---

Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne are moving back in for Neighbors 2, Universal Pictures said today in slating the sequel to last year’s surprise R-rated hit for May 13, 2016. The original opened to almost $50M in a similar slot last May and ended up grossing $268M-plus worldwide, making it 2014’s top-grossing original comedy.

Nicholas Stoller is returning to helm and The Interview pair Rogen and Evan Goldberg will produce with James Weaver under their Point Grey Pictures. Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien, who wrote the original, are back to pen this one too and will executive produce alongside Good Universe’s Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake.

Rogen, Stoller and Goldberg will also do some writing.

Universal had previously staked out the date for an untitled R-rated comedy, and last summer Rogen and Goldberg (pre-The Interview) said they had been taking meetings about a sequel to the summer comedy but weren’t sure a deal could get done. (On the first one, they had to trim the budget to $18M, making for a hefty profit: Point Grey’s previous pics 50/50 was made for $8 million and This Is the End for $32 million.)

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Later this year she starts filming a Neighbors sequel, tentatively titled Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Chloe Moretz is in negotiations to join Zac Efron and Seth Rogen in Universal’s sequel to their 2014 smash hit “Neighbors.”

Besides Efron and Rogen, Rose Byrne is on board to return with director Nicholas Stoller also coming back. The original was a surprise hit with $269 million in worldwide grosses.

The original pic revolved around a couple whose lives are turned upside after declaring war on the fraternity that moved in next door. The sequel’s plot is unknown, as well as the character Moretz will be playing.

Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver will produce under their Point Grey Pictures banner. Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien will serve as executive producers alongside Good Universe’s Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake.

Writers include Cohen, O’Brien, Rogen, Stoller and Goldberg.

Moretz has made a career out of doing darker, edgier roles such as Hit Girl in the “Kick Ass” franchise and “The Equalizer.” Her performance in “Neighbors 2″ will mark her first comedy for the rising star, who continues to show balance at a young age.

She was last seen in “Laggies” opposite Keira Knightley and can be seen next in “Dark Places” with Charlize Theron and Sony’s “The Fifth Wave.” She is repped by WME, T Squared Entertainment and Sloane Offer.

The pic will bow on May 13, 2016.

---

---

---

---

---