- Hollywood's new appetite for late-night sequels
Hollywood is riding a wave of nostalgia - and looking way back. 28 years after "Twister", the sequel "Twisters" is now sweeping through theaters. "Gladiator 2" is coming to cinemas in November - after a 24-year hiatus. "Beetlejuice" fans had to wait 36 years for the sequel to the horror comedy, but "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is set to premiere in September.
Last year, the cinematic landscape looked very different. New material like the satirical "Barbie" and the drama "Oppenheimer" about the co-inventor of the atomic bomb were in the spotlight. The term "Barbenheimer" made headlines in July when the opposing films were released on the same day, causing a social media frenzy and box office records.
However, originality is often scarce in the summer movie season. The major Hollywood studios prefer to play it safe with remakes and sequels of proven material - currently from ancient history.
"Twisters"
The disaster film "Twisters" has grossed around $240 million worldwide since its mid-July release, far exceeding expectations. Daisy Edgar-Jones, who was not even born when Helen Hunt chased tornadoes in "Twister" (1996), now takes on the role of a young scientist and storm chaser alongside Glen Powell, whose character doesn't shy away from danger. New cast, new technology, but "Minari" director Lee Isaac Chung is going for an old-school vibe.
"Gladiator 2"
In the original "Gladiator" (2000), Russell Crowe played the celebrated gladiator Maximus, who kills his treacherous rival, the emperor's son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), in a duel and dies at the end. Director Ridley Scott (86) was long deterred from a sequel by the hero's death - but now the story continues with Lucius Verus, a nephew of Commodus, 24 years later.
For "Gladiator 2" (releasing in November), Scott has reportedly staged the largest action scene of his career using modern computer technology and AI. A trailer featuring spectacular fight scenes in the Roman Colosseum, with rhinoceros and naval battles, is heating up anticipation for the epic film starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal.
"Freaky Friday" sequel - "much freakier"
Actress Lindsay Lohan (38) and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis (65) are reuniting for "Freaky Friday 2". Fans will have to wait until 2025. In the 2003 Disney comedy, Curtis played psychologist Tess Coleman who constantly argues with her teenage daughter Anna (Lohan). After eating magical fortune cookies, they swap bodies and must navigate each other's lives. Lohan joked in a TV interview that the sequel will be "much freakier than you'd expect". Now a mother herself, Lohan's role is still under wraps.
"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" after 36 years
The red carpet is ready for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice": Tim Burton's star-studded sequel to the legendary 1988 "Beetlejuice" horror comedy will have its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival at the end of August.
Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton are 36 years older but unstoppable. Keaton (72) raved about the fun of improvising and inventing things on set at the start of filming, saying he hadn't had that much fun at work in a long time.
Keaton Returns as the Wild-Haired Poltergeist in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"
Keaton is reprising his role as the mischievous, green-haired poltergeist in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," much to the dismay of Lydia Deetz (Ryder). He's back to haunt her life once again.
In the original film, Ryder played the young Lydia who moves into a house with her parents, only to find out that the previous residents died in a car accident. New additions to the cast include Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, and Justin Theroux.
Hollywood's Future Nostalgia: From "Shrek 5" to "Sister Act 3"
Hollywood is also looking back to the past for future projects. Dreamworks announced "Shrek 5" for 2026, following the 2010 animated film "Shrek Forever After." Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy are set to reprise their roles in the English version.
Whoopi Goldberg has been advocating for "Sister Act 3" for years, and she recently revealed in a June "ET" interview that it's finally happening.
"Sister Act - A Holy Musical" was released in 1992, followed by "Sister Act 2 - Back in the Habit" in 1993. A sequel to the 2006 hit "The Devil Wears Prada" is also in the works at Disney, though details are scarce.
"Hocus Pocus 3" is also planned, following the 2022 Disney+ sequel "Hocus Pocus 2."
Back to the Desert with "Priscilla"
It's not just Hollywood that's on a nostalgia kick. Australian director Stephan Elliott is planning a sequel to his 1994 LGBT cult classic "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." The original film followed two drag queens and a transgender woman traveling through the Australian outback in a bus named Priscilla. Elliott has confirmed that the original cast, including Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, and Terence Stamp, will return. He aims to start filming later this year.
Tom Cruise Proves Fans Love Sequels with "Top Gun: Maverick"
Tom Cruise demonstrated the enduring appeal of old properties with "Top Gun: Maverick." Thirty-six years after the original "Top Gun," Cruise returned as the daring pilot Pete Mitchell, aka Maverick, to train a new group for a dangerous mission. The action blockbuster was nominated for six Oscars and grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, becoming Cruise's highest-grossing film to date.
The European Union has expressed concern over the trend of Hollywood producing sequels and remakes, citing the lack of original content as a concern for the cinematic landscape. This comes as Hollywood studios continue to profit from blockbusters like "Gladiator 2", which is set to release in November, 24 years after the original.
The success of the EU-funded European Film Fund and initiatives like the Creative Europe Program are seen as key in promoting original content and supporting European filmmakers in creating diverse and unique stories, providing an alternative to the Hollywood sequel wave.
