Universal has announced plans for a sequel to last year’s collegiate comedy, Neighbors, which starred Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as newlyweds whose move to a new abode is disrupted by the arrival of a noisy fraternity house next door. It’s unsurprising news, given that the first outing – made on a paltry budget of $18 million – netted a colossal $268 million worldwide. Per THR, Neighbors 2 will reunite Rogen, Byrne, frat leader Zac Efron and director Nicholas Stoller for this second outing.
Original scribes Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien are currently at work on the follow-up, which is described as having “a female twist.” Will Byrne take center stage? Seemingly not if the brief synopsis snippet is anything to go by: “This time a sorority moves in next door to the couple, who enlist their former nemeses from the fraternity to help battle the raucous sisters.”
As sequel ideas go, it’s standard fare. Using a story which doesn’t stray too far from the formula established in the original will likely guarantee an equally impressive box office haul. Plus, with all three leads eager for a return to those scheming antics, there might be a chance that this sequel won’t flounder like countless other comedy reprisals.
Rogen, and his The Interview co-producers Evan Goldberg and James Weaver will produce through Point Grey Pictures. Good Universe, who produced the first outing, is also returning in the same capacity here. Screenwriters Cohen and O’Brien are on board as executive producers as well, alongside Good Universe’s Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake.
Neighbors 2 will arrive in theaters on May 13th, 2016.