PITCH PERFECT 3 (2017): Elizabeth Banks Will Not Direct

Elizabeth Banks will not direct Pitch Perfect 3. After starring in Pitch Perfect (2012) and starring in and directing Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), Banks was set to direct Pitch Perfect 3 (2017). However, she stated at a conference yesterday that timing and parental duties motivated her to step down from the helm of the series’ third film.

Pitch Perfect 3 has been in development for several months, with commitments from Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Brittany Snow to reprise their roles. Recently the film’s premiere date was extended from July 2017 to December 2017 because, as Banks stated yesterday, it’s “hard to figure out what the story is.” The movie’s creators want to develop the “absolute best next movie,” and that’s why development is taking longer than originally planned.

Although Elizabeth Banks will reprise her role as a cappella commentator Gail Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberger, parental responsibilities will keep her from directing the production, which will now take place during the fall. She and her husband, Max Handelman, will stay on as producers for the project.

Leave your thoughts on this Pitch Perfect 3 news (via Variety) below in the comments section. For more Pitch Perfect 3 photos, videos, and information, visit our Pitch Perfect 3 Page, subscribe to us by Email, “follow” us on Twitter, Tumblr, or “like”us on Facebook. Pitch Perfect 3 will be in theaters on December 22, 2017.