While Hollywood seems to live off sequels and reboots alone, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to start a franchise. Many films that are pretty much begging for a continuation are often tossed aside due to a lackluster box office. While a loud fan base can occasionally get the ball rolling on a project, those instances are few and far between. Let’s break down several flicks that have garnered loyal followings and deserve further exploration.
Constantine
Keanu Reeves has not been quiet about his desire to get a second shot at playing John Constantine. From talk shows to interviews, he has brought up his attempts to breathe life into a second film, yet nothing has come to fruition. This is a wonderful example of just how hard it is to get a movie made in Hollywood. Even an actor of Reeves’ caliber and box office draw still faces a brick wall when trying to get a passion project off the ground.
The original 2005 movie was based off of Alan Moore's creation of a cynical exorcist, far from the likes of priests and incense. Along with Reeves, the cast was rounded out by stellar actors like Rachel Weisz, Peter Stormare and Tilda Swinton. Despite the name recognition, solid source material and solid box office numbers, the feature still faced poor reviews. Over the years, though, Constatine has become many’s guilty pleasure, and a sequel would certainly do well. It would be perfectly plausible to merge the original iteration into the current DCEU or allow the creative team to revamp the character for a new era.
The Nice Guys
After Iron Man 3, writer and director Shane Black had the power to make any film he wanted. He chose to make one of the most criminally underrated movies of the past 20 years. Black, known for his buddy comedies, takes this well-trodden medium and takes it to the next level in The Nice Guys.
What makes this film really shine is watching March and Healy’s budding friendship. When the film ends, all fans want is to watch another two hours of these friends solving crimes. Still, audiences have yet to see more of the duo's misadventures in a continuation of the series. If given the chance, this film could have become a Lethal Weapon for a new generation.
Alita: Battle Angel
Most blockbusters that attempt to become a franchise in their first film often shoot themselves in the foot. It could be argued Hollywood’s adaptation of the Japanese animation Alita would be a solid example. However, fans of the source material and those intrigued by the world found themselves having faith in the potential of the series. Between some breathtaking visuals and a breakout performance from Rose Salazar, there is a lot of room for growth.
Prior to 20th Century Fox’s merger with Disney, there were plans for several more films to follow the 2019 release. There has yet to be an official announcement regarding a follow-up, with star Christoph Waltz and director Robert Rodriguez saying they have yet to hear anything. The Book of Boba Fett director went as far to say he wants to see how that project is received before pitching a follow-up. That being said, it is always possible for Disney to say it’s been too long and that interest has died.
Sky High
The 2005 Disney film was ahead of the curve with its comedic take on a superhero's life. Trying to get through high school is hard enough, but when everyone has superpowers, it's even harder. Due to a busy box office weekend, Sky High didn't get off to a strong start. But as the movie went to home release, the film slowly gained a loyal following of fans. In 2019, director Mike Mitchell gave insight into the unmade sequel and TV series Disney originally planned for the project.
Both a college movie called Save U and a television show with the main cast returning, minus Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston, were going to continue the series. Sadly, Disney felt that the box office didn't warrant the continuation. Seventeen years later, with Disney+ and a slew of superhero content, a Sky High series would perfectly fit into its slate. Also, what fan would turn down Cousin Greg teaching chemistry?
The Incredible Hulk
While Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many forget The Incredible Hulk is technically the first installment in the franchise. This film often gets a bad rap for being bland in comparison to the other Phase One films. Yet, it set up some important aspects of the MCU like SHEILD and Thunderbolt Ross.
Despite Mark Ruffalo being the definitive Bruce Banner for years now, there has been hardly any talk of the actor getting his own solo film. Audiences last saw Banner in Shang-Chi’s post-credit scene. In it, Banner had undergone a big transition than when fans last saw him in Avengers: Endgame. A film exploring the emotional journey of Banner as he comes to terms with his inner demons would be a beautiful character study for the Oscar nominee. It would give audiences a fresh perspective by exploring the quieter side of the Earth’s angriest hero as he comes to terms with his duality.