Elizabeth Banks signs on to direct Pitch Perfect sequel

ACTRESS Elizabeth Banks has signed on to direct the sequel to the 2012 hit. Here are 5 things we need from Pitch Perfect 2.

Good news, Pitch Perfect fans - there will be a sequel, and actor Elizabeth Banks has signed on to direct.

The original 2012 film was a massive worldwide hit, raking in more than $US110 million at the box office and kickstarting the Hollywood careers of Anna Kendrick and Australia's own Rebel Wilson.

Kendrick played Beca, a cynical and rebellious University freshman who finds herself swept up in the competitive world of a cappella singing groups when she joins the ranks of The Bellas.

39-year-old Banks, best known for her role as Effie Trinket in the Hunger Games trilogy, had a small part in the first film, but took a greater role behind the scenes: she and husband Max Handelman served as the film's co-producers and were instrumental in getting the low-budget feature off the ground.

Pitch Perfect 2, set for release next year, will be Banks' feature directorial debut. Fans will be pleased to hear that both Kendrick and Wilson have signed on for the sequel - with so many of the key players back for more, let's hope this isn't going to be another Mean Girls 2.

Here are five things we want from Pitch Perfect 2

More zingers from the commentators

News_Image_File: John Michael Higgins as John and Elizabeth Banks as Gail - both were absolutely Pitch Perfect in the original film.

Elizabeth Banks' supporting role as Gail Abernathy-McKadden, a commentator for the a cappella finals, was hilarious - as were the one-liners she traded with her co-host, John Smith (John Michael Higgins):

Gail: Whoo, that little peanut can sing!

John: He really can. It sounds to me, though, Gail, like his boys haven't dropped yet, if you know what I mean.

Gail: If you mean his testicles, then I do, John. I do. I really do.

Let's hope Banks isn't too busy in the director's chair this time to reprise her role.

Flesh out Fat Amy's love life

News_Image_File: Fat Amy: forced to escape Tasmania because of all the dudes up in her grill.

When we first meet Rebel Wilson's character in the original film, she seems the stereotypical overweight underdog - even introducing herself as Fat Amy. But as the film progresses, we begin to see that Amy does pretty well for herself: asked why she joined the singing group, she sighs, "I was really tired of all my boyfriends and I needed to get away from that." Let's further explore Amy's love life in the sequel, please - perhaps with a few big-name cameos to play the guys she ditched? Channing Tatum, Zac Efron, any and all of the Hemsworths - the choices are endless.

The return of Beca's love interest, Jesse

News_Image_File: Jesse (Skylar Astin) almost made a cappella singing groups look cool. Almost.

'Cos Skylar Astin is a dreamboat. 'Nuff said.

More (non-audible) lines for Quiet Lilly

News_Rich_Media: The best of Quiet Lilly

The quietest and most unassuming member of The Bellas, Lilly (Hana Mae Lee) got some of the film's very best lines - all delivered in the quietest of whispers. For the sequel, let's hear a little bit more from Lilly - did she really eat her twin in the womb? Does she still set fires to feel joy? And sure, we'll take a look at that dead body if the offer still stands.

A crossover hit as big as Cups

News_Rich_Media: Cups fail

Originally based on a 1931 folk tune, Anna Kendrick's show-stopper hit number six in the US, went platinum here in Australia and launched a million copycat videos - most of them pretty terrible, as you can see above.