2014 is almost halfway over, which means that it's definitely time to start planning which movies we're all going to see in theaters in 2016. Though not yet quite as busy as 2015 (which will bring titans like The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Star Wars: Episode VII), 2016 already has a respectable number of major releases lined up, including Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Avatar 2.

Since producer and screenwriter Roberto Orci was recently reported to be set as director for Star Trek 3, it was fairly safe to assume that the production would clash with previous director J.J. Abrams' commitment to the new Star Wars trilogy, and that therefore Paramount is planning to set things in motion for Star Trek 3 fairly soon. Sure enough, Paramount Pictures International SVP, EMEA Edward Ryan has now announced that Star Trek 3 is coming in 2016 (also the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek brand, by no coincidence), along with several other major Paramount releases.

Speaking at the CineEurope conference in Spain, THR reports that Ryan walked attendees through Paramount's plans for 2015 and beyond. The 2015 releases were all movies that we already know about, but Ryan revealed that Star Trek 3, Transformers 5G.I. Joe 3, and Hansel and Gretel 2 are all on track to release in 2016 (along with Beverly Hills Cop 4 and Timur Bekmambetov's Ben-Hur, which already have official 2016 dates). The list probably won't please those who are tired of sequels, reboots and remakes, but for fans of any of those franchises it's an exciting line-up.

Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner in Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters

Hansel and Gretel 2 was greenlit last year, but this is the first we've heard since then of any concrete plans. The first movie was written and directed by Tommy Wirkola, whose most recent release was a sequel to his 2009 Nazi zombie horror Dead Snow, but it's currently unclear whether he'll return for this sequel as well. Presumably, Jeremy Renner is still onboard to reprise as Hansel, which might in part explain Bourne 5 being delayed.

It's not good news for everyone, however. According to THR, Ryan also said that Paranormal Activity 5 has now been pushed back to 2016 despite original plans to release it in the fall of this year. The Paranormal Activity movies are one of Paramount's most reliably profitable properties, with this year's spin-off Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones grossing over $90 million at the box office (with a $5 million production budget), so it's somewhat surprising that the studio would want to push back Paranormal Activity 5's release a second time.

Are you excited about Paramount's plans for 2016, or does just looking at that list give you sequel fatigue?

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Star Trek 3, Transformers 5, Ben-Hur, G.I. Joe 3, Hansel and Gretel 2, Paranormal Activity 5 and Beverly Hills Cop 4 are all either scheduled or expected to release in 2016.

Source: THR