A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

Advertise in In Focus

©

Son of the
Return of the
Bride of Next!

In a world of constant change and uncertainty, it’s nice to know you can count on something.

And we mean that literally.

The movie business relies on sequels, from low-end “Bride of,” “Son of,” “Return of” and innumerable “vs.” to the high-end “Godfathers” “Die Hard-er-est,” “Rockys” and “Halloweens.” In today’s market, it seems as if sequels are dominating the moviegoing landscape as never before. Whereas sequels used to be counted on for roughly 60 percent of the original’s business, series like the “Austin Powers” films have turned that equation on its head. The latest installment, “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” has taken in over $200 million – some five times the take of the original.

Should we be surprised, then, that the current release calendar is fairly swimming with follow-ups? This issue’s November preview alone contains capsules for “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” “Friday After Next,” “The Santa Clause 2” and the latest James Bond adventure, “Die Another Day.”

Toting up half as many films as the Bond franchise, and only on its second crew, the starship Enterprise goes boldly splitting infinitives where no infinitive has been split before in “Star Trek: Nemesis.” In this 10th installment, Enterprise officers Riker and Troi finally marry, the crew discovers an android virtually identical to Commander Data, and captain Jean-Luc Picard discovers he has a personal connection to the leader of an unfamiliar and deadly alien race. Stuart Baird (“U.S. Marshals”) directed from a screenplay by John Logan (“Gladiator,” “The Time Machine”). Once again reprising their TV roles are Patrick Stewart (“X-Men”), Brent Spiner (“Master of Disguise”), Michael Dorn (“Jagged Edge”), Marina Sirtis (“Death Wish 3”), Gates McFadden (“Muppets From Space”), LeVar Burton (“The Hunter”), Whoopi Goldberg (“Kingdom Come”), Kate Mulgrew (“Camp Nowhere”), Wil Wheaton (“Flubber”), Majel Barrett (“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”) and Jonathan Frakes (“Camp Nowhere”). New to the franchise are Tom Hardy (“Black Hawk Down”), Ron Perlman (“Blade 2”), Steven Culp (“Thirteen Days”) and Dina Meyer (TV’s “Birds of Prey”). The Trek films routinely gross at least $70 million domestically, and if Trekker lore holds true, “Nemesis,” being even-numbered, should prove one of the better installments. Paramount makes it so Dec. 13.

It’s a beautiful day for a sequel, let’s play two! The latest trend in sequeliana is to film more than one simultaneously or consecutively. This minimizes the financial outlay for studios and ensures the original cast is available. On the downside, if the film is a loser, the studio has two (or three, or more) losers to unload.

“The Matrix Reloaded” comes to screens May 15, 2003. Six months after learning to “fly,” Neo continues the fight alongside Morpheus and Trinity as more and more humans are alerted to the true nature of their existence. Returnees from part one include writer-directors Andy and Larry Wachowski (“Bound”), as well as actors Keanu Reeves (“Hardball”), Laurence Fishburne (“Once in the Life”), Carrie-Anne Moss (“Memento”) and Hugo Weaving (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “Russian Doll”). Newcomers to the series include Jada Pinkett Smith (“Ali”), Monica Bellucci (“The Brotherhood of the Wolf”), Nona Gaye (“Ali”), Harold Perrineau (“Woman on Top”), Daniel Bernhardt (“Blood Sport II: The Next Kumite”), Matt McColm (“Space Cowboys”), Harry J. Lennix (“Collateral Damage”), Stuart Wells (“Billy Elliot”), Lambert Wilson (“Jefferson in Paris”), Ray Jones Jr. (“Devil’s Advocate”), Christine Anu (“Moulin Rouge!”), Lachy Hulme (“Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course”) and Collin Chou.

Warner Bros. reportedly plans to release “The Matrix Revolutions,” which was filmed in Australia at the same time as “Reloaded,” a mere six months later, in November or December of 2003. No plot has been announced.

