Elizabeth Banks on Pitch Perfect 2: ‘It’s bigger, better, louder …everything’

Director/producer Elizabeth Banks poses for a photo with a fan at the world premiere of Pitch Perfect 2. AP

Pitch Perfect was one of the surprise hits of 2012. A breezy comedy about an all-girl a cappella singing group, starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, it took US$113 million (Dh415m) around the world.

“It was an amazing surprise, frankly – we just wanted to make a really funny movie,” says Elizabeth Banks, who not only appeared in the film in a supporting role but co-produced it with her husband, author Max Handelman, who partners her in their fledgling company, Brownstone Productions.

This is no vanity outfit. From Oliver Stone's W to The Hunger Games franchise, in which she plays the eccentric Effie Trinkett, and a recurring role on TV's 30 Rock, Banks's acting career has been steady rather than spectacular, as she openly admits.

“I love telling stories but I will be totally honest with you, the roles that come to me as an actor are not that interesting,” she says. “They’re a little boring. And I want to fight boredom in my daily life. I think that boredom is going to kill me. I’d rather be engaged and challenged – and I wasn’t finding it fully as an ­actress any more.”

That is why she started the production company with her husband. Their first movie was the 2009 sci-fi Surrogates, starring Bruce Willis – a tale about humans living in isolation. Then came Pitch Perfect, based on a novel by Mickey Rapkin, inspired by his own GQ article.

“The entire time we were making the first one, we thought no one would see it,” says Banks. “We were making a tiny little fun movie for ourselves. We knew we were making a funny movie but we had no [definite] idea the studio was even going to put this movie out.”

Audiences flocked to see the sing-a-long feel-good flick, making a sequel inevitable. This time, Banks decided to take the plunge and direct it.

“The pressure was on,” she admits. “When we were making the second one, I knew the whole time that people were going to see it. And you do not want to disappoint.”

With all of the cast returning for Pitch Perfect 2, the story of college singing troupe the Barden Bellas continues, as they are suspended from the tour circuit after their most outspoken member, Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), suffers a wardrobe malfunction in front of US president Barack Obama.

According to Banks, who also returns as sassy commentator Gail, the film follows the golden rule of sequels.

“It’s bigger, better, louder …everything,” she says. “You want to deliver on the promise to the audience that they’re going to have more fun with the characters that they love, which they will, and that they’re going to laugh.

“It’s the promise of the first movie but you’ve got to jazz it up. That’s what we did. We raised the stakes across the board. So every set piece is bigger, the cameos are more interesting – it’s funny.”

On a more personal level for Banks, it is a watershed moment in her career. Even now, very few women get to direct in Hollywood – and even fewer who started out as actors.

“I wouldn’t say I’d always wanted to direct, but I directed plays in college,” she says. “It’s something I’d been interested in.”

With the sequel complete, Banks is back to her day job – with roles in another sequel, Magic Mike XXL, and Love & Mercy, in which she plays Melinda Ledbetter, wife of The Beach Boys' musical maestro Brian Wilson.

But she feels the experience of shooting Pitch Perfect 2 has changed her for the better in at least one way.

“It makes me a little more patient with directors,” she says, laughing.

• Pitch Perfect 2 is in cinemas now