8 Upcoming Sequels Nobody Ever Thought Would Happen

If there's one thing Hollywood loves more than itself, it's a movie with franchise potential. Nowadays, executives have no choice but to question whether what it is they're green-lighting is capable of spawning further films, should it turn a profit.

But sometimes even Hollywood struggles to get a sequel off the ground, years pass, and before long it feels like there's no way in hell that a particular follow-up will ever see the light of day. Either too much time has passed and people have lost interest, or the necessary budget is too large, marking said sequel as far too risky a venture.

And then out of nowhere it happens: a sequel we'd completely lost hope in suddenly finds its way onto a studio's upcoming release slate, years - sometimes even decades - after it seemed like everyone involved had moved on.

This can happen for a number of reasons, but for the most part it comes down to all the pieces suddenly coming together at once; a combination of the right creative people becoming free, a sudden revival in public interest, and a studio willing to take a risk. The worst case scenario, of course, is that a lost sequel finds its way into production because somebody needs to make a fast buck. When will they learn?

The original Super Troopers, which focused on the misadventures of five Vermont state troopers, made for a relative obscure release back in 2001. It brought in $21 million on a budget of only $1 million, sure, but garnered mostly negative reviews. Since then, it's entered the pantheon of cult classics, though it's safe to say that Super Troopers isn't particular well-known amongst mainstream audiences.

In the wake of its relative financial success, though, the cast and crew spent years talking up a sequel that never came to fruition. First, in 2006, it was said a sequel would take place in the '70s, following the fathers of the main characters. By 2009, however, that idea had been scrapped, and star and director Jay Chandrasekhar announced that any follow-up would take place directly after the original flick.

Then it went quiet again. For six years. Now, almost two decades after the original, Super Troopers 2 is scheduled to hit theatres this year, which is plainly nuts - especially when you consider the cast and crew turned to crowdfunding in order to raise the necessary $4.4 million. The film, of course, will once again hone in on the five wacky state troopers as they navigate an American-Canadian border dispute.

It's certified proof that - under the right circumstances - any sequel can get made.