Also going the simultaneous filming route are the next two chapters of “The Lord Of The Rings” trilogy. “The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers” is the second installment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s tale of Middle Earth and finds the surviving “companions of the ring” scattered in different directions as the coming war intensifies and Frodo and Sam make their way toward the Dark Shadow of Mordor alone. Returnees from part one include the “Heavenly Creatures”-”The Frighteners” team of writer-director Peter Jackson and screenwriter Fran Walsh, as well as screenwriter Philippa Boyens and actors Ian McKellen (the “X-Men” series) as Gandalf, Elijah Wood (“Black and White”) as Frodo Baggins, Sean Astin (“Deterrence”) as Sam Gamgee, Christopher Lee (“Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones”) as Saruman, Liv Tyler (“One Night at McCool’s”) as Arwen, Viggo Mortensen (“28 Days”) as Aragorn, Cate Blanchett (“Heaven”) as fairy queen Lorien, Billy Boyd as Pippin Took, Dominic Monagham as Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, John Rhys-Davies (“The Great White Hype”) as Gimli and Orlando Bloom (“Black Hawk Down”) as Legolas. New Line plans a Dec. 18 release.

“The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King” reveals the identity of the true King of the West, the outcome of the Great War, and the fate of Frodo and Sam in the dungeons of Mordor, and takes the “One Ring” to the Crack of Doom. It comes to theatres Dec. 17, 2003.

Rushing to beat the onset of puberty for its pre-adolescent cast, and to capitalize on the first film’s status as the second-highest grossing worldwide release ever, the second novel in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series, Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets,” which one can read more about on page 51, comes to the screen Nov. 15. Book three, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” is expected to go into production immediately thereafter. Harry will be menaced by a familiar-looking escapee in this episode, which Alfonso Cuarón (“A Little Princess,” “Y Tu Mama Tambien”) is reportedly set to direct. The screenplay is by Steve Kloves, who also scripted the first two “Potter” installments. Katharine Nicholson reportedly gets more screen time in the previously uncredited role of Pansy Parkinson. It should hit theatres in December 2003. Plans for “Harry Potter 4” and any subsequent books being turned into films are said to be contingent on when Daniel Radcliffe’s beard starts to come in.

In 2005 George Lucas is expected to roll out the latest “Star Wars” epic. “Episode III” has no subtitle yet, but the story is expected to follow Anakin Skywalker’s further descent toward the Dark Side of the Force and his assumption of the Darth Vader mantle. Lucas will direct from a screenplay by Lucas and “Episode II” scripter Jonathan Hales. Those reprising and sometimes expanding their roles from previous films include Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala-Skywalker, Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Ian McDiarmid as Supreme Chancellor/ Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, Christopher Lee as Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus, Frank Oz as Yoda, James Earl Jones as Darth Vader’s voice, Jimmy Smits as Senator Bail Organa, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Kenny Baker as R2-D2. Fox will handle the release.

In the category of “it’s been so long, does it really count as a sequel?” comes “T3: Rise Of The Machines.” The sci-fi actioner, set 10 years after the events chronicled in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” unveils a third T-800 cyborg, this one sent backwards in time to protect a twentysomething John Connor from a new supermodel-like killer android dubbed “the TX.” Jonathan Mostow (“Breakdown,” “U-571”) directs from a screenplay by Tedi Sarafian (“Tank Girl”) and John Brancato & Michael Ferris (The Net,” “The Game”). Returnees from parts one and two include Arnold Schwarzenegger (“Collateral Damage”) as the T-800. Newcomers to the series include Nick Stahl (“In the Bedroom”) as Connor, Claire Danes (“Igby Goes Down”) as Connor’s love interest Kate Miller, and Kristanna Loken (“Panic”) as the TX, as well as Mark Hicks (“Love and a Bullet”), Alana Curry (TV’s “The Bold and the Beautiful”), and Mark Famiglietti (TV’s “Young Americans”). Warner Bros. says the franchise will be back July 2, 2003.

