BAD NEIGHBOURS sequel in development, original cast to return!

Despite the occasional heavy Seth Rogen-ness of it all, there was enough laugh out loud, raucous comedy to be found in Bad Neighbours (aka Neighbors in the States, because apparently they don’t care about Kylie Minogue and Jason Donavan’s feelings there) that I had a good enough time with it. And apparently lots of other people felt the same way as the R-rated comedy went on to make $268 million off a budget of just $18 million. And we all know what that type of profit margin means: Sequel!

THR is reporting has Universal has given the thumbs-up for a follow-up film and have already pencilled it in for a May 13, 2016 release (a date the studio had previously staked out for a different, unnamed R-rated comedy). What’s more, most of the original cast and crew will be returning with director Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets, Get Him To the Greek) once again behind the camera, and screenwriting duo Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien once again on scripting duties. Stars Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne and Zac Efron are all also confirmed to back for the sequel, although there’s no mention of Dave Franco who was arguably the best part of the movie. As sad is this is, it makes sense as the film ended with Franco’s character finally growing up and getting on with his life.

In the original film, Rogen and Byrne played new-parents whose life get flipped-turned upside down and I’d like to take a minute so sit right there when a rowdy, party-loving fraternity led by Efron and Franco sets up shop next door, prompting the two parties to go to prank-war with each other. It’s believed that the sequel will keep the same formula, but with a twist: Now a raucous female sorority moves in next to Rogen and Byrne (who clearly are the unluckiest couple in the world), prompting them to recruit their old enemy in Efron to try and take this bunch of crazy girls down.

Formula-heavy R-rated comedies don’t always have the best track record (Hangover 2, come on down!) so I’m not sure if this will work or not – and the loss of Franco is a big one – but as long as they don’t just blatantly rehash the events of the first, there may be some potential here. Or it could just be more dumb Rogen jokes again, and then this whole thing is screwed.

Last Updated: February 9, 2015