The most pointless movie sequels in development

Sometimes, a sequel is announced that seems so unlikely, so uncalled for, that you have to check the date to make sure it’s not April 1st.
 
Yesterday’s news that Frank Capra’s ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ would be getting a part deux in December 2015, some 69 years after the original, had us pinching ourselves before reaching for the calendar.

‘It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story’ will tell the grandson of George Bailey’s tale, with actress Karolyn Grime set to reprise her role as daughter Zuzu, the tot who squeaks the immortal line: “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!”

['It's A Wonderful Life' sequel in the works]

With a script from two virtual unknowns, a cast of aged child stars, and a general sense of bewilderment emitting from film fans, the sequel to the much-loved Jimmy Stewart film is unlikely to make waves upon release, seeming more like a straight-to-DVD PR stunt than a genuine cinematic contender.

However, IAWL: TROTS (as we’ve now christened it) is in good company. Whether they’re desperate attempts to recapture faded glories, cynical intellectual property cash-ins, or misguided vanity projects, here are 10 sequels underway in Hollywood that you won’t believe are actually happening.

Raging Bull 2
Martin Scorsese’s 1980 boxing biopic ‘Raging Bull’ is rightfully recognised as a cinematic classic, but absolutely no-one was clamouring for a sequel… apart from LaMotta himself.

MGM originally signed a deal with the boxer to turn his 1970s memoirs into ‘Raging Bull’, but LaMotta announced a sequel to the follow-up memoirs in 2012 prompting the studio to file a lawsuit. The film is now in the can, with William Forsythe taking on the lead role that won Robert De Niro an Oscar first time around, but it’s now legally known as ‘The Bronx Bull’ and is in no way to be associated with ‘Raging Bull’. Something tells us there won't be many Oscars handed out this time around.

Creed
More of a spin-off than a direct sequel, ‘Creed’ is set to feature Sylvester Stallone reprising his role as Rocky Balboa, but now he’s the aged trainer and the boxing contender in waiting will be his old adversary Apollo Creed’s grandson.
 
After 2006’s solid but uninspiring sixth Rocky film, 'Rocky Balboa', we’d hoped Stallone would put the aging athlete into a retirement home for good, but with Sly’s history of resurrecting old characters, file this one under I for Inevitable.

The Legend of Conan
Completely ignoring the events of the 1984 sequel ‘Conan the Destroyer’, and the ill-fated 2011 remake, the next film to portray Robert E. Howard’s pulp action hero is looking likely to be ‘The Legend of Conan’ - a direct sequel to the original 1982 film with Arnold Schwarzenegger donning the leather loincloth once again. Not a pleasant image.
 
Just one look at Arnie tells you he’s not the teak-hewn Adonis he once was, but the film is in pre-production anyway and is aiming for a 2014 release, with producer Frank Malmberg describing it as “Conan’s Unforgiven”, we think it’s more “Conan’s Unwanted”.

Beetlejuice 2
With Tim Burton’s classic horror comedy hitting its 25th anniversary this year, rumours of a sequel were inevitable, but now it seems like the afterlife’s leading bio-exorcist may actually return after all.

[Winona Ryder lets slip Beetlejuice 2 news]

Burton has apparently been offered the chance to make the sequel to his 1988 hit by Warner Bros. and both Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder - who played Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz respectively - have both recently confirmed their involvement, whether we want the series to return from the dead or not.

Triplets
Chalk this one up to wishful thinking on Arnie’s behalf, but a follow-up to the 80s mismatch comedy 'Twins', which paired Schwarzenegger with Danny DeVito as unlikely siblings, has been mooted for a long time with… wait for it… Eddie Murphy playing the third sibling.
 
Arnie’s big comeback has lacked a big hit so far, so a return to the film that marked his comedy debut seems like a safe bet for the Governator, but one look at Eddie Murphy's recent track record would suggest otherwise.

Blade Runner 2
Regularly voted one of the greatest movies of all-time, Sir Ridley Scott’s classic 1982 sci-fi thriller 'Blade Runner' is a near-perfect movie, endlessly debated and adored by critics. It’s no surprise then that the British director is keen to return to the future noir world of his Philip K. Dick adaptation, following a string of critical flops.

[Harrison Ford in early talks for Blade Runner 2]

Scott confirmed in 2012 that a sequel is in development and Harrison Ford recently revealed that he has talked with the director about reprising his iconic role as Rick Deckard. They're pals again apparently, after infamously falling out during the original production, but you’d think Ridley had learned his lesson from revisiting old glories with 'Prometheus' – we certainly have.

Bill & Ted 3
A third installment to the time-travelling comedy that made Keanu Reeves’ name has long been rumoured, and Reeves’ inability to physically age means taking on the part of the Californian man-child shouldn’t be too much of a stretch.
 
Alex Winter (Bill, to Keanu’s Ted) is on-board to return (of course) with 'Galaxy Quest' director Dean Parsiot attached to direct and with a script finally coming together, it could be time for the bodacious dudes to take another bogus journey in time. It’s going be like your nan saying amazeballs. Embarrassing.

The King’s Speech 2
Colin Firth won the Best Actor Oscar in 2011 for his portrayal of the stammering Royal in Tom Hooper’s much-lauded 'The King’s Speech', and the film tied up the story neatly with the King announcing the declaration of war in 1939, freed from his speech impediment.
 
A happy ending for all involved… or so it would seem. Colin Firth has reportedly signed on to reprise his award-winning role in a follow up film set during the Blitz. We don’t think it’ll be called The King’s Speech 2: Stutter Harder.

Three Men and a Baby 3
Starring the 'holy trinity' of 80s comedy Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg, the first 'Three Men and a Baby' already spawned a sequel with the baby growing into a little lady, so a third sequel, with the baby reaching her mid-20s isn’t so far-fetched, in the age of the Bank of Mum and (three) Dads.
 
Tom Selleck has recently said he’s up for a threequel and a Disney spokesperson has confirmed its in development, let’s just hope the hapless trio have finally grown up and moved out of their flat share together. It’s just creepy at their age.

Alice in Wonderland 2
Tim Burton’s big-budget 3D retelling of Lewis Carroll was critically derided upon release in 2010, but it was one of the biggest box office hits of the year, and currently the fourteenth highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, so it’s no surprise that a sequel is planned with Johnny Depp set to return as the Mad Hatter.
 
Seeing as Tim Burton’s take was essentially a sequel to the original book, it’s unclear where the plot will go in the next one, but the more crucial questions is… why?

See Johnny Depp and co lay into The Lone Ranger critics below...