12 Unexpected Movie Sequels You Didn't Know Are Happening

8. The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

Why It's Unexpected

2017's action-comedy The Hitman's Bodyguard is the textbook example of a modest success, scoring mixed reviews from critics but grossing $176.6 million worldwide against a $69 million budget.

That's not quite the sort of box office business that typically makes a studio fast-track a sequel, and given that the film quickly came and went without much fanfare, it really felt like this was destined to be a one-off.

But on the other hand, it's also easy to imagine how the film likely performed well on home video, and the ongoing popularity of stars Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson really speaks for itself.

What We Know

A sequel was said to be in development by mid-2018, though it's fair to say that many assumed it'd simply end up another long-suffering sequel that never actually went into production.

Well, the film - hilariously entitled The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard - started shooting last month, with director Patrick Hughes and all the principal cast returning. Clearly, Salma Hayek's titular character is also being afforded a far meatier role this time around.

New cast members meanwhile include Frank Grillo, Tom Hopper, Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman, and though there's no release date yet set, it's reasonable to expect a summer 2020 bow for this one.