Top 7 Sequels Of 2015

by Helen Earnshaw | 6 January 2015

We are only in the second week of 2015 and the second sequel of the new year is set to hit the big screen in the form of Taken 3, which sees Liam Neeson back as Bryan Mills.

While Taken 3 is not a movie that we are particularly excited about, there are a whole host of sequels that we are desperate to see this year.

The Second Best Marigold Hotel

- The Second Best Marigold Hotel - 26th February

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was one of the unexpected hits of 2012, when Deborah Moggach's novel of the same name was adapted for the big screen.

This February John Madden is back in the director's chair for the sequel... and I have to admit it is a movie that I really am looking forward to, as I was a huge fan of the first film.

Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Dev Patel are reprising the role of Evelyn, Mauriel, and Sonny, while Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, and Tina Desai are all returning to their roles. However, there are a couple of new names to watch out for as Richard Gere, Tamsin Greig and David Strathairn are on board.

The movie follows the expansion of Sonny's hotel empire ahead of his wedding to Sunaina. Evelyn and Douglas (Dench & Nighy) and Norman and Carol (Pickup and Hardcastle) are trying to figure out where their relationships are going to lead, while Madge (Imrie) is juggling to wealthy gentlemen.

2015 is going to be another great year for British film, and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is one of the early films to hit the big screen and not be missed.

- Fast & Furious 7 - 3rd April

It was back in 2013 when Fast & Furious 6 hit the big screen, but 2015 will see the release of the latest instalment. However, it is a film release that is going to be tinged with sadness, as this will be the last time that we see Paul Walker on the big screen.

Walker was killed in a driving accident during the filming of this movie, but he will be back as Brian O'Conner. Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster are some of the other familiar faces on board.

However, there are some new faces to watch out for as Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and Djimon Hounsou join the franchise. Statham is on board as Deckard Shaw, who is the brother of Owen from the sixth movie. And Shaw is out for revenge against Dominic Toretto and co after the death of his brother.

James Wan is in the director's chair for the franchise for the first time with the new movie, as he takes over from Justin Lin. The franchise seems to get bigger with each instalment, and Fast & Furious 7 looks set to be the most action packed of the series so far.

- Avengers: Age of Ultron - 24th April

If there is one movie that I cannot wait to see in 2015, then it is Avengers: Age of Ultron, which comes three years after the billion-dollar success of the first back in 2012. Since Avengers Assemble, we have seen Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all-star in their own solo movies, but now they are back together as they need to save the planet once again.

Joss Whedon is back in the director's chair, while Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, and Mark Ruffalo are back. They are joined on the cast list by new faces James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Paul Bettany.

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

Age of Ultron is one of the most anticipated films of 2015, and is set to be a box office smash when it is released in April. Could it go on to perform better than the first film? If the trailer is anything to go by, it is going to be an action packed ride but a much darker movie than the first.

- Jurassic World - 12th June

It was back in 2001 when the not so great Jurassic Park III hit the big screen, and that was the last film in this popular franchise... but all that is about to change in 2015 as a new movie is on the horizon.

Jurassic World is set to be a monster movie this summer as Colin Trevorrow takes over the helm of the franchise for the first time - this is set to be the biggest film in his directing career to date.

Chris Pratt has already had a terrific 2014 with Guardians of the Galaxy, but that is set to continue as he takes over the central role of Owen. He is joined on the cast list by Bryce Dallas Howard, Judy Greer, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy, and Vincent D'Onofrio.

The movie is set twenty-two years after events of the first film, and will take audiences back to Isla Nublar. Now John Hammond's vision has been realised as a fully functional dinosaur theme park is up and running. But when they try to create a new species of dinosaur as their latest attraction, it all goes horribly wrong.

I have to say, the more I see of this movie, the more I am looking forward to it - I don't know about you, but I was not a fan of the second and third films. This new movie looks like it is going to be more of a nod to Jurassic Park - hard to believe that that movie is twenty-two years old this year.

- Spectre - 23rd October

Filming on Spectre only got underway just before Christmas and yet it is already one of the most talked about 2015 films. Spectre is the twenty-fourth Bond movie and will see Sam Mendes back in the director's chair.

Mendes helmed Skyfall to billion-dollar success back in 2012, and now he is back as he reunites with actor Daniel Craig. This is a fourth outing as 007 for Craig, following on from Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall. We may have a long wait until this film hits the big screen, but it is a movie that I am already super excited to see.

Craig is not the only familiar face on the cast list, as Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Ben Whishaw are back as M, Miss Moneypenny and Q. However, there are some new names to watch out for as Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Andrew Scott, and Dave Bautista are all on board.

A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Skyfall was a huge hit when it was released back in 2012 - it went on to be the highest grossing Bond movie of all time - and I can't wait to see what Mendes and writer John Logan deliver with this latest film.

- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 20th November

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 is a film that was not met with universal praise when it was released at the end of last year, but I thought it was a great addition to The Hunger Games franchise.

It was not as action packed a movie as director Francis Lawrence used the film to build up to what is going to be a truly epic conclusion in November.

This will be the last time that we will see Jennifer Lawrence in the central role of heroine Katniss Everdeen as she leads the rebels in a war that will take them to the Capitol... however, the consequences of war will be huge for all involved.

The Hunger Games has been one of the most successful franchises in recent years, and it will be sad to see the series come to a close later this year. However, it has been a great adaptation of a fantastic series of books and Lawrence has been outstanding in the central role - can't wait to see the performance she gives in the final instalment.

- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - 18th December

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens was one of the most watched trailers of 2014, and it is already one of the most anticipated movies of this year.

The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars movie since Revenge of the Sith back in 2005, and will see J.J. Abrams take over the director's chair of the franchise for the first time.

Sadly, not much is known about the plot for the film, except that it is set thirty years after events of Return of the Jedi. And there will be some familiar faces returning as Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher will be reprising the roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.

However, this is a movie that will introduce and establish new characters and actors as Domhnall Gleeson, Andy Serkis, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong'o, and Gwendoline Christie are all on board.