The considerably hoarier “Exorcist” films make a comeback with the tentatively (and scripturally) titled “Exorcist 4:1.” This prequel to “The Exorcist” is set in the early part of the 20th century, and follows a young priest’s journey through Africa and his first encounter with demonic possession. It’s based upon characters and events in William Blatty’s novel “The Exorcist.” Paul Schrader (“Auto Focus”) is reportedly set to direct from a screenplay by novelist Caleb Carr (“The Alienist”), and William Wisher (“Terminator 2,” “13th Warrior”). Stellan Skarsgård (“The Glass House”), Billy Crawford and Gabriel Mann (“Summer Catch,” “Abandon”) star. The Warner Bros. release repossesses audiences July 18, 2003.

In “Bad Boys 2” the Miami cops from part one find themselves approaching retirement age and in hot water once again. Returnees from part one include director Michael Bay (“Pearl Harbor”) as well as lead actors Will Smith (“Men in Black II”) and Martin Lawrence (“Black Knight,” “National Security”). Sony hopes July 18, 2003 is a good day, too.

So old it’s new, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” commemorates the horror franchise’s 25th anniversary with either a sequel or a remake, depending on what you read. Known alternately as “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 5” and “TX 25,” the film is directed by Marcus Nispell from a screenplay by Eric Bernt (“Romeo Must Die”) and Scott Kosar. It stars Jessica Biel (“Summer Catch,” “The Rules of Attraction”), Eric Balfour (“America’s Sweethearts”), Johnathan Tucker (“The Deep End”), R. Lee Ermey (“The Salton Sea”) and Erica Leerhrsen (“Hollywood Ending”) New Line revivifies the old line Oct. 31, 2003.

The sequel with the oldest progenitor of the bunch save Bond, “The Jungle Book II,” is an animated sequel to the 1967 Disney hit based on the Rudyard Kipling stories of a boy raised in the jungle by animals. Longtime Disney video animation director Steve Trenbirth helmed from a screenplay by Karl Geurs. John Goodman gives voice to the bear Baloo, Tony Jay to the tiger Shere Khan, and Haley Joel Osment to the jungle boy Mowgli. Buena Vista plans a Feb. 7, 2003 bow.

Another animated sequel, “The Rugrats Meet the Wild Thornberrys” is a sequel to the “The Rugrats Movie” and “The Rugrats in Paris” as well as to this December’s “The Wild Thornberrys Movie.” Not much is known about the plot beyond what one can guess from the title. Paramount plans a June 13, 2003 release.

Recent megahits are storming back to the multiplexes in force. “Shrek 2” will see Princess Fiona accept a dinner invitation from her father, who is shocked to learn that she’s now an ogre and married to another ogre. Returnees from part one include director Andrew Adamson, screenwriter Joe Stillman (“Beavis & Butthead Do America”) and the voices of Mike Meyers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow. Newcomers to the series include screenwriters J. David Stem & David N. Weiss (the “Rugrats” movies, “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” “Clockstoppers”), as well as John Cleese as the voice of Fiona’s father. DreamWorks reanimates it June 18, 2004.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is the follow-up to the year’s biggest hit. In the sequel, Peter Parker must use his bizarre superpowers to combat a pair of freakish supervillains dubbed Dr. Octopus and the Lizard. Returnees from part one include director Sam Raimi (“The Gift”), screenwriter David Koepp (“Panic Room”) and actors Tobey Maguire (“Wonder Boys”), Kirsten Dunst (“Cat’s Meow”) and Bruce Campbell (“The Majestic”). Newcomers to the series may include screenwriters Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (“Shanghai Noon,” “Showtime,” “Shanghai Knights”) and Ivan Raimi (“Darkman,” “Army of Darkness”). Sony has already snared May 7, 2004 for its release.

