We're Dying For Sequels To These Films That We'll Never Get
12/10/2016 03:45 pm EST
TRON: Legacy (2010)
While Tron: Legacy's push at the box office wasn't anything to shrug off, it doesn't look like we'll be returning to The Grid in the near future. After all, Disney unofficially, officially canceled Tron 3 last year.
Regardless, Tron: Legacy was an audiophile's wonderland, pairing fairly stunning 3D animation and a retro feel with the musical interpretation of electronic juggernauts Daft Punk. This Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde-led action flick was basic in its premise, but wide-reaching in its execution.
Though the short-lived Tron: Uprising animated television show gave us a peek into the film franchise's extended universe, we're hoping to return to the live-action game one day. Until then, end of line.
Push (2009)
While not a critical or financially successful film, this anime-inspired take on superpowers was more than enjoyable to sit through. One could excuse the film's handful of flaws when the concepts are just so darn cool.
With a cast like Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning and Djimon Honsou, it'd be hard to go wrong. The film, which follows a group of superpowered individuals looking to take down a dangerous government entity, the film was surprisingly full of heart and littered with twists. The problem? It ends on a cliffhanger, and a pretty big one at that. Hey, if Jumper can (sort of) get a sequel, why not Push?
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
This spy tale was not supposed to be as good as it was. While the creative talent was there, the marketing painted the film as a weird offshoot between The Italian Job and Mission: Impossible, when the real product was a mix of classic spy action (makes sense) and a better Batman v. Superman dynamic. Seriously, Affleck is a great Bruce Wayne and all, but Armie Hammer would have made a fantastic young Batman.
That aside, this movie was a hell of a good time. With Alicia Vikander and Henry Cavill rounding out the film's cast, U.N.C.L.E. slowly introduced us to a wide world of espionage, and with the film's final lines perfectly setting up a sequel or saga, we're left wondering why the talk has flat lined. Oh, probably because it didn't do so hot at the box office.
Real Steel (2009)
Okay, so maybe Real Steel wasn't that great of a movie, but like many other cult classic before it, the world introduced offers a lot of storytelling opportunities. And, you know what? Let's even get Hugh Jackman back in on the action. His character arc in this film is cliché, sure, but between the crazy robot action and redemption tale, there was a lot to love here.
Plus, is too much to ask to have more robot fighting movies? Pacific Rim is great, don't get me wrong, but there's always more room.
[H/T YouTube/Anthony Avitia]
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
But wait, didn't Cloverfield get a sequel? Well, not really. 10 Cloverfield Lane was a surprise spiritual sequel, and only had a tenuous connection at best to the events of the first film. And next year's supposed God Particle film is likely to follow suit, since it was an entirely different movie before slapping the Cloverfield brand upon itself.
But I digress. The original Cloverfield was something special. From the film's augmented reality lead-up to the honest-to-God real feel of the film itself, it opened an entirely new world of monster movies. And despite the fact that all of the original main characters are probably dead, the film's final words about the monster leave us wanting more.
Dredd (2012)
Unfortunately, you can't really consider Dredd a sequel in itself, since it mostly reboots the Sly Stone starring romp, but it's also a hell of a lot better. With its killer visual style, insane action and fairly impressive character performances, Dredd shines as a keystone in hyper-action and intensity in modern film. Karl Urban is a picture-perfect Dredd, not only because of his build, but because of his incredibly accurate costume.
Oh, and the cast is rounded out by Lena Headey, Olivia Thirlby and Wood Harris. Fortunately, we have the comics to turn to. Unfortunately, it's not enough. We want more Dredd.
Ender's Game (2013)
This film adaptation sort of caught us off guard. Its pacing carried like a traditional universe-spanning sci-fi epic, but it tied things off rather oddly at the end in an attempt to, we think, open the door for a franchise. Unfortunately, talks have been dead in the water since the film's lackluster 2013 release.
Honestly, Asa Butterfield continues to impress as one of the top young talents in acting, and even though he won't be Spider-Man, Ender's Game was always a nice option. Oh well.
John Carter (2012)
For those of you that fell asleep while watching this Disney action flick, I'm sorry you missed out. In the same boat as Tron: Legacy, John Carter was a tremendous and costly undertaking for the media juggernaut. Unfortunately, this resulted in it being one of the biggest bombs in modern film.
Cited for its sluggishness, its length and its uninspiring acting, John Carter flopped, but let's be honest, there was potential here. But, the rights for A Princess of Mars are sort of up in the air, so who knows what's next for the franchise?
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Hey, it's Disney again! While we all know most video game adaptations flop, we don't always expect them to be fun watches. Sure, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil and Mortal Kombat were all fun, but none of them seemed to have the franchise staying power that Prince of Persia offered. OK, except for Resident Evil, but that's another story.
This Jake Gyllenhaal-led action movie was loosely-based on the game, and with a Pirates of the Caribbean-esque tone, we were hoping for something more from the forgotten sands. Hey, maybe Assassin's Creed will work out better.
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