Upcoming Mystery Sequels You Didn’t Know Were In The Works

As a cinephile with over two decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say I’m quite thrilled about the upcoming sequels we’re seeing these days. The Black Phone 2, a chilling continuation of the original tale, has been pushed back to October 2025, but fear not, fans! It’s worth the wait for more Ethan Hawke’s Grabber antics.

Everyone loves a good mystery, from putting together the clues to trying to keep track of the double crosses. All the while you want to solve the mystery before the answer is revealed, but you’re also kind of hoping you’re wrong so the movie can surprise you in the end. From traditional whodunits to other genres of film that have a mystery element, there are plenty of movies out there that keep us guessing. But perhaps the biggest puzzle to solve is knowing which mystery movies are on the way, and whether they’ll be worthy of adding to the existing pantheon of the best mystery movies of all time.

Here are the movies currently in various stages of production that fall into two categories:

Additionally, it’s important to mention that certain of these films already possess definite titles, which will be utilized when necessary; however, if not specified, we’ll just call the movie by the name of its preceding entry followed by a number subsequent to the title to maintain simplicity.

Sherlock Holmes 3

2009 saw director Guy Ritchie introduce Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective Sherlock Holmes to the big screen in the movie “Sherlock Holmes.” Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Holmes is widely regarded as one of the finest on-screen interpretations, with Jude Law playing his loyal sidekick Watson. This film was Ritchie’s highest-grossing movie at that time, leading many to anticipate a sequel, which arrived in the form of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” only two years later. In fact, plans for a third film were already underway even before the second one hit theaters.

13 years have passed since then, and the journey for “Sherlock Holmes 3” has been challenging. There were script revisions, postponed production starts, director Guy Ritchie stepping away, and finally, the COVID-19 pandemic causing an apparent standstill. However, after a few quiet years, there was fresh news about the much-delayed project in 2023: Susan Downey, Robert Downey Jr.’s wife and producing partner, confirmed to TheWrap that the film is still being developed, stating that it remains a priority for Robert.

Despite the uncertainty regarding the release date of the third movie, given that Downey is currently gearing up for his comeback in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we are hopeful that as long as Downey continues to express enthusiasm for reprising his role as Holmes, it will eventually materialize.

Now You See Me 3

“Now You See Me” is a creative heist movie centered around a team of stage magicians who employ their art of misdirection to steal from banks and more, although it’s later disclosed that they do so with a higher purpose than initially suggested. The talented cast includes Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher (who had a difficult experience filming the original), Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine. In “Now You See Me 2”, Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Radcliffe joined the group to execute another intricate and enigmatic scheme orchestrated by these benevolent illusionists, with Isla Fisher being replaced due to her difficult filming experience in the first installment.

2015 saw the announcement that the Now You See Me series was planned as a trilogy, one year before the release of Now You See Me 2. Things went quiet for some time, but in both 2020 and 2022, there were positive updates on the progress of Now You See Me 3. In 2022, Jesse Eisenberg provided the most optimistic update in years when he confirmed that he had read the finalized script and expected to start filming within six months. The following months brought news about both new and returning cast members, and finally, in July 2024, it was officially announced that Now You See Me 3 would be released in November 2025.

Den of Thieves: Pantera

Despite not being as commercially successful as its predecessors in this series, the mystery-crime drama “Den of Thieves” still managed to amass a substantial audience, securing it a follow-up. The initial installment features Gerard Butler portraying detective “Big Nick” O’Brien, who is assigned to dismantle a formidable gang of ex-Marines turned criminals. Notably, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Pablo Schreiber, and 50 Cent play the key roles in this criminal group.

Back in early 2018, when the news of a Den of Thieves sequel broke out, I was already counting down the days for Big Nick’s return on the big screen. Although it seemed like the project would move swiftly, with announcements happening just a month after the film’s release, it turned out that putting together this new adventure would take some time.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 4

Given the recent surge of activity in the “Scream” franchise and the upcoming return of “Final Destination” in 2025, it was only a matter of time before other similar films made their comeback on the big screen. As expected, a fourth installment of the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” series is in development, marking the first new movie since 2006’s “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer.

Unlike the previous film, “I Know What You Did Last Summer 4” (tentatively titled) plans to bring back Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James, while Freddie Prinze Jr., another original cast member, is still in discussions for a role. The storyline will link directly to the first two movies, and unlike rumors suggested, it won’t be a complete reboot but rather a continuation of the original plot. As of July 2024, specifics about the plot are scarce.

