Does Melissa McCarthy Need a Franchise?

Sorry, fans of The Heat (a.k.a. everyone with a brain/soul), Sandra Bullock has shot down rumors that she'll star in a sequel to the hit comedy, saying that she "can’t imagine it" ever happening. She explained the hesitance is for two reasons: 1) that “I don’t want to ruin what Melissa and I had," and 2) that "if you look back on my illustrious sequel work, nothing has proven successful."

Fair enough; even the best buddy-comedies tend to lose chemistry in their sequels (The Hangover 2, anyone?), and if Miss Congeniality 2 is any indication of Bullock’s sequel-making ability, we're probably best letting The Heat stay as is. Still, seeing as Bullock's announcement comes only two weeks after McCarthy's Bridesmaids co-star Kristen Wiig said that she refuses to make a follow-up to the 2011 hit, it got me wondering: Why won't anyone give Melissa McCarthy a sequel?

I highly doubt that Bullock and Wiig's reluctance to make sequels has anything to do with their feelings about McCarthy. From everything I've seen and read, the casts of her movies have all gotten along beautifully, and there's no reason to think animosity has anything to do with her co-stars' hesitance to star alongside her for a second time