Pitch Perfect 3 Finds New Director

Filmmaker Trish Sie is on the verge of closing a deal to direct Pitch Perfect 3 at Universal, stepping into the director’s chair left vacant by series stalwart Elizabeth Banks.

Banks, who will still produce and star in the 2017 sequel, stepped down from helming the third installment earlier this year citing both parental duties and a stacked schedule. Such a change of heart forced Universal to postpone Pitch Perfect 3 by a full six months, bumping the planned reunion of the Barden Bellas from July 21 to December 22, 2017. If the studio is able to finalize a deal with Sie, though, we understand production will remain on track from here on out.

As for Sie, the director is still a relative newcomer to Hollywood movies with only dance sequel Step Up All In under her belt. What she does possess, however, is a knack for choreography, having assisted in the creation of Ok Go’s brilliant music video for “Upside Down & Inside Out,” which was shot in zero gravity.

Despite a staggered start, Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson are all on board to return as key members of the Barden Bellas in late 2017. Pitch Perfect 3 will feature a script penned by Kay Cannon, and Universal will no doubt be gunning to emulate Pitch Perfect 2‘s international haul of $285 million late next year.

Pitch Perfect 3 will reunite the Barden Bellas for another crack at the big time when Universal’s musical sequel storms into theaters on December 22, 2017.