Despite some ambiguity about its progress, updates were still being made for the film as recently as September 2024, suggesting that it is now in active production following decades of delays.

Rainbow Six

Tom Clancy’s 1993 novel “Without Remorse,” which follows a Navy SEAL trying to understand the causes behind several unfortunate incidents in his life, initially planned for a movie release alongside other Jack Ryan-verse adaptations from the ’90s; however, this never materialized. Another attempt at a “Without Remorse” film in the early 2010s also failed. Eventually, the project was revived in 2017, with Michael B. Jordan landing the lead role. In 2021, the long-awaited movie adaptation of “Without Remorse” was finally released on Prime Video.

Essentially, Jordan was set to feature in two linked Tom Clancy films. The first, “Without Remorse,” would serve as an introduction to his character and pave the way for a film centered around the more famous “Rainbow Six.” Previously, “Rainbow Six” had only been developed into video games, but hadn’t made its way onto the big screen yet. Interestingly, the “Without Remorse” and “Rainbow Six” books feature separate characters, but the “Rainbow Six” movie has been modified to star John Kelly from “Without Remorse,” instead of John Clark from the original “Rainbow Six” novel.

If you find yourself puzzled, that’s just typical with Tom Clancy’s work – they often involve solving intricate enigmas. As for the release date of “Rainbow Six,” updates have been scarce since 2023, but given the lack of negative indicators, it’s reasonable to assume that it’s still in development.

The Accountant 2

2016’s “The Accountant” is packed with action and suspense, but it also holds a fair share of mystery. The main character, Christian (played by Ben Affleck), finds himself in a complex situation as he uncovers why his newest client is hiding millions from their financial records, and why people are being murdered to conceal this secret. Critics admired Affleck’s acting, yet felt less enthusiastic about the overall film. Despite this mixed reception, it was successful at the global box office and proved profitable on home video, with a sequel announced soon after.

In April 2025, “The Accountant 2” is set to premiere, featuring many of the main actors from the initial film such as Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson. Matt Damon, Affleck’s longtime friend and creative partner, won’t be in the cast but will co-produce the sequel with Affleck, neither of whom produced the original film. Gavin O’Connor, who directed the first movie and is also directing the sequel, has hinted at a potential trilogy for “The Accountant”, though only the second film has been officially confirmed. The success of the second movie will determine if a third installment gets greenlit.

Murder at the Embassy and The Mystery of the Golden Spear

If you’ve been wondering what former “The O.C.” star Mischa Barton has been up to lately, then you clearly missed out on her 2023 turn as Agatha Christie-obsessed florist-turned-amateur sleuth Miranda Green in “Invitation to a Murder.” Set in 1930s England, “Invitation to a Murder” opts for classic whodunit vibes, which is somewhat refreshing for a genre that seems mostly interested in modern reinvention these days.

As a devoted fan, it appears that the success of “Invitation to a Murder” hasn’t gone unnoticed by Ms. Green. In fact, this franchise has already been christened as the “Miranda Green Mysteries,” with two more titles on the horizon for 2025. The ambition behind this project is evident, but given the scarcity of such movies nowadays, here’s to hoping Miranda Green continues to unravel mysteries for many years to come. Keep your magnifying glass handy and stay tuned for “Murder at the Embassy” and “The Mystery of the Golden Spear,” coming next year.

Detective Pikachu 2

2019 marked a significant shift in movie adaptations of video games, as it was the year that not only the first, but the first and second video game films ever to receive positive reviews from Rotten Tomatoes were released. However, “Detective Pikachu” preceded “The Angry Birds Movie 2” in cinemas, earning it the title of the first-ever critically acclaimed adaptation of a video game. Additionally, “Detective Pikachu” established a new domestic box office record for video game adaptations, although this record was later surpassed by “Uncharted” and the initial two “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies.

Despite some delays, the success of “Detective Pikachu,” earning $144 million domestically and $429 million globally, making it one of the top-earning video game movies ever, certainly warranted a sequel. In fact, production on a second film had already begun before the first movie even set any records. However, progress was sluggish, to the point that actor Justice Smith expressed doubts in 2021 about whether the sequel was still in the works.

2023 saw a development where Portlandia’s co-creator, Jonathan Krisel, was pursued to direct the sequel, signaling the project was ongoing. As for Detective Pikachu 2, that’s the last confirmed news, but since it was just last year, there’s no need to despair just yet.

