Zootopia 2 is released in cinemas today and with fellow November releases Now You See Me 3 and Wicked 2, the successful release of sequels show no sign of slowing down. Earlier in November we took a look at upcoming sequels to add to your watch list. In a sequel to that article (see what we did there), we now take a look at some follow up films that are in development. Differing from our previous list where the films are confirmed, “in development” means that the project is in its initial stages with the ideas still being fleshed out and decisions like financing, casting and final screenplay drafts needing to be confirmed. While a film being in development can be exciting, many issues can arise which slows progress and can even leave a project in “development hell” meaning that is stalled for an extremely long time, at times over a decade, which can sometimes lead to the movie being abandoned all together. However, development hell isn’t the end as many films like Deadpool, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Barbie, and have made it out and gone on to be very successful. And lots of films skip development hell all together providing a quick sequel turnaround time for audiences. Here we list our 10 most anticipated in development sequels and the latest updates on them.

1. The Goonies 2

Released 40 years ago, fans of The Goonies have been waiting a long time for a sequel. There have been rumours of a sequel for decades but earlier this year it was officially confirmed as in development by Warner Bros. In February, it was announced that Stephen Spielberg would return to produce and that Potsy Ponciroli would write the script. Casting hasn’t been announced yet but several of the original cast have expressed interest in returning and with the popularity of recent Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan, Marvel darling Josh Brolin, and fan favourite Sean Astin, it seems like a no brainer to see them reunite. In an exciting update, Ponciroli announced in August that he had turned in a well received first draft of the script and was 95% done with a second draft. While there may be a bit of wait for the sequel to be released, remember …Goonies Never Say Die.

2. The Princess Diaries 3

Switching up genres, but still indulging in nostalgia is a third instalment of The Princess Diaries. Fans of the franchise have been hoping for this for years but chatter really amped up in 2022 when Disney signed on. Both Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews have confirmed they want to return with other cast members like Heather Matarazzo, Chris Pine and Mandy Moore also expressing interest. Joy Ride’s Adele Lim has been confirmed to direct and in a recent August update she posted a casting call for the role of Olivia who is a character that features in the 11th book giving audiences a potential insight into the plot of the film.

3. Hocus Pocus 3

Another Disney third instalment in the works is Hocus Pocus 3. With the success of the second film back in 2022, it makes sense for Disney to deliver a follow up to eager audiences. While plot and casting hasn’t been announced, it is expected that Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker will return as the Sanderson sisters. We’d love to see some cast from the original movie return as we felt their absence in the second movie. They definitely seem to be willing with Thora Birch being “super open” to coming back. Bette Midler gave fans an exciting update just in time for Halloween this year when she confirmed in October that she had seen a script for the movie, calling it brilliant. There was almost a 30 year gap between the first and second movies. Here’s hoping audiences won’t have to wait that long for the third.

4. National Treasure 3

Continuing with Disney sequels, National Treasure 3 has been anticipated since National Treasure 2 teased audiences with the page 47 cliffhanger back in 2007. One of the films that definitely falls into the “development hell” category, there has been little progress in making the movie a reality, and fans had all but given up hope. However, in 2022 the franchise switched gears by releasing a television series called National Treasure: Edge of History. Unfortunately, the show only lasted for one season. Fortunately, it renewed discussions about a third film. In 2024, lead actor Nicholas Cage expressed skepticism about whether the movie would be made but later that year screenwriter Ted Elliot announced he had completed a first draft of the script and and in a recent interview producer Jerry Bruckheimer stated that they were “getting closer”. All things considered, we think cautious optimism is the way to go with this one.

5. The Mummy 4

An action adventure sequel fans can be more optimistic about is the latest instalment in The Mummy franchise. Beloved by audiences around the world, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz’s on screen partnership in the original two movies made for iconic cinema. However things took a downturn when Weisz didn’t return for the third film and then Universal rebooted the series without Fraser for a critically panned and box office failure sequel. Now, with a resurgence in Fraser’s career and nostalgia at an all time high, it’s been recently announced that both Fraser and Weisz are in talks to return for The Mummy 4. No plot details have been released but Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, who are credited with revitalising the Scream franchise are set to direct so the project is in good hands. Universal Pictures have declined to comment which makes us a bit nervous but the positive reaction and publicity from the possibility of a fourth movies makes it a smart decision for the studio to invest in.

6. Bend It Like Beckham 2

Another recent announcement is the confirmation that a sequel to Bend It Like Beckham is in the works. A quintessentially British feel good film, the original movie was released over 20 years ago and was credited with inspiring many young women to start playing football as well as launching stars Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. This year, in July, director and writer of the first film, Gurinder Chadha, announced the sequel hoping for a 2027 release to both mark the movie’s 25th anniversary and FIFA Women’s World Cup. She is eager to reunite the original cast as well as have cameos from members of the England squad. Bend It Like Beckham 2 isn’t a sequel we would’ve predicted but we’re thrilled about the possibility of a follow up.

7. Legally Blonde 3

A fellow feel good film, Legally Blonde and its sequel still has a legion of loyal fans today. Its fashions, positive message, and memorable quotes has cemented its position in cinema history which makes it easy to see why audiences have been begging for a third instalment for so long. Reese Witherspoon has said she wants to return as the iconic Elle Woods with other cast members like Jennifer Coolidge and Luke Wilson following suit. In 2020, comedy powerhouses Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor were confirmed to be writing the script but since then nothing has materialised. It seems as if the franchise might be going in a different direction with a prequel television series titled Elle in the works. However, much like National Treasure, perhaps the tv show will renew interest in the film and speed up the process. We’ve got our fingers crossed.

8. Kingsman: The Blue Blood

Similar to Legally Blonde 3, the fourth and final instalment in the Kingsman series seems to be stuck in development hell. After a successful second movie, the Kingsman franchise looked to be moving full steam ahead but instead of releasing a follow up, the studio pivoted to a prequel which was a box office disappointment. Since then there have been no real updates. However, all hope is not lost, director Matthew Vaughn and star Taron Egerton have expressed that they are still eager to do the project but are waiting for the right script and timing. While fans may have to wait a while for final chapter of Kingsman, we’re sure it’ll be worth the anticipation.

9. Shang-Chi 2

Another film that audiences will have to wait a while for is the sequel to Shang-Chi. The first movie was released in 2021 and since then fans have been eager for a follow up. However, Marvel’s decision to prioritise Spider-Man 4 means that director Destin Daniel Cretton hasn’t been able to focus on Shang-Chi further delaying the release. Worry began to set in that the sequel was dead in the water. However, in October, it was confirmed that Cretton had already done a lot of work for Shang-Chi and lead star Simu Liu confirmed that the film was still on albeit after the next Avengers movies. The Avengers movies are set for 2026 and 2027 releases so Shang-Chi could be in cinemas for 2028. However, fans won’t have to wait that long to see the character as Liu is confirmed to be reprising his role in the upcoming Avengers movies.

10. KPop Demon Hunters 2

Probably the safest bet on this list is the sequel to the critically acclaimed and widely successful KPop Demon Hunters. Following the first film’s release, it was reported that Netflix was considering not only sequels but short films, a television show, and a musical. This month, it was confirmed that the sequel was officially in development with Maggie Kang returning to write and direct. Fans will have to wait a while though as the film is set to be released in 2029.