With Neighbors, Zac Efron was given the opportunity to grow beyond his Disney Channel image and take part in something a lot more adult. Now new reports have confirmed that Neighbors 2 will offer a similar opportunity to Selena Gomez, who has signed on for a part in the Nicholas Stoller-directed sequel.
Variety has the scoop on this casting story, noting that the actress has been spotted on the set of the comedy - which is currently in production. No official details have been revealed about her role in the movie, though she was spotted wearing sorority girl-esque clothing. While this is just speculation, it wouldn't be hard to believe that she is playing a part somewhat similar to the one played by Dave Franco in the first Neighbors - which is to say that she will be second-in-command at the sorority house behind Chloe Moretz's character.
Fans will be quick to note that this isn't the first time that Selena Gomez has broken away from her own Disney Channel image, as she was part of the teen startlet ensemble that made up the cast of Harmony Korine's R-rated crime film Spring Breakers. That being said, Gomez's character was really the only one in the movie who never really got the opportunity to let her hair down, so it's possible that Neighbors 2 could be the project to really let her get wild.
Based on a script by Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Nicholas Stoller, Neighbors 2 doesn't have an official plot description just yet, but it has been rumored that the film will be titled Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (suggesting that a sorority will be the antagonist of the new movie instead of a fraternity like in the original). Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Ike Barinholtz, and Carla Gallo will all be back to reprise their roles in the sequel, while Kiersey Clemons will be counted among the newcomers in the movie - also set to play a sorority sister.
Comedy sequels have a rather miserable track record, and there is a part of me seriously worried that Neighbors 2 will just be a carbon copy of the first movie - but I'm still holding out hope for it. The reality is that the movie has some incredibly funny and talented people working on it, and while it's a crew that we've never actually seen a sequel from, that fact just makes the project more interesting. Perhaps they've cracked the code.
Filming on Neighbors 2 will likely last for the next few weeks, and will have a pretty quick turnaround in post-production (it's not like it requires that much CGI). Universal Pictures currently has it scheduled to come out on May 20, 2016.