Enola Holmes 3

Recently, Sherlock Holmes has found himself quite occupied across various media platforms. The hustle and bustle doesn’t seem to be abating anytime soon. Apart from the upcoming sequel featuring Robert Downey Jr., there are persistent whispers about a potential fifth season for the BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, titled “Sherlock.” Furthermore, there is a possible third episode in Netflix’s fresh take on the franchise, named “Enola Holmes,” also on the horizon.

1) Enola Holmes, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is the teenage sibling of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill). She’s attempting to establish herself as a detective. The Holmes family, including Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin), Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter), and others, are also part of the story. This series provides a more humorous, lighter, and family-oriented take on the classic Sherlock Holmes franchise, with Cavill portraying a less cynical and kinder version of the character compared to traditional representations. The second film, “Enola Holmes 2,” was released in 2022, and it’s been confirmed that a script for a third movie is being written, with a potential release date set for November 2023.

In August 2024, news broke that “Enola Holmes 3” would start filming in early 2025. Since Brown has declared Enola Holmes as her top career priority, it’s quite likely she will be returning to the role. However, no formal casting announcements have been made so far.

The Black Phone 2

Following the collaboration on “Doctor Strange,” Scott Derrickson was initially engaged in the sequel production. However, creative disagreements led him to part ways with the project, which later got a new start under director Sam Raimi and culminated in 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Instead, Derrickson and his frequent partner C. Robert Cargill focused their energies on the horror mystery “The Black Phone,” an adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story with the same title.

The story of a mysterious child kidnapper known only as The Grabber in 1970s Colorado, the modestly-budgeted thriller ended up being a surprise box office hit and one of the first post-pandemic theatrical success stories. In August 2022, Derrickson began hinting at a sequel and saying that the studio was pushing for one after how well the first “Black Phone” had done. “The Black Phone 2” was eventually announced, with most of the original cast returning — including Grabber portrayer Ethan Hawke — and the film aiming for a June 2025 release. But with production company Blumhouse’s 2025 slate eventually getting much more crowded, “The Black Phone 2” has since been pushed back a bit and is now set to arrive in October 2025 instead.

A Simple Favor 2

2018’s movie “A Simple Favor,” praised as a “chic noir mom” by Rotten Tomatoes, is a fresh entry in director Paul Feig’s collection of creative mixed-genre comedies. This time, he blends mystery with comedy, following his successes in sci-fi comedy (“Ghostbusters”) and espionage comedy (“Spy”). In the film, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick portray unusual friends who confide in each other about their shocking pasts, secrets that eventually cast a dark and perilous veil on their current lives. The movie managed decent earnings at the box office despite its limited $20 million budget, and by 2022, there were announcements for a sequel.

Paul Feig, Emily Blunt, and Anna Kendrick are set to reprise their roles in “A Simple Favor 2”, with the storyline yet to be revealed but confirmed as a direct follow-up to the first film. Unlike its predecessor’s less favorable counterparts, “A Simple Favor” was well-received by critics, making it Paul Feig’s first sequel project. Emily Blunt, who has faced some PR challenges lately with controversies and less-than-smooth interviews, might be looking forward to the positive buzz that “A Simple Favor 2” could bring. No release date for the sequel has been announced yet, but filming was completed in May 2024, suggesting a wait that won’t be too long.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Without a doubt, one of the most captivating movie mystery series currently unfolding is the “Knives Out” saga, comprising the 2019 debut film and its 2022 sequel, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” The common link between the films directed by Rian Johnson is the eccentric detective character Benoit Blanc, portrayed by Daniel Craig – the sole actor to feature in both movies to date. In “Wake Up Dead Man,” scheduled for release on Netflix in 2025, Benoit Blanc will reappear once more.

Similar to the last two movies starring Benoit Blanc, titled “Wake Up Dead Man”, will introduce a brand new set of characters portrayed by different actors. This time around, the lineup of suspects boasts talents like Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Thomas Haden Church, with others joining in. The storyline is still under wraps, but be prepared for a web of intrigue filled with unexpected twists, deceitful alliances, and treacherous betrayals as Blanc unravels another whodunit. Contrary to his experience with James Bond, Daniel Craig expressed enthusiasm about future “Knives Out” sequels in 2022, telling Variety: “If (Rian) Johnson continues writing them, I’ll continue playing the role.

2024-09-22 19:30