12 Movie Sequels That Almost Happened (But Didn’t for Shocking Reasons)
Some sequels seem like a sure thing, but Hollywood has a habit of pulling the plug at the last minute.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Some sequels were so close to happening that scripts were written and actors were ready to go. Studio drama, creative clashes, and unexpected roadblocks kept them from ever hitting theaters. A few could have been game-changers, while others might have been disasters.
1. Spider-Man 4 (Sam Raimi’s Version)
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Tobey Maguire was set to return as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s fourth installment, but creative struggles led to its cancellation. Villains like Vulture and Black Cat were rumored to appear, with John Malkovich even in talks to play Vulture. Instead, Sony rebooted the franchise with Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man.
2. The Amazing Spider-Man 3
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Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man was supposed to get a third film, expanding the Sinister Six storyline. However, after disappointing box office results and behind-the-scenes shakeups, Sony scrapped it to collaborate with Marvel. That move led to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man joining the MCU.
3. Batman Unchained (Batman & Robin Sequel)
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After the backlash from Batman & Robin, Warner Bros. pulled the plug on Batman Unchained. It was supposed to feature Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, and a psychological battle where Batman faced hallucinations of past villains. Instead, the studio went in a new direction with Batman Begins.
4. Jurassic Park 4
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Before Jurassic World, there was Jurassic Park 4, and it had a bizarre twist—human-dinosaur hybrids trained for military combat. Concept art exists, showing terrifying humanoid dinosaurs, but the idea was scrapped. Instead, Universal rebooted the franchise with Chris Pratt and more traditional dinosaurs.
5. Gladiator 2
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A sequel to Gladiator was planned, featuring Maximus resurrected and fighting throughout history. The bizarre concept, written by Nick Cave, would have turned the film into a time-traveling epic. Ultimately, the idea was abandoned for being too outlandish.
6. Tron 3
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Tron: Legacy teased a sequel, but Disney never followed through. Jared Leto was rumored to star in Tron 3, but it kept getting delayed. Fans are still waiting, but after years of silence, it seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.
7. World War Z 2
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Brad Pitt was set to return for World War Z 2, with David Fincher directing. The sequel promised a darker, more intense story, but budget concerns and studio hesitation killed it. Paramount ultimately moved on to other projects instead.
8. Hellboy 3
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Guillermo del Toro wanted to wrap up his Hellboy trilogy, but studios never greenlit the project. Ron Perlman and fans pushed for it, but budget concerns and creative differences stopped it from happening. Instead, a poorly received reboot was made in 2019.
9. Star Wars: George Lucas’s Sequel Trilogy
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George Lucas had a very different plan for the Star Wars sequels, focusing on microscopic Force beings called the Whills. When Disney bought Lucasfilm, they chose a different direction, leading to The Force Awakens. Lucas’s vision remains one of Hollywood’s biggest “what-ifs.”
10. The Last Airbender 2
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Despite plans for a sequel to The Last Airbender, fan backlash shut it down. M. Night Shyamalan wanted to continue the story, but the first film’s negative reception made it impossible. Nickelodeon eventually focused on animated projects instead.
11. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash
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Freddy vs. Jason almost got a sequel that included Ash from Evil Dead. The idea would have pitted Ash against both horror icons in a bloody showdown. Unfortunately, licensing issues stopped it, leaving fans with only comic book adaptations.
12. Ghostbusters 3 (Original Cast Version)
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A third Ghostbusters film with the original cast was planned, but Bill Murray was hesitant. Harold Ramis’s passing made it even less likely, leading to a reboot instead. Years later, Ghostbusters: Afterlife revived the franchise but with a different approach.