For those of you who had given up on Paramount releasing a sequel to ‘Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters,’ it seems that the studio has just assigned a new director to the film. Bruno Aveillan has officially been brought on board to handle a second ‘Witch Hunters’ movie. For those unfamiliar with Aveillan’s history directing – that would include most of us as well! His only credit so far is a short film titled ‘The Farmer Project’ from 2009. Most of his work prior to that had been in commercials and while that doesn’t mean he can’t direct, it makes you wonder how much faith the studio has in the film that didn’t do that great domestically at the box office when it was released.

In fact, if it wasn’t for the international box office sales it is highly unlikely that a sequel would even see the light of day.

Tommy Wirkola directed the first film and was scheduled to tackle the sequel until he dropped out last year by saying:

“I’ve just decided to not direct Hansel & Gretel 2. I have been lately attached to a few more things, it’s just a matter of time and priorities. I did Dead Snow 1, then Hansel & Gretel 1, and then Dead Snow 2. I want to do something a little bit different now and not just do sequels. I did write the script and I hope to be involved in it. But yeah, I won’t be directing it.”

As of right now there is no word that either Jeremy Renner (‘The Avengers‘,’Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’) and Gemma Arterton (‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,’ ‘Clash of the Titans’) would return to reprise their roles though previously Renner said he would be interested in revisiting the character. Both have had quite a history of doing action films and even though ‘Hansel and Gretel’ may have under performed, it was a fun ride that would benefit from their continued involvement.

Are you looking forward to a sequel to ‘Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters’? Do you think the franchise could find a way to carry on if either Renner or Arterton back out from further production? Do you think that the first film even warranted a sequel? Share your thoughts below!

Source: Deadline