With Pitch Perfect 2 grossing $260 million worldwide since its release, Universal Pictures has already put Pitch Perfect 3 into development. Last week, it was reported that Kay Cannon (the screenwriter to penned the first two scripts) was coming back to write the third installment. However, leads Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson weren’t optioned for a third film, which meant that if they were to return, they would need to have new deals inked. Elizabeth Banks is also unconfirmed to return, but seeing as how she was the creative force behind the sequel’s success, there could be an offer made to her soon.

Now we are getting word that Kendrick and Wilson are indeed coming back for Pitch Perfect 3, and that the film has been scheduled for a July 21, 2017 release. More on the story below.

THR was the first to report on the news.

The ending of Pitch Perfect 2 seemed to have paved the way the franchise to be led by Hailee Steinfeld – in fact that is why the studio locked the actress in a deal – but with Kendrick and Wilson making a return, that is very unlikely to happen. Although the film did end with everyone in the Barden Bella’s but Steinfeld’s character graduating from Barden University. So it should be interesting to see where Cannon’s script takes our characters.

Pitch Perfect 3 will now be going head-to-head against an untitled DreamWorks Animation film. They will however be sandwiched in between War of the Planet of the Apes (July 14) and the untitled live-action Spider-Man film (July 28).

There’s no word yet on if Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, and Adam Devine are returning as well, but there should be some offers being made to the supporting cast. Though Astin has expressed some interest in being in a third, especially since his story arc was cut from Pitch Perfect 2.

[Source: THR]