When Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were asked at BNAT about the Sony hacking fiasco, they responded that, while they were safe themselves, they were very aware of the fallout because their offices were on the Sony lot. Well, in the immediate aftermath of Amy Pascal’s resignation earlier this week, and with their animated SAUSAGE PARTY getting a fair amount of not-that-flattering press as collateral damage, the pair are going back to Universal to follow-up their real 2014 financial hit: NEIGHBORS (a.k.a. BAD NEIGHBOURS).
Universal has gotten all four principals back, namely Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, and director Nicolas Stoller, for NEIGHBORS 2. This time around, instead of a fraternity moving in next door, it’s a sorority (“It’s the same, but different!”), necessitating calling in Efron’s Teddy to help pull off some nasty shit to clear the sisters out of the neighborhood.
I thought the gags in the original were slightly easier and less inspired than the ones in Rogen/Goldberg’s best, so it kinda bums me out that they’re re-enlisting writers Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien instead of drafting it themselves, though it’s cool the above-the-line cast, director, AND writers will remain the same (plus, Rogen and the other actors will obviously add a ton on their own). The premise seems as easy to transmit and convey as the first one, which should help it reach the same formidable level of profit.
I liked NEIGHBORS for what it was (particularly Rose Byrne’s work), but I wasn’t as crazy about is as most, and I certainly didn’t think it warranted a sequel. NEIGHBORS 2 before PINEAPPLE EXPRESS 2? Really? But I get that they made a boatload the first time around off of not that much money, and I’m sure the appeal of hopping over to Uni for a spell is enticing considering that one of their big supporters at Sony, Pascal, is gone.
The studio has already slotted a May 2016 release date for the film (a week removed from CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR the same way the original came the weekend after AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2), so it looks like this is definitely coming our way next summer. Now, we wait and see who they get for the head of the sorority house, and whether they'll bother to bring back Dave Franco, Carla Gallo, Ike Barinholtz, Hannibal Burress, Jerrod Carmichael, or Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
Any of y’all excited to hear more variations on “bros before hos”?
NEIGHBORS 2 will break out more pranks and fat jokes on May 13th, 2016.
