Way back in 1977, Star Wars hit our screens, but oddly it was titled Episode IV: A New Hope.
As we all know, they did go back one day and made episodes I-III and more recently, we were given Episode VII : The Force Awakens.
We believe way back in 1977, George Lucas always said that he had planned 9 films but only made 6! The baton now passed on to other filmmakers with not only an Episode VIII but spin off movies planned. First up is Rogue One but also origins stories of the likes of Han Solo; Darth Vader; Boba Fett and Yoda are expected to follow
At the end of most James Bond 007 films, we are told he will return and he has done over 20 times to date!
Films are now no longer looking for one film, it is how big the franchise can get! The Marvel films are now so big, the franchise is known as the Marvel Universe! DC Comics are now joining in, quickly following Batman V Superman are Suicide Squad; Wonder Woman and Aquaman. At this rate, there could be more films than their actual comic book source =)
The Lego movie has given their Lego Batman a spin-off film of his own, before making a sequel to the Lego movie; Breaking out from Madagascar, the Penguins got their own film. As did Puss in Boots from the Shrek franchise. The Minions also broke out from Despicable Me stars to have their own non-Gru adventure!
More recently it’s been announced that MIB23 will join the 21 Jump Street franchise with the Men In Black, which we are intrigued about, and hope it can show some promise.
All of these things we don’t actually mind, new characters offer something different, although Puss in Boots as an example, they can normally be just as bigger letdown as a sequel.
However, the one thing that is annoying us at present is the presumptuousness of movies now. It has recently been announced that Avatar will have 4 sequels made (Source Variety ; Vin Diesel has announced Fast and the Furious 8 will be the first of a new trilogy of films, source deadline!
Box office monster Fifty Shades of Grey announced it would be making the 2 book sequels Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed back to back, possibly the first time since parts 2 and 3 of Back to the Future!
Most recently Keanu Reeves has hinted that one of our favourite films of recent times, John Wick, has already made possible plans for a parts 3 & 4 before we’ve even seen the sequel.
Source: MovieWeb
It doesn’t stop there, most recently at a screening of The Legend of Tarzan, at a Q&A it was announced a sequel could be in the works, again without anyone seeing the first film.
Source Hey U Guys
Of course, what is said, doesn’t necessarily always happen! It was announced one of our favourite shark films, Deep Blue Sea would have a sequel called Deep Red Sea, but it never happened =(
More recent examples include The Golden Compass, it was the first of His Darkest materials trilogy but only the first was adapted following poor box office performance (although a new TV adaptation is planned)
Many of these Young Adult books have only seen the first adventure make it to the big screen, Alex Rider has never got past Stormbreaker and he is not the only one.
Inkheart; The Spiderwick Chronicles; Eragon and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events also join the list (although Lemony Snicker like The Golden Compass may find new life in a TV show being made for Netflix)
Percy Jackson has managed slightly better with 2 of the 5 books making the big screen, The Chronicles of Narnia has seen 3 of its 7 books made so slightly better and improving as a version of The Silver Chair is in the works.
We don’t mind sequels, but all we ask is can we get excited about them one at a time please, and don’t move the goalposts as well when we only expect one film.
Examples being The Hobbit; Twilight Breaking Dawn; The Hunger Games: Mockingjay and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Do you like sequels being announced when you are still enjoying the original (Deadpool being another example) or are you excited to hear as soon as possible?
We would love to hear from you here at Barking Mad About Films
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