Despite what has been said about the delay or possible cancellation of Pacific Rim 2, director Guillermo del Toro said that they were going to turn in a screenplay and a budget within a few weeks. A small sign of optimism to say the least, but given the current relationship between Legendary and Universal, things weren’t looking good for the mecha vs kajiu sequel. And now the most recent reports are confirming some of our worst fears.

Universal will be pulling Pacific Rim 2 from its release date of August 4, 2017, and will be replacing it with Pitch Perfect 3. More on the story below.

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.

A $69 million dollar weekend opening for a music comedy sequel is rare, but it happened to Pitch Perfect 2, and with the film already grossing over $250 million worldwide, Universal Pictures has already decided that we need to be pitch slapped once more. The studio has announced that there will be a Pitch Perfect 3, with Kay Cannon – screenwriter of the first two movies – in talks to return to write the script for the third.

Rich Moore who directed the first Pitch Perfect film did not return to direct its sequel. He was replaced by Elizabeth Banks, who also served as a producer on the first film. It is unclear if she will return to direct Pitch Perfect 3.

Pitch Perfect 2
Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Written by: Kay Cannon
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Katey Sagal, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Flula Borg, Hana Mae Lee, Skylar Astin, Adam Devine, Chrissie Fit, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, John Michael Higgins
Universal Pictures
Rated PG-13 | 115 Minutes
Release date: May 15, 2015

Pitch Perfect was the unexpected hit of 2012. The film took the world by storm with its hilarious collegiate a cappella groups covering of foot-tapping chart topping top 40s songs, witty humor, and its simple yet sweet underdog story. It was rather easy at the time to write the film off based on those things alone, but because it was just so much fun to watch, the Pitch Perfect became one of the top box office grossing films. Three years later, we are now getting a sequel that was expected to be an exciting follow-up to the original. Unfortunately, it falls short of that. Still, Pitch Perfect 2 is every bit as cheery as its predecessor, it just doesn’t know how to express itself like the original film.

Here Elizabeth Banks makes her directorial debut after having produced the first one. Using a script from Kay Cannon (who also returns), the sequel makes a few changes, with some of the original characters looking towards a future beyond collegiate a cappella singing, while others are just stepping foot into it.

Pitch Perfect has become a cultural phenomenon. It has been three years since the surprise hit took the world by storm, with fans singing Cups and adding the “aca” prefix to almost every word imaginable. Now we have a sequel. Making her directorial debut is Elizabeth Banks, who was a producer and champion of the first film. In Pitch Perfect 2, the Barden Bellas have to perform against the world’s number one a cappella group, Das Sound Machine, at the World Championships in Copenhagen.

Banks, along with producers Max Handelman and Paul Brooks, talked about the sequel, selecting the right songs to fit in with the themes and narrative – secret songs that will only appear on the DVD, the awesome fans, and much more.