After losing its director earlier this year,Pitch Perfect 3has now found its replacement.Elizabeth Banks, who produced the smash-hitPitch Perfect, made her feature directorial debut with the successful sequelPitch Perfect 2and was signed to return to helm the next installment of the aca-centric franchise. However,Banks exited the director’s chair this summer, with her increasingly busy schedule cited as one of the reasons for her departure. That left Universal’s follow-up in need of a director and fast, given that the project’s initial Summer 2017 release date had already been pushed back to a potentially lucrative June 12, 2025 bow. But now Universal has found Banks’ replacement, and it’s someone who knows her way around a song.
PerVariety,Step Up All IndirectorTrish Sieis set to take the helm ofPitch Perfect 3, marking only her second feature film effort as a filmmaker. A professional dancer and choreographer by trade, Sie helmed the fifth installment in theStep Upfranchise, but her resume is more impressive for her music video work. Indeed, Sie helped create, choreograph, and co-direct the treadmill-centricOK Gomusic video for “Here It Goes Again”, and went on to direct a number of the band’s other similarly impressive music videos like “A Million Ways” and “Upside Down & Inside Out”. So clearly she knows how to craft a show-stopping routine.
Jason Mooredirected the firstPitch Perfect, but when the time came to make the sequel, he had already committed to directing theTina FeyandAmy PoehlercomedySisters. After Banks’ departure, franchise starAnna Kendrickhinted on the happysadconfused podcastthat there was hope amongst the cast members that Moore might return to helmPitch Perfect 3, but in the end it was Sie who landed the job. It’s unclear if Moore was approached and declined or was simply too busy, and while he did a terrific job withPitch Perfect, it’s nice to see another female filmmaker getting behind the camera on a major Hollywood franchise.
ScreenwriterKay Cannon, who scripted the first two installments, is penningPitch Perfect 3while Kendrick,Rebel Wilson, andBrittany Snoware all confirmed to return. Given the new release date and the subplot inPitch Perfect 2it’s entirely possible we’re in for a Christmas-centric follow-up, which would certainly sell a hell of a lot of albums, but as of yet that has not been confirmed.
Banks remains onboard as a producer, and as you can see below, has already taken to voicing her support for Sie landing the job. Expect more news on thePitch Perfect 3front in the near future as the project can finally move forward with a filmmaker in tow. For now, watch some of Sie’s music video work below.
