'Pitch Perfect 3' release date, plot, cast news: Barden Bellas will be back in July 2017; four stars confirmed to return

Pitch Perfect 2Universal Pictures

Fans of the movie series would be happy to know that "Pitch Perfect 3" is scheduled to be released earlier than planned. It is now slated to hit the big screen by July 21, 2017, bringing along four of its original stars, Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson and Hailee Steinfeld.

Variety reported that Universal Studio has moved the release date earlier for "Pitch Perfect 3." It was originally scheduled for an Aug. 4, 2017 debut. The three original stars of the movie have already signed up to be cast again for the third part.

The report also mentioned that Elizabeth Banks will once again be taking the helm, for the second time for the series, while Kay Cannon will be in charge of the screenplay for the third time.

The Hollywood Reporter said that Steinfeld will also back in the a capella comedy movie but many in the ensemble cast are still unknown. It is not yet clear if Bumper, played by Adam DeVine, will be back to be Wilson's love interest, while Skylar Astin, who plays Jesse, is just waiting for the phone to ring.

Astin said, "When the time comes and when it's time to pick up the phone, I know they will and they know that I'll answer. We're pretty Zen about it."

"Pitch Perfect 2" was released in May 2015, and the comedy movie made US$69.2 million in its opening weekend. Worldwide figures reached US$287.5 million and production budget was merely US$29 million. It is no wonder that Universal wanted to reach its fans much earlier and it may again succeed. The first movie in the series was not that bad either at the box office, getting US$115.4 million worldwide against a US$17 million production budget.

MovieFone mentioned that the new date will pit the Bellas against Christopher Nolan's upcoming "Dunkirk," Luc Besson's "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets," and Fox's animated movie, "The Story of Ferdinand."

The plot of "Pitch Perfect 3" has not been revealed as of this writing.