“X-Men 2” finds the amnesiac mutant named Logan drawn closer to his forgotten personal history when an escaped Erik “Magneto” Lensherr helps X-Men leader Charles Xavier halt a plot to wipe out the planet’s mutants. Returnees from part one include director Bryan Singer (“The Usual Suspects,” “Apt Pupil”) and screenwriter David Hayter (“The Scorpion King”), as well as actors Hugh Jackman (“Kate & Leopold”) as Logan, Patrick Stewart as Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Famke Janssen (“Don’t Say a Word”) as Dr. Jean “Marvel Girl” Grey, James Marsden (“Sugar & Spice”) as Scott “Cyclops” Summers, Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball,” “Die Another Day”) as Ororo “Storm” Munroe, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (“Rollerball,” “Simone”) and Bruce Davidson (“High Crimes”) as Mystique, Shawn Ashmore (“Strike”) as Bobby “Iceman” Drake, and Anna Paquin (“Finding Forrester”) as Marie “Rogue” D’Ancanto. Newcomers to the series include Alan Cumming (“The Anniversary Party”) as Kurt “Nightcrawler” Wagner, Katie Stuart (“Masterminds”) as Katherine “Shadowcat” Pryde, Brian Cox (“The Bourne Identity,” “The Ring”) as Stryker, Aaron Stanford (“Tadpole”) as Pyro, and Kelly Hu (“Scorpion King”) as the mutant supervillain Anne. May 2, 2003 marks the spot for the Fox release.

“Charlie’s Angels 2: Halo” finds director “McG,” screenwriter John August (“Go”), and actors Drew Barrymore (“Riding in Cars With Boys”), Cameron Diaz (“The Sweetest Thing”), Lucy Liu (“Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever”), Crispin Glover (“Like Mike”), Luke Wilson (“The Royal Tenenbaums”) and Matt LeBlanc (“Lost in Space,” “All the Queen’s Men”) returning to the grounds of their hit action-comedy. Newcomers to the series include John Cleese (as the father of the Lucy Liu character), Demi Moore (as a “fallen” Angel), Bernie Mac (replacing Bill Murray as Bosley), Jaclyn Smith (reprising her TV character Kelly Garrett), and Justin Theroux (as “Seamus”). The Sony release goes into action June 27, 2003.

“Tomb Raider 2” follows up the 2001 blockbuster actioner about the comely, artifact-chasing adventurer. Jan de Bont (the “Speed” series, “The Haunting”) directs. Angelina Jolie (“Life, or Something Like It”) reprises the title role and Chris Barrie (TV’s “Red Dwarf”) returns as Hilary. Gerard Butler (“Reign of Fire”) and Djimon Hounsou (“The Four Feathers”) costar. Paramount uncovers it July 25, 2003.

“Shanghai Knights” finds the cowboy and the Chinese imperial guard from “Shanghai Noon” travelling to London, where they uncover a conspiracy to overthrow the Chinese and British empires. Returnees from part one include screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (“Showtime”), and actors Jackie Chan (“Rush Hour 2,” “The Tuxedo”) and Owen Wilson (“The Royal Tenenbaums,” “I Spy”). Newcomers to the series include director David Dobkin (“Clay Pigeons”), as well as actors Gemma Jones (“Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”), Donnie Yen (“Blade 2”) and Fann Wong. Buena Vista has narrowed the release date to February 2003.

Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro (Go ahead, say the names together: It’s still funny.) reunite for “Analyze That.” Mobster Paul Vitti, newly released from prison, seeks out his old psychoanalyst Ben Sobel – only to discover the shrink now needs therapy too. Other returnees from part one include writer-director Harold Ramis (“Bedazzled”) and screenwriter Peter Tolan (“What Planet Are You From?,” “America’s Sweethearts”), as well as actors Lisa Kudrow (“Lucky Numbers,” “Bark,” “Marci X”) and Joe Viterelli (“Shallow Hal,” “Serving Sara”). Newcomers to the series include screenwriter Peter Steinfield (“Drowning Mona”) and actors Anthony LaPaglia (“The Salton Sea”), Cathy Moriarty-Gentile (“But I’m a Cheerleader”), Thomas Rosales (“Traffic”) and Reg Rogers (“Runaway Bride”). Warner Bros. has an appointment for Dec. 6.

“The Fast And The Furious 2” couldn’t afford to rehire Vin Diesel to reprise his role from the first film, but they do have Paul Walker back. Plus lots of car crashes. And the setting has shifted to Miami. John Singleton (“Shaft,” “Baby Boy”) takes over directing chores, using a screenplay by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (the TV movie “Invincible”). Tyrese (“Baby Boy”), Eva Mendes (“Training Day”), Ludacris (“The Wash”), Cole Hauser (“Hart’s War,” “White Oleander”), Devon Aoki and James Remar (“What Lies Beneath”) costar. Universal puts it into gear June 6, 2003.

