'Predator 5' and 'Deadpool 3': new Hollywood films getting the green light

New movies and television series suggest the industry is gearing up for recovery

A third instalment of Ryan Reynolds's 'Deadpool' is reportedly in the planning stages. Courtesy 20th Century Fox

Following months of inactivity, a number of Hollywood films are being given the green light.

Disney's 20th Century Fox has announced that is developing a fifth Predator film, with 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg at the helm.

Meanwhile, Searchlight Pictures has signed Saoirse Ronan, Sam Rockwell and David Oyelowo to star in an untitled murder mystery thriller. While a production date has yet to be set, the plot revolves around a Hollywood film producer in 1950s London.

A scene from 'The Predator'. 20th Century Fox via AP

Speculation is also rife that Deadpool 3 has been given the go-ahead by Disney-owned Marvel Studios.

According to Hollywood news site Deadline, Ryan Reynolds and Marvel have enlisted Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin to pen the script for the new film, with Reynolds reprising his role as the “merc with a mouth”.

The Molyneux sisters are the creators of the new Fox animated series The Great North.

The film is in the very earliest stages of development, but the hiring of writers has been welcomed by fans, who worried about the future of the R-rated franchise after Marvel was acquired by the more family-friendly Disney.

While the Deadpool team has yet to confirm the rumors, they did post a Giphy on the @deadpoolfilm Twitter account, of a mustached man holding a burger, that many are seeing as confirmation of the news.

Meanwhile, HBO has confirmed that it is proceeding with a series adaptation of the hugely popular game franchise The Last of Us.

Set 20 years after the destruction of modern civilisation, The Last of Us centre on Joel, a survivor of the apocalypse who is hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl named Ellie out of an oppressive quarantine zone.

"We're thrilled to be working with HBO and this fantastic creative team to bring The Last of Us series to life," said Sony Pictures TV Studios president Jeff Frost and PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash in a statement.

The Last of Us is being converted into an HBO series

"PlayStation's innovative storytelling and ingenuity is a natural complement to SPT’s creative focus. Our collaboration is a great example of our 'One Sony' philosophy at work. We look forward to developing even more iconic game IP in the future.”

While viewers may have to wait a while before many of these projects come to fruition, they may take solace from news that Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy, will debut on Amazon Prime Video on March 5, 2021.

While the film was originally intended to release in cinemas, the streaming service acquired it from Paramount last month. James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and John Amos will also be reprising their roles, alongside new additions like Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and KiKi Layne.

Eddie Murphy in 'Coming to America'. Courtesy Paramount Pictures

"Coming to America was a cultural phenomenon that is one of the most loved and celebrated comedies of all time," said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. "We know audiences around the world will fall in love with this hilarious, joyful movie that will surely become a timeless favorite."

Finally, after various delays, Wonder Woman 1984 is due for release in cinemas and on streaming services on December 16.