Sequel Bits: ‘The Conjuring 2,’ ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle,’ ‘Deadpool 2,’ ‘Dredd 2,’ ‘Alien: Covenant,’ ‘Super Troopers 2’
In today’s edition of Sequel Bits:
Last week, a series ofThe Conjuringscreenings were announced around the country, drawing in dedicated horror fans who wanted to seeJames Wan’s fantastic horror film in theaters again. But it was all a ruse, and these screenings were revealed to be secret advance showings ofThe Conjuring 2! Buzz from the screenings has been strong, which only makes the wait until next month all the harder. In the meantime, Warner Bros. has released a creepy new featurette that explores the actual case that inspired the movie.
Sequels to documentaries aren’t unheard of. There are threeParadise Lostfilms and theUpseries has been going on for decades now. But a sequel to a nature documentary? That actually has a number in the title? That’s new.Varietyreports thatMarch of the Penguins 2: The Callwas quietly filmed in Antarctica last year using 4K cameras. DirectorLuc Jacquetis back (no word yet on whether or notMorgan Freemanwill return to narrate) and the project is currently being shopped around Cannes. Here’s how the film is described:
The sprawling and fascinating documentary follows the journey of emperor penguins of the South Pole as they travel to their traditional breeding grounds.
In other words, it sounds like more of the same. However, more of the same isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a nature documentary, especially if the new footage is fascinating and beautiful. The original film was a huge hit the box office and won an Oscar for Best Documentary, so expect this one to get a wide release.
NBC’s television sequel toCruel Intentionsin alive. For now.Deadlinereports that the series, which would follow the characters from the 1999 film, has not been picked up yet. However, the network is weighing its options. Says NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt:
It goes under the heading of embarrassment of riches. There’s just so many shows that we have scheduled or ordered.
With the pilot in the can, it’s now up to NBC to make the final call. Expect to hear something official soon.
It can be tough for Hollywood films to screen in China, who are very strict about allowing films from other nations to screen within their borders. They infamously cap the number of non-Chinese films that are released there to 34 per year, which means that studios always have to scramble to grab one of those spots. However,Now You See Me 2has managed to snag a release date there and dodge that normal restriction.Varietyreport that the film will opening China on June 24 and “is being treated as a flat fee import,” which allows it to exist beyond the usual quota. The presence of the popular Taiwanese actorJay Chouin the film may have something to do with this.
Deadpoolwas a film with many highlights, and T.J. Miller’s bartender/best friend character, Weasel, was one of them. Miller’s hilarious deadpan was the perfect foil forRyan Reynolds' over-the-top schtick, so it’s good to know that Weasel will be back for the sequel. Speaking withCinemaBlend, he confirmed that he’s going to be sticking around the X-Men universe for awhile:
Miller even teased the idea of a Weasel spin-off, referencing a comic book storyline where the character get a low-budget super-suit:
I’m excited about the prospect of a Weasel spin-off, because he makes this super suit, that’s not great and it’s a superhero in Las Vegas protects casinos. I mean, it just, everything about it is perfect for me… What if the Iron Man suit was sort of budget, like he can’t fly, but he can hover three or four feet.
If you want to get Karl Urban talking, just bring upDredd 2. The first film may have been a major box office bomb, but the man behind Judge Dredd’s helmet insists (viaDen of Geek) that audiences like the first movie enough to justify a sequel:
Alex Garland has gone on record to say that Dredd was a failure. I disagree. The movie itself was not a failure, in fact it was a critical success, it just failed to perform at the box office. How does a movie with a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes fail? Through zero audience awareness. Nobody knew the movie was being released. Dredd represents a failure in marketing, not filmmaking. Dredd sold 750,000 units, in North America, the first week it went on on DVD, which earned it a lot of money and the number one slot. Proof that the audience, once they became aware, wanted to see it.
Urban went on to argue that a sequel could happen. It really, really could! Really:
The unfortunate theatrical release of Dredd and the manner in which it was mishandled made it problematic for Dredd 2 to be immediately funded and produced in the same fashion. But the success it has achieved in all post-theatrical mediums has definitely strengthened the argument in favour of a sequel. But it’s not an easy sell. I’m constantly blown away by the fan support and love for Dredd. I get stopped and asked about Dredd most days, I find it strangely ironic that to get recognised and associated with a character whose face is largely obscured behind a helmet.
As much as I would like to see aDredd 2, Karl Urban is really justtalkingat this point. Show me someone willing to fundDredd 2and I’d show you someone worthy of respect and admiration who is also about to be totally broke.
Alien: Covenanthas been quietly filming in Sydney, Australia for a few weeks now andThe Inquirercaught up with star Michael Fassbender, who is returning as David the android. First, he confirmed something very important:
Okay. That’s a good start. It wouldn’t be an alien movie without aliens coming of people. But he wouldn’t elaborate on that. Instead, he elaborated on the sets:
The sets are fantastic. Again, the most impressive sets I’ve seen since Prometheus, which was the original setting. It’s a fantastic mixture of high-end technology and primitive elements. The way that I can explain it is the same way that Ridley did Blade Runner.
Then again, of course a Ridley Scott movie would have fantastic sets! The man is an astonishing technician. His movies are beautiful. Hopefully, the screenplay is up to snuff this time around.
Wreck-It Ralphwas a delightful movie, aToy Storyfor video games that built a fully realized world, populated it with endearing characters, and told a fine story. It also wrapped up the narrative with a bow. A sequel doesn’thaveto happen, but according to starJohn C. Reilly, one is in the works. While speaking withColliderabout his work inThe Lobster(which is an incredible film and you should see it), he revealed that a follow-up is in the works:
Disney hasn’t formally announced aWreck-It Ralph 2, but they certainly have a whole bunch of release dates reserved for anonymous films over the next five years or so…
Kingsman: The Golden Circlehas begun filming and our first look at Channing Tatum’s new character has arrived. And yes, Tatum looks about a slick (and about as goofy) as you’d hope. Meanwhile, filming onTrainspotting 2has continued in Scotland and set photos revealing Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremnerhave arrived.
The science magazineHakaihas posted a sobering article about howFinding Doryhas scientists worried about the future of the blue tang fish, Dory’s blue, black and yellow species.Finding Nemocaused sales of clownfish skyrocketed, but they are easy to breed and care for. That doesn’t hold true for blue tangs:
After Nemo hit the big screen, sales of orange and white striped clownfish rose by as much as 40 percent, according to some estimates. Conveniently, clownfish are simple to breed in captivity, and demand was easy to satisfy. When a similar rush for pet Dorys inevitably follows the new film, fragile coral reef environments are likely to suffer. That’s because even though Dory was a model of resilience and optimism in her perilous quest to rescue Nemo from a dentist’s office fish tank, young blue tangs have proven much less hardy inside lab tanks. As Dory graduates from sidekick to leading lady, the lack of a captive-bred option will drive collectors to source more blue tangs from the wild—a harvest that’s often unregulated and destructive.
In other words, please discourage your friends, family, and neighbors from trying to buy a blue tang this summer.
Here’s the Cannes poster for Super Troopers 2.pic.twitter.com/8o7YoOMQF5
— Jay Chandrasekhar (@jaychandrasekha)August 22, 2025
Yep, the crowdfundedSuper Troopers 2is still happening and directorJay Chandrasekharhas shared the first poster for the film, which was whipped up to help sell foreign rights at the Cannes Film Market.
