If you were wondering what that sound is, it’s the deafening collective squeal of theater kids everywhere, as the news hits that Pitch Perfect is getting a sequel. Universal has announced that 30 Rock‘s Elizabeth Banks will make her feature directorial debut on Pitch Perfect 2: That’s 2 Pitchy, Dog (not actual title).
Elizabeth Banks will make her feature directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, the sequel to Universal and Gold Circle’s hit 2012 musical comedy. Banks, who also co-starred in and produced the original, is returning in the same capacity to the sequel. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, who also starred in the original, are likely to return, according to insiders. [THR]
Banks last dipped a toe in the directing pool with a segment of Movie 43. Which is something she’ll probably want to downplay.
“Elizabeth originated the idea for ‘Pitch Perfect’ and was instrumental in making the first film such a huge success,” said Universal’s Donna Langley. “She brings an enormous amount of energy and experience to everything she works on and we’re thrilled that she is making her feature directorial debut on ‘Pitch Perfect 2.’”
“Pitch Perfect” grossed more than $115 million worldwide on a $17 million budget and was one of the top-performing DVD & VOD titles of 2013. The soundtrack recently went platinum with over 1 million units sold, making it the 18th bestselling soundtrack of all-time, as well as the bestselling soundtrack in digital history. [TheWrap]
I was only tangentially a theater kid and I never joined an a capella group, so I could never love Pitch Perfect the way someone who spent their adolescence saying “unique New York” into a lit mirror could. I enjoyed Rebel Wilson, and of course fell head over heels for punky rebellious Anna Kendrick (marry me?), and Adam Devine as the leader of the Alpha Beta of a capella groups was genius. But I couldn’t fully get behind a film that portrayed mashing two songs together as the pinnacle of musical achievement.
Fun Fact: Rebel Wilson has sisters named “Liberty,” “Ryot,” and “Annachi.”