Hollywood loves to make a franchise. Any time something hits big, they flog that horse long after she’s dead. So now The Rugged takes the opportunity to look into its film crystal ball at some of the rumored franchises on the horizon. We dare to ask the question, Will They or Won’t They? Here are 10 Movie Franchises (Maybe) Coming to a Theater Near You.
1. Robocop
Little disturbed by this one. The first was such a classic that a “reboot” treatment (or the more detestable “reimagining”) sounds like sacrilege. Add to the mix that director Jose Padilha is a relative unknown, whose only “claim to fame,” if it can be called that, are the Elite Squad movies. (Yeah, I know.) On a positive note, Michael Fassbender is a frontrunner for the role.
Will they or won’t they? With a 2013 date, Fassbender’s excitement, and another 80s classic that was box office gold now open for being remade, we’ve got to think this movie will happen. Expect more concrete details before the end of the year.
2. Indiana Jones 5
Given how the flaming bag of dog crap Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull turned out, I don’t ever want to see my favorite archaeologist-adventurer in a new movie ever again, at least until George Lucas has nothing to do with it, which will never happen. His fingerprints were all over that last one, even if it did say Spielberg directed. No, thank you to part five.
Will they or won’t they? I believe they would if it wasn’t for the fact that the last one was so poorly received by fans, and the fact that Harrison Ford may not live to see another birthday judging from his current looks. Far more likely would be for several years to pass, and then an Indiana Jones reboot to occur. Either way, if Lucas is involved, it will suck.
3. A Good Day to Die Hard
Total shock that Live Free or Die Hard turned out as good as it did. I suppose I could go for one more of these. The series, of course, centers on John McClane, a New York cop with a knack for stumbling in to life-or-death situations. A new film would team McClane with his son fighting against baddies in Russia.
Will they or won’t they? Series star Bruce Willis is on board, and Captain Picard himself (Patrick Stewart) is rumored. With a 2013 release date tentatively set, this one is likely.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2
The remake was dark, gritty and fun, and it had a lot better ending than the original did. Add a strong cast to the mix, and the most fun, free-spirited movie monster in the history of horror films, and how could you go wrong?
Will they or won’t they? Very good choice to replace Robert Englund in the reboot of these films, but the box office success was only moderate. Nevertheless, as long as you keep the budget low, this one is a pretty safe bet for success, and Hollywood loves safe bets. Tentative release date is 2012, so we think “likely,” though we’re expecting a release date more along the lines of 2013.
5. Ghostbusters III
An impressive cast list has been built up for Ghostbusters III, including Anna Faris, Eliza Dushku, Alyssa Milano, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, and David Margulies. Conspicuously absent from the list so far: Bill Murray.
Will they or won’t they? Murray reportedly sent a shredded up copy of the script to Ramis and Aykroyd with a note questioning the commercial viability of the film. The behavior would go in keeping with Murray’s past antics, but keep in mind the National Enquirer “broke” that story. Regardless of Murray’s status, we think Ramis and Aykroyd will be making a big push for this film in 2013 to go with the “3” motif. If that doesn’t happen, then there is always the 30th anniversary, which would be 2014. The next two years are make or break. If it doesn’t happen by then, it never will.
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
These are exactly what the title says they are. It’s been done in the live-action sense a few times before. Those movies weren’t great, but they didn’t kill the characters’ commercial potential.
Will they or won’t they? As of December 2011, this one was a go. In fact, the Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol scribes have signed up for the task. No cast yet, but with 2014 the target date, there is still plenty of time.
7. Kill Bill Vol. 3
Tarantino wants to revisit his epic exploitation film where the Viveca Fox character’s daughter comes after The Bride (Uma Thurman) for what she did to Mommy in volume one.
Will they or won’t they? Quentin Tarantino is a fabulous director, and if he wants to do this, I’m all for it. I will take that journey. But the projected release date is 2014, Django Unchained comes out this year, and I just don’t see him getting back to work so soon. Besides, he’s got a million ideas that pass through his brain every day. No way he lives long enough to complete them all. Thinking Kill Bill Vol. 3 will be a casualty for lack of time.
8. Mad Max: Fury Road
A return to the Mad Max character in post-apocalyptic Australia. Tom Hardy has agreed to star. Original director driving the project. All for this.
Will they or won’t they? Charlize Theron, Richard Norton, and Zoe Kravitz are signed up to director George Miller’s passion project, but funding has been hard to come by. Hopefully, he’ll figure it out before he loses commitments. Shooting is set to begin March 2012, so we’ll go ahead and give this one an enthusiastic “likely.”
9. Terminator 5
Terminator 1 and 2 are classics. Terminator 3 was seriously screwing around with us never wanting to see another one. Part four (“Salvation”) would have been a lot better had they actually grew some balls with the ending.
Will they or won’t they? Terminator: Salvation was certainly not the pile of crap I expected it to be. While I’d be more than happy to take another trip into the future to war with the robots, this one didn’t exactly do gangbusters at the box office. Plus director Justin Lin pulled out in September of last year. For now? Not any time soon. Could see a desperate Arnold returning to the franchise, though, in which case it would be back on instantly.
10. Deadpool
Wade Wilson (aka Deadpool) is not one of the more popular comic book characters, and Reynolds has not been able to carry a blockbuster ever. He’s a likable actor and far more talented than he gets credit for, but facts are facts.
Will they or won’t they? Reynolds may not have the ability to get a Deadpool movie made after his showing as the Green Lantern. The release date is tentatively set for 2014, but with Iron Man 3, Captain America 2, and this Avengers thing in the works, we don’t think this movie is getting made any time soon.
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