Ms. Woods goes to Washington. That’s the idea behind the follow-up to Reese Witherspoon’s breakout hit “Legally Blonde.” In “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,” perky, pink-loving lawyer Elle Woods goes to our nation’s Capitol to battle hardened political types.
Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (“Kissing Jessica Stein”) directs from a screenplay by Kate Kondell. MGM plans a patriotic July 2, 2003 release.

“The Whole Nine Yards 2” is the sequel to the 2000 comedy about a dentist who gets to know his hit-man neighbor. Howard Deutch (“The Replacements”) directs from a screenplay by Mitchell Kapner (“Whole Nine Yards”). Returnees from part one include Bruce Willis (“Hart’s War”), Matthew Perry (“The Kid,” “Serving Sara”), Natasha Henstridge (“Ghost of Mars”) Amanda Peet (“Igby Goes Down”) and Kevin Pollak (“Stolen Summer”). Warner Bros. plans a summer 2003 release.

Competing in the “Don’t you understand, radiation will only make him stronger” division of films pitting the likes of Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster or Frankenstein vs. the Mummy comes “Freddy Vs. Jason.” Freddy Krueger (star of “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare”) and Jason Voorhees (whose prior exploits include both “Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday” and the subsequent “Jason X”) once again redefine the word “final” as the two mega-murderers battle each other for control of the powers of darkness. Directed by Ronny Yu (“Bride of Chucky,” “Formula 51”) from a screenplay by David S. Goyer (the “Blade” series). Jason Ritter (“Swimfan”) stars as Jason, Robert Englund as Freddy. Jason Bateman, Kelly Rowland, Brian Thompson, Kenneth Tsang, Lisa Wilcox and Monica Keena costar. New Line expects to release it, and maybe save Tokyo, sometime in 2003.

“American Wedding,” the third installment of the “American Pie” franchise, depicts Stifler organizing a bachelor party as one of the gang closes in on his wedding day. Jesse Dylan (“How High”) directs from a screenplay by Adam Herz, who also penned the two previous “American Pies.” Seann William Scott, Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan and Eugene Levy reprise their roles from the first two films. Universal throws the rice and various other substances Aug. 1, 2003.

“Meet The Fockers” is the follow-up to the 2000 comedy blockbuster “Meet the Parents.” Returnees from part one are expected to include director Jay Roach (“Austin Powers in Goldmember”), screenwriter Jim Herzfeld (“Meet the Deedles”), and actors Robert De Niro (“Analyze That”), Ben Stiller (“The Royal Tenenbaums”), Teri Polo (“Domestic Disturbance”) and Blythe Danner (“The Invisible Circus”). Newcomers to the series include screenwriters Chris & Paul Weitz (“About A Boy”). Universal plans a 2003 release.

Robert Rodriguez is a solo sequel factory. First out of the helmer’s Texas garage is “Once Upon A Time In Mexico.” The sequel to “El Mariachi” and “Desperado” (itself a sort of remake/sequel) is this time about a drug lord planning to assassinate Mexico’s president, and the men who try to stop him. Returnees from “Desperado” include Antonio Banderas (the “Spy Kids” series, “Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever,” “Frida”), Salma Hayek (“Chain of Fools,” “Frida”), Cheech Marin (the “Spy Kids” series), and Danny Trejo (the “Spy Kids” series). Newcomers to the franchise include Mickey Rourke (“The Pledge”), Johnny Depp (“From Hell”), Willem Dafoe (“Spider-Man,” “Auto Focus”), Rubén Blades (“All the Pretty Horses”), Eva Mendes, Rodolfo De Alexandre (“Medicine Man”), Pedro Armendáriz Jr. (“Original Sin”), Julio Oscar Mechoso (“Pumpkin”), Marco Leonardi (“Texas Rangers”) and pop star Enrique Iglesias. Sony plays it again March 21, 2003.

Then it’s on to “Spy Kids 3,” which Rodriguez will probably write, direct and edit between then and its release July 23, 2003. Expect all the usual suspects for the Miramax film.

