Fattening up the franchises

WHO says there are too many sequels? Certainly not the movie studios.

In addition to new installments in the “Spider-Man,” “Shrek” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, at least four other movie franchises will offer up third episodes this summer.

The highest-profile entries are George Clooney in “Ocean’s 13” (June 8), Matt Damon in “The Bourne Ultimatum” (Aug. 3) and “Rush Hour 3” (Aug. 10), the first starring role for Chris Tucker since the last “Rush Hour” movie came out six years ago. Later in the year, the third version of “Resident Evil” (Sept. 21) arrives.

There’s also a series’ fourth installment -- “Live Free or Die Hard” in the Bruce Willis franchise opens June 29 -- and a fifth chapter: July 13’s “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”

And people say Hollywood doesn’t have any new ideas.

-- John Horn