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Hollywood sequels that fans wanted but never happened

From Spider-Man 4 to Man of Steel 2, here’s a look at Hollywood sequels that fans begged for but studios shelved, teased, or kept in limbo.

September 29, 2025 / 16:57 IST
The Amazing Spider-Man 3  After The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Sony scrapped Andrew Garfield’s third outing as Peter Parker. Fans hoped for closure, but studio plans shifted toward Tom Holland’s Spider-Man joining the MCU, leaving Garfield’s arc unfinished. Even after his No Way Home return, The Amazing Spider-Man 3 remains a fan wish-list item.
1/9
The Amazing Spider-Man 3
After The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Sony scrapped Andrew Garfield’s third outing as Peter Parker. Fans hoped for closure, but studio plans shifted toward Tom Holland’s Spider-Man joining the MCU, leaving Garfield’s arc unfinished. Even after his No Way Home return, The Amazing Spider-Man 3 remains a fan wish-list item.
Man of Steel 2  Henry Cavill’s Superman debut in Man of Steel (2013) was praised, but the long-rumored sequel never materialized. Instead, DC rushed into Batman v Superman and later rebooted its cinematic universe. Cavill briefly announced his Superman comeback in 2022, only to confirm later that Man of Steel 2 was officially dead.
2/9
Man of Steel 2
Henry Cavill’s Superman debut in Man of Steel (2013) was praised, but the long-rumored sequel never materialized. Instead, DC rushed into Batman v Superman and later rebooted its cinematic universe. Cavill briefly announced his Superman comeback in 2022, only to confirm later that Man of Steel 2 was officially dead.
National Treasure 3  Nicolas Cage’s treasure-hunting adventures were massive hits in the 2000s. Fans expected National Treasure 3 to follow quickly, but Disney shelved it for years. A Disney+ series arrived instead in 2022, yet without Cage. Rumors of a film sequel pop up occasionally, but no official release has been confirmed.
3/9
National Treasure 3
Nicolas Cage’s treasure-hunting adventures were massive hits in the 2000s. Fans expected National Treasure 3 to follow quickly, but Disney shelved it for years. A Disney+ series arrived instead in 2022, yet without Cage. Rumors of a film sequel pop up occasionally, but no official release has been confirmed.
The Nightmare Before Christmas 2  Tim Burton’s cult classic from 1993 remains a fan favorite, but despite Disney exploring spin-offs, a sequel never moved forward. Burton himself has resisted the idea, saying he prefers the original to remain untouched. That hasn’t stopped fans from dreaming about Jack Skellington returning for another holiday adventure.
4/9
The Nightmare Before Christmas 2
Tim Burton’s cult classic from 1993 remains a fan favorite, but despite Disney exploring spin-offs, a sequel never moved forward. Burton himself has resisted the idea, saying he prefers the original to remain untouched. That hasn’t stopped fans from dreaming about Jack Skellington returning for another holiday adventure.
Inception 2  Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010) was hailed as a modern masterpiece, sparking constant speculation about a sequel. Warner Bros. reportedly pitched the idea, but Nolan dismissed it, preferring to leave the story’s ambiguous ending intact. Fans still debate whether Cobb was dreaming—but they won’t be getting Inception 2 anytime soon.
5/9
Inception 2
Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010) was hailed as a modern masterpiece, sparking constant speculation about a sequel. Warner Bros. reportedly pitched the idea, but Nolan dismissed it, preferring to leave the story’s ambiguous ending intact. Fans still debate whether Cobb was dreaming—but they won’t be getting Inception 2 anytime soon.
Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire  Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy redefined superhero cinema, and Spider-Man 4 was deep in development before Sony pulled the plug in 2010. The studio pivoted to Andrew Garfield’s reboot instead. Storyboards and villain concepts exist, and Tobey Maguire’s No Way Home return reignited fan interest, but Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 never happened.
6/9
Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy redefined superhero cinema, and Spider-Man 4 was deep in development before Sony pulled the plug in 2010. The studio pivoted to Andrew Garfield’s reboot instead. Storyboards and villain concepts exist, and Tobey Maguire’s No Way Home return reignited fan interest, but Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 never happened.
Sherlock Holmes 3  Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s Sherlock Holmes films (2009, 2011) were global hits, and a third installment was announced years ago. Despite multiple script rewrites and start-date rumors, Warner Bros. has yet to lock production. Downey’s Marvel commitments also delayed things, keeping Sherlock Holmes 3 perpetually stuck in pre-production.
7/9
Sherlock Holmes 3
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s Sherlock Holmes films (2009, 2011) were global hits, and a third installment was announced years ago. Despite multiple script rewrites and start-date rumors, Warner Bros. has yet to lock production. Downey’s Marvel commitments also delayed things, keeping Sherlock Holmes 3 perpetually stuck in pre-production.
Edge of Tomorrow 2  Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt’s 2014 sci-fi hit Edge of Tomorrow earned strong reviews and built a cult following. A sequel, sometimes titled Live Die Repeat and Repeat, has been teased for years. Blunt recently admitted schedules and costs keep blocking progress, leaving fans uncertain if the time-loop saga will return.
8/9
Edge of Tomorrow 2
Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt’s 2014 sci-fi hit Edge of Tomorrow earned strong reviews and built a cult following. A sequel, sometimes titled Live Die Repeat and Repeat, has been teased for years. Blunt recently admitted schedules and costs keep blocking progress, leaving fans uncertain if the time-loop saga will return.
Wall-E 2  Pixar’s Wall-E (2008) was both a box office success and an Oscar-winning gem. Fans clamored for a sequel, but Pixar has stayed quiet, sticking to stand-alone stories or other franchises like Toy Story. While Wall-E toys and shorts pop up, a true Wall-E 2 has never been on the slate.
9/9
Wall-E 2
Pixar’s Wall-E (2008) was both a box office success and an Oscar-winning gem. Fans clamored for a sequel, but Pixar has stayed quiet, sticking to stand-alone stories or other franchises like Toy Story. While Wall-E toys and shorts pop up, a true Wall-E 2 has never been on the slate.
Entertainment desk
first published: Sep 29, 2025 04:57 pm

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