'Pitch Perfect 3' moving forward at Universal with writer Kay Cannon

There will be more, dear pitches, but it won't be cheap. With Pitch Perfect 2's massive $160.9 million in domestic box office (and counting), Universal and Gold Circle are moving ahead on a third installment.

Sources say negotiations have begun with Kay Cannon, who wrote the first two movies, to return for a third. It remains to be seen whether co-star Elizabeth Banks, a steward of the franchise as one of its producers, will return to the director's chair.

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How a story would reunite the core Barden Bellas now that (spoiler alert) most have graduated college will be easier than making deals for such stars as Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, who sources say were paid about $2 million each for Pitch 2, which cost $29 million to make. That's a step up from their fees for the original 2012 film, which were in the low-six figures for Kendrick and less than $100,000 for Wilson, whose Fat Amy became the breakout.

Deals for a third movie will be costly because options aren't in place for the pair. In contrast, say sources, Universal and Gold Circle were smelling a franchise when they made sure to lock in series newcomer Hailee Steinfeld for a follow-up.

See some tweets below of people responding to the news:

This story first appeared in the June 19 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.