“Gods And Generals” is a prequel of sorts to 1993’s “Gettysburg,” this time following Confederate general Stonewall Jackson into the Civil War. Written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell (“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” “Gettysburg”), it stars Stephen Lang (“Fire Down Below”), Robert Duvall (“A Shot at Glory”), Bruce Boxleitner (“The Babe”), Jeff Daniels (“Blood Work”), Jeremy London (“Mallrats”), William Sanderson (“Last Man Standing,” “Stanley’s Gig”), Mira Sorvino (“The Triumph of Love,” “The Grey Zone”), C. Thomas Howell (“That Night”), Kevin Conway (“Black Knight”), Patrick Gorman (“Wild Bill”), Brian Mallon (“Some Mother’s Son”), Bo Brinkman (“Laws of Deception”), Royce D. Applegate (“O Brother, Where Art Thou?”), Stephen Spacek and Cooper Huckabee (“Space Cowboys”). Warner Bros. sends it into battle in the first quarter of 2003.

Not a remake, not quite a sequel, “Ripley’s Game” recasts the Matt Damon character from “The Talented Mr. Ripley” with John Malkovich (“Shadow of the Vampire,” “Knockaround Guys”). The thriller, set in Europe, is about a dying young English picture-framer who is hired by a mysterious American to assassinate two people in return for money he can leave his family. It’s based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, which also served as the basis of Wim Wenders’ 1977 movie “The American Friend.” Liliana Cavani directed from a screenplay by Frank Deasy (“Captives”). Malkovich’s costars include Ray Winstone (“Last Orders”), Chiara Caselli, Lena Headey (“Gossip”) and Dougray Scott (“Enigma”). Fine Line plays it April 4, 2003.

Our friends overseas may sometimes scoff at American cultural offerings, but even the French can’t resist a sequel. “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” is a French-language comedy about the famous Egyptian queen and her wager with Caesar that she can have a palace built in three months. It’s the sequel to the international hit “Asterix and Obelix Vs. Caesar” and based on the comic book created in 1965 by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Actor Alain Chabat (“The Taste of Others”) makes his debuts as both director and screenwriter. Gerard Depardieu (“C.Q.”), Christian Clavier (“Just Visiting”), Monica Bellucci (“The Matrix Reloaded”), Gerard Darmon (“For Sasha”), Jamel Debbouze (“Amélie”), Claude Rich (“La Bûche”), Edouard Baer (“Alias Betty”) and Chabat star. Miramax plans to release it in June 2003.

Expected in 2004: “Mission: Impossible 3” has recruited David Fincher to direct Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames in yet another visually distinctive outing for the IMF. Paramount hasn’t set a date for release.

And New Line has announced Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker will continue to try to understand the words coming out of each other’s mouths in “Rush Hour 3.”

A pair of moderately successful thrillers are set for sequelization (and that’s not the first word we’ve made up in this article). “Final Destination 2” tells the story of the teen survivors of a horrific auto accident who begin meeting untimely fates. The survivors among the survivors get help from some people involved in the infamous years-old crash of the original film’s Flight 180. David Ellis (“Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco”) directs from a screenplay by Mackye Gruber & Eric Bress. Returnees from part one include Ali Larter (“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”) and Tony Todd (“Caught Up”). Newcomers to the series include Michael Landes (“Hart’s War”), A.J. Cook (“Out Cold”), Keegan Connor Tracy (“40 Days and 40 Nights”), Lynda Boyd (“Bones”), T.C. Carson (“U-571”), James Kirk (“Head Over Heels”) and David Paetkau (“Snow Day”). New Line says it’s coming in 2003.

“Jeepers Creepers 2” involves a busload of championship basketball players, cheerleaders and coaches attacked by a man-eating monster in the middle of a 23-day feeding fenzy. Among the returnees from part one are writer-director Victor Salva and Jonathan Breck, who reprises his role as the creeper. MGM unleashes the horror April 18, 2003.

And finally, defying narrative logic and dead main characters, James Cameron announced at a press conference in September that he has begun work on the script for “Titanic 2.”