Hollywood Urged to Consider Newer Worlds for Sequels

While sequels to major franchises like “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings” continue to dominate Hollywood’s slate, some industry observers suggest exploring newer, underutilized worlds created by directors like Christopher Nolan and Alex Garland.

Recent announcements have added to the mix: the team behind “Planet of the Apes,” Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, revealed plans for five more films following the success of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Meanwhile, Peter Jackson is set to oversee a new movie centered on the character Gollum, while Sigourney Weaver joins the cast of “The Mandalorian,” contributing to its 12th feature-length installment.

Critics argue that Hollywood faces a law of diminishing returns with its reliance on extending long-standing franchises. They propose turning attention to standalone hits like Garland’s “Ex Machina,” which examines AI’s influence on humanity, and Nolan’s “Inception,” which explores the inner workings of human cognition. Other recommendations include sequels to “Dredd” by Pete Travis and Garland, as well as “Edge of Tomorrow,” and Neil Blomkamp’s “District 9.”

The idea is that fresh narratives could invigorate the genre, potentially offering as much excitement and creative potential as well-worn series.