There will be more, dear pitches, but it won't be cheap. With Pitch Perfect 2's massive $160.9 million in domestic box office (and counting), Universal and Gold Circle are moving ahead on a third installment.

Sources say negotiations have begun with Kay Cannon, who wrote the first two movies, to return for a third. It remains to be seen whether co-star Elizabeth Banks, a steward of the franchise as one of its producers, will return to the director's chair.

How a story would reunite the core Barden Bellas now that (spoiler alert) most have graduated college will be easier than making deals for such stars as Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, who sources say were paid about $2 million each for Pitch 2, which cost $29 million to make. That's a step up from their fees for the original 2012 film, which were in the low-six figures for Kendrick and less than $100,000 for Wilson, whose Fat Amy became the breakout.

Deals for a third movie will be costly because options aren't in place for the pair. In contrast, say sources, Universal and Gold Circle were smelling a franchise when they made sure to lock in series newcomer Hailee Steinfeld for a follow-up.

Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson will be back for the third installment in the Pitch Perfect franchise.

Universal has dated Pitch Perfect 3 for Friday, July 21, 2017.

Paul Brooks of Gold Circle Entertainment and Max Handelman and Elizabeth Banks of Brownstone Productions are returning to produce.

As The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported, Kay Cannon, who wrote the first two installments, is in talks to write the third film. It's unclear whether Banks will return to the director's chair.

Pitch Perfect 2, directed by Banks, opened in May to strong success at the box office, taking in $259.7 million worldwide to date. The first installment in the acapella franchise earned $115.4 million worldwide. The series stars Kendrick, Wilson and Brittany Snow, and the second film added Hailee Steinfeld as an important new member of the group.

The only other film currently slated for release on July 21, 2017 is an untitled DreamWorks animation project.

Kendrick, who plays Becky (one of the leaders of the Bellas), has The Accountant with Ben Affleck, Mr. Right with Sam Rockwell and Fox Searchlight’s Table 19. She's repped by CAA and Morris Yorn.

Wilson's upcoming projects include spy spoof Grimsby and ensemble film How to Be Single. She's repped by WME.

Brittany Snow will reprise her role as the nodes-stricken Chloe in the upcoming Pitch Perfect 3, joining fellow (former) Barden Bellas Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson in the third installment of the powerhouse a cappella franchise. The film will be released on July 21, 2017.

Elizabeth Banks is set to return to the director’s chair for Pitch Perfect 3, THR has confirmed.

Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson are all onboard to reprise their roles from the hit musical comedy franchise, set in the world of competitive a cappella.

Kay Cannon, who wrote the first two films, was the first person hired on for the third installment. Banks is producing along with her husband Max Handelman and Gold Circle topper Paul Brooks.

The move finally solidifies the future one of Universal’s money-making franchises as it wasn’t immediately clear that Banks, who directed the second installment, would return for the third chapter.

Banks made her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, which has earned $285.2 million worldwide and marked the highest domestic opening ever for a first-time director. Since its success, the actress-producer has found a budding directing career and has signed on to several projects, including the YA adaptation Red Queen and Sony’s reboot of Charlie’s Angels.

She’s repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham.

The “Pitch Perfect” franchise looks to be in need of a new captain to steer the ship, as sources tell Variety that Elizabeth Banks will no longer helm “Pitch Perfect 3.”

Banks isn’t leaving the franchise in favor of a specific project, sources say, but her increasingly packed schedule did play a part in her exit as director.

Universal recently pushed the release date from July 21, 2017 to December 22, 2017. Sources say her departure was amicable.

Banks will continue to serve as producer, a job she has held since the first film, and will reprise her role as Gail. She helmed the most recent installment which grossed $285 million worldwide including $183 million domestically.

“Pitch Perfect 3” now becomes one of the town’s hottest directing assignments given the success of the previous two installments. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow are all signed on to return with Kay Cannon penning the script.

Joining Banks as producers are Paul Brooks and Scott Niemyer of Gold Circle Films.

Banks can be seen next as the villain in Lionsgate’s “Power Rangers” reboot. She is also attached to direct films including a “Charlie Angels” reboot at Sony and “Red Queen” for Universal.

She is repped by UTA.

Ruby Rose, recognizable from Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” has started negotiating for a role in the upcoming “Pitch Perfect” sequel, TheWrap has learned.

The third installment of the Universal and Gold Circle movie is due in theaters on Dec. 22, 2017.

Trish Sie took over the reins as director from Elizabeth Banks, who helmed the hit “Pitch Perfect 2.”

Banks will back in the movie, reprising her role as Gail. Other returning cast members will include Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow.

Banks is also staying on board as a producer for the threequel. Max Handelman of Brownstone Productions and Paul Brooks of Gold Circle Entertainment are also producing.

Kay Cannon wrote the screenplay, though plot details haven’t yet been shared as Mike White and Dana Fox have added extra polish to the script.

The movie was previously bumped from a July 21, 2017, release date.

Universal’s vice president of production Sara Scott will oversee the production of the studio.

“Pitch Perfect 2” boasts the highest-grossing movie musical opening of all time. It grossed more than $250 million worldwide — more than double the original’s $115 million gross — which indicates growing interest in the female-driven franchise.

Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office. After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.