By December, 4,667 sequels will have been released in the last 12 months. Okay so that stat is kind of fudged but you get what we're saying. Sequels are everywhere, even more than ever before.
And while the classic reaction, especially in front of your cooler friends, is to sigh and bemoan the lack of creativity in Hollywood, it's not all facepalm news. We've gone through the many, many, many sequels on the cards and picked out the eight which actually deserve a considerable amount of your excitement.
HERE ARE 30 SEQUELS YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED
(Images: All Star)
The Avengers: Age of Ultron
Returning cast members: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L Jackson
What we know: While The Avengers impressed back in 2012, this summer's Guardians of the Galaxy raised the bar around tenfold for what we can expect from a Marvel blockbuster, which means all eyes are on this one. The sequel focuses on Ultron, a self-aware robot that becomes intent om eradicating humanity. With the cast and creative team all returning, and with new cast members, including James Spader and Elizabeth Olsen onboard, hopes are high.
Release date: April 24 2015
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Jurassic World
Returning cast members: BD Wong
What we know: Part of the thrill of watching Jurassic Park for the first time was marvelling at the groundbreaking special effects. By the time the second, and then third, films came around, the magic had worn off somewhat. But with the advances in technology since the last film in 2001, a cast spearheaded by new blockbuster king Chris Pratt and a novel spin (involving a new theme park and strange genetic testing), this could be the dino sequel we've been waiting for.
Release date: June 12 2015
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Star Wars Episode VII
Returning cast members: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker
What we know: After George Lucas took the franchise in an, ahem, interesting direction with the prequels, control of the new trilogy has been handed to JJ Abrams, who successfully relaunched Star Trek as well as creating Lost. The old cast are being joined by a talented set of newbies, including Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis and John Boyega, and while the plot is being kept under wraps, we know that the first film will take place 30 years after Return of the Jedi and that Darth Vader might be making a comeback...
Release date: December 18 2015
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Finding Dory
Returning cast members: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe
What we know: While Pixar sequels can be hit (Toy Story 3) and miss (Cars 2), we've high hopes for this one, given the long gestation period and the return of director Andrew Stanton and the two leads. The plot, in case you hadn't guessed, will revolve around Dory, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, and the search to have her reunited with her family, a year after the first film. We also know that the ending was tweaked after anti-SeaWorld doc Blackfish was released. Which can only be a good thing.
Release date: July 29 2016
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Bond 24
Returning cast members: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear
What we know: While Skyfall director Sam Mendes originally stated he wasn't going to return, he's thankfully changed his mind and he's retaining most of the same creative team that made that film such a rousing success. The rumour mill suggests that the script is undergoing a rewrite to bump up the action quota while a car chase in Rome is allegedly a key setpiece. Oh and Penelope Cruz might be our new Bond girl...
Release date: October 23 2015
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Alan Partridge 2
Returning cast members: Steve Coogan
What we know: Not a lot. After the genuinely funny Alpha Papa was a box office hit, it was revealed that a follow-up was on the cards. Henry Normal, co-founder of Baby Cow, Steve Coogan's production company, has stated that it "will be great", of which we have no doubt. Alpha Papa made an impressive £6 million at the UK box office off a £4 million budget which suggests that the sports jacket budget may receive a hefty increase for the sequel.
Release date: TBC
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Ghostbusters 3
Returning cast members: TBC
What we know: After many false starts, it seems as if this one is finally back on track, with news this week that Bridesmaids director Paul Feig is being tapped to reboot the franchise, a mere 25 years after Ghostbusters II. While details are being kept under wraps, the big reveal is that the supernatural investigators will be played by women this time around, which has obviously sent Twitter into a frenzy. We're putting our money on Melissa McCarthy.
Release date: TBC
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The Raid 3
Returning cast members: TBC
What we know: Firstly, don't hold your breath. Director Gareth Evans has already stated that he wants to take some time off from martial arts movies so this won't be out for a couple more years. He has already confirmed that the plot will kick off during the last few hours of the events of The Raid 2 and then veer off in a different direction, which means that star Iko Uwais might not be as central to the film. The one thing that we can definitely expect is a lot of extremely good fighting...
Release date: TBC
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