When studios take several years to prepare the next chapter in a successful franchise, the resulting films are often considered underwhelming disappointments (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Scream 4 are two examples). So, when word first broke that Universal was prepping a fourth big-screen American Pie film, some fans were understandably skeptical. Even with the full original cast signed to return, could American Reunion recapture the magic that made the 1999 original one of the defining comedies of a generation?
As it turns out, the film did turn out to be a return to form for the series (read our review) and managed a tidy profit earlier this year, with a $233.6 million worldwide box office haul. That’s not the kind of cash Hollywood tends to ignore – even if 75 percent of it was derived from overseas grosses – so it’s no surprise that talk American Pie 5 has already started.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has already secured a production deal to develop the as-yet-untitled American Pie 5 with American Reunion writer-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg – who also helmed 2008’s Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
No plot details are available just yet, and there’s no confirmation if the entire cast would return again. However, all four theatrical films have focused – in varying degrees – on the relationship between Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). So it’s likely that a potential fifth film would continue to explore that. American Divorce, perhaps? Kidding, that would be a hard comedy sell.
While American Reunion proved that the cast is just as likable and charismatic as always, its tagline – “Save the best piece for last” – seemed to indicate that the film would serve as a book-end to the series, especially since it contained many references and connections to the original film. The last thing fans want to see is the franchise tumble back into the direct-to-DVD dreck that defined it for the last decade, but perhaps Hurwitz and Schlossberg can keep this Pie fresh for a while longer.
Are you ready for a fifth film, or was American Reunion the perfect sendoff for the franchise? Let us know in the comments.
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