Recently we found out that Frank Darabont was on the shortlist of potential directors for Snow White and the Huntsman 2, the follow-up to 2012’s re-imagining of the fairy tale that starred Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron, and was directed by Rupert Sanders.

The news that Darabont was a candidate seemed odd. Why would the director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, and the TV series creator of AMC’s The Walking Dead, be interested in making not only a sequel to a movie he wasn’t involved in, but a sequel to a movie that also received mediocre critical response (48% on Rotten Tomatoes, 6.2/10 on IMDB)?

But it appears that the interest is real and something about the project has appealed to Darabont, as it is now being reported that he’s officially in talks to direct Snow White and the Huntsman 2.

According to Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr., Universal Pictures is scouting for potential directors to take on the sequel to the 2012 fantasy-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, and so far their shortlist of hoped-for helmers includes Gavin O’Connor (Warrior), Andy Muschietti (Mama), and most interestingly, Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption).

Darabont has been working mostly in television since the release of his last feature directorial effort, 2007’s Stephen King adaptation The Mist. He was the initial show-runner for AMC’s smashing success The Walking Dead until he and the network went through a nasty split during production on the series’ second season in 2011. Most recently he created the TNT crime series Mob City, which was cancelled after one low-rated season, and performed an uncredited rewrite on Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

When movies make money, the studios behind them make sequels. This is no secret. And with the summer’s biggest movies now behind us, it’s time to start looking at which of the movies we’ve seen released over the course of the past few months might be getting sequels.

Some are obvious, while others might come as a bit of a surprise. Continue reading to see what studios are looking at for potential sequels and which talent is already locked in.

Rupert Sander‘s Snow White and the Huntsman may have claimed the number one spot at the box office last weekend, but the film has some stiff competition from Madagascar 3 and Prometheus this weekend. But its success at the box office has sparked new life into the proposed sequel.

Universal Pictures nearly scrapped plans to make a sequel after initial tracking reported the film to be trailing behind Men In Black 3. Luckily it made one huge splash at the box office and plans for a sequel were revived. Now, the studio has hired David Koepp to write a sequel for Snow White and the Huntsman. Deadline reports that Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Stewart are optioned for two more sequels, but Sanders isn’t signed on to direct it.

Snow White and The Huntsman
Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Written by: Evan Daugherty
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin
Universal Pictures
Rated PG-13 | 127 Minutes
Release Date: June 1, 2012

“Do you hear that? It’s the sound of battles fought and lives lost. It once pained me to know that I am the cause of such despair. But now their cries give me strength. Beauty is my power.” — Queen Ravenna

In director Rupert Sanders‘ feature-film debut, Snow White and the Huntsman, the ruthless and beautiful (ruthlessly beautiful?) Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) has spilled blood and conquered countless kingdoms. For the Queen, beauty is power – and by that measure she is a Goddess, omnipotent and sovereign. There is another, however, destined to undo Ravenna’s tyrannical rule. The Magic Mirror (Chris Obi) foresees the Queen will be overthrown by her stepdaughter, Snow White (Twilight‘s Kristen Stewart), who will surpass her as “Fairest of Them All”.

Luckily, destiny isn’t always set in stone. If Queen Ravenna can consume Snow White’s still-beating heart, she will achieve immortality and eternal beauty. She summons a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to journey through the Dark Forest and capture her dear, dear Snow White.