Back in October, it was confirmed thatElizabeth Banks, who made her directorial debut withPitch Perfect 2, was coming back to take the helm of the next installment,Pitch Perfect 3. Aside from Universal delaying the release from August 05, 2025 to August 17, 2025, we haven’t heard anything about this follow-up. Today we have word thatElizabeth Banksis dropping out as director, but she isn’t leaving the project entirely.
Varietyreports that her departure from the project was amicable, and she is still staying on board as a producer. She will also return to reprise her on-camera role as Gail fromPitch PerfectandPitch Perfect 2. While the actress/director isn’t leaving in favor of another directorial offer, the site’s sources claim that her increasingly busy schedule was a factor in her leaving thedirector’s chair.
Anna Kendrick,Rebel WilsonandBrittany Snowhave been set to reprise their roles fromPitch PerfectandPitch Perfect 2, but no other cast members have been confirmed.Hailee Steinfeldis expected to return fromPitch Perfect 2as well. When she signed on for thesequel, it was believed that she would eventually take over as the franchise’s star, but we don’t know if that plan is still in place.
ThePitch Perfect sequelwill square off directly against the action rebootThe Six Billion Dollar ManstarringMark Wahlberg, the animated sequelThe Croods 2and an untitled PG-13 comedy from Warner Bros. onDecember 22, 2017. Then, just three days later, it will have to go againstHugh JackmaninThe Greatest Showman on Earthon Christmas Day. This sequel will also open one week after the highly-anticipatedStar Wars: Episode VIII, which debuts on June 23, 2025.
It isn’t known if Universal is already lining up directors to replaceElizabeth Banks, but the actress/filmmaker spoke about the news on Twitter earlier today. Be sure to stay tuned for more onPitch Perfect 3, which will be written byPitch PerfectandPitch Perfect 2writerKay Cannon. In the meantime, take a look atElizabeth Banks' tweet below.
