeat the infamous dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). Returning cast members include Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol and Katherine Waterson, while Zoe Kravitz, Callum Turner and Law will make their Potterverse debut.
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2
2012's 'Wreck-It Ralph'
Courtesy of Photofest
Six years following the events of 2012's Wreck-It Ralph, the sequel sees Ralph (again voiced by John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) travel to the Internet through a Wi-Fi router newly installed in the arcade in an attempt to save Sugar Rush from being shut down. Taraji P. Henson, introduced as new character Yesss, joins the voice cast in the animated family film by Rich Moore and Phil Johnston. The film also features appearances by Disney princesses Ariel (Jodi Benson), Belle (Paige O'Hara), Jasmine (Linda Larkin), Pocahontas (Irene Bedard), Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), Merida (Kelly Macdonald), Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) and Anna (Kristen Bell).
Dec. 25
Courtesy of Disney
Emily Blunt makes her debut as the magical nanny in the follow-up to the 1964 original starring Julie Andrews. The sequel, set 25 years later, sees Blunt's Mary Poppins pay a visit to now-grown children Michael and Jane Banks to help them overcome a personal loss. Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Emily Mortimer and Julie Walters also star in the movie musical, helmed by Rob Marshall.
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