There’s the saying that, in Hollywood, no-one knows anything. It was originally coined by the screenwriter William Goldman in his seminal book on the industry, Adventures in the Screen Trade. Goldman wasn’t exactly saying that all those studio execs who green-light films are idiots, more that there’s no way of knowing what will be a hit. The cynic would say this is why so many sequels get made, often with diminishing returns as the original idea gradually gets watered down. For a prime example, you only have to look to The Godfather Part III, a mere shadow of Coppola masterpiece that was Part I.
That said, there are a number of films that are crying out for the next chapter in the story, here are three that would surely be very well received.
Back to the Future
It’s hard to believe that it’s now 35 years since the world was first introduced to the time-traveling Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and town bully Biff Tannen. But there are plenty of people that believe this could be the perfect moment for another bout of time travel. Considering the technological, cultural, and scientific changes that have taken since the last film was released in the 1990s, the possibilities for the plot are fascinating.
Admittedly, the aging cast, not to mention Michael J. Fox’s health issues, might mean that there’s a need for some new stars. But the comedy material would be even richer than it’s ever been – and it would give a whole new generation the chance to discover the DeLorean car for themselves.
Ocean’s 13
Like BTTF, a great deal has changed since Ocean’s 13. For example, since the third in the Clooney, Pitt, and Damon series, we’ve had Ocean’s 8, which featured the predominantly female cast led by Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway. Another significant change is the technology behind films, the increasing use of CGI makes virtually anything possible, from the gadgets used in the film, to the general SFX and edits.
Of course, the most notable change was the leaving behind of the ‘casino heist’ plot, though we can only wonder what the adapted version of this would look like today. As the film industry has evolved, so has the world of casinos and the casino industry.
Although however advanced either get, traditional aesthetics still remain, as we saw in the classic jewelry heist plot in Ocean’s 8. Furthermore, we can also see this evolution on online casino review sites like this one, which offers deals on numerous casino sites and titles, from the classic to the newest releases. So, with the popularity of the online industry growing, we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some of Hollywood’s most iconic A-listers planning to commit the perfect virtual crime. We’ve no doubt it would make for an interesting new angle on a much-loved classic.
Wayne’s World
The reboot of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure was fairly warmly received when it was released this year, a full three decades after the original crashed onto our screens. So it seems only logical that the potential third in the Wayne’s World series could strike the same kinds of chords with viewers. After all, audiences love an underdog, so Wayne and Garth would surely be welcomed back to our screens for another hilarious misadventure.
There’s no denying that Mike Myers’ career has been distinctly low key in the last few years, so this could be the perfect way to resurrect it. Then, if we’re very lucky, we may also be treated to another dose of nostalgia in the form of a fourth Austin Powers movie – and that certainly would be pretty groovy for us all.
So let’s hope at least one of these goes into production sometime soon – and helps a studio exec or two see the box-office receipts start rolling in.
Originally published October 30, 2020. Updated November 3, 2020.
