According to Variety, Elizabeth Banks has amicably exited as director of Universal’s Pitch Perfect 3 due to her increasingly busy schedule. She remains attached to the project as both producer and actress, reprising her role as Gail in the film. Paul Brooks and Scott Niemyer of Gold Circle Films are also producing.
Banks successfully steered Pitch Perfect 2 in her directorial feature debut last summer to $285 million in worldwide box office receipts. Returning stars Anna Kendrick (The Accountant), Rebel Wilson (How to Be Single), Hailee Steinfeld (Barely Lethal), and Brittany Snow (Late Bloomer) have all signed on for the sequel. Kay Cannon, who penned the scripts for the earlier Pitch Perfect films, will be returning to write the third.
Universal has pushed back the release date for Pitch Perfect 3 from July 21, 2017 to December 22, 2017.
Banks, among a minority of female Hollywood directors today, is currently attached to direct Sony’s Charlie Angels reboot, and Universal’s musical adaptation Red Queen. Also an actress known for her comedic flair (Hunger Games franchise, Magic Mike XXL, The LEGO Movie) and dramatic gifts (Love and Mercy), Banks will be seen next in front of the cameras as villain in Lionsgate’s Power Rangers reboot.
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