In a turn of events that can only be described as aca-obvious, Universal has firmed up plans for Pitch Perfect 3 by setting the new installment for release on July 21, 2017.
It was previously revealed that scribe Kay Cannon was returning to pen the threequel, and now it’s confirmed that she’s not the only familiar franchise player in the mix. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson have both signed on to star as Beca Mitchell and Fat Amy (respectively) in the new entry, maintaining their status as the main faces of the series.
This was not a sure thing, due to the fact that (PITCH PERFECT 2 SPOILER) Kendrick and Wilson’s characters graduated college at the end of the second installment, leaving new Bella recruit Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) to recruit a new generation of a cappella performers. How they’ll be involved this time is being kept under wraps. (END SPOILER)
[zerg]Universal has not confirmed any other returning cast members yet, but it’s expected that Steinfeld, who had sequel language in her contract, will reprise the role of Emily. With Kendrick and Wilson back, it’s likely that other key characters – played by the likes of Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Chrissie Fit, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Adam DeVine, John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks – will also be courted to return.
Banks is back as a producer, but it’s uncertain whether she’ll return as a director on Pitch Perfect 3 after making her helming debut on the most recent installment. The runaway success of Pitch Perfect 2 likely means a bunch of offers are crowding her desk, and she’s already in talks to direct YA fantasy Red Queen for Universal, so she may be too busy to commit to another round with the Bellas before 2017.
Regardless, Pitch Perfect 3 is a priority for Universal, so we’ll likely hear one way or another about Banks getting tapped for the director’s chair again within the next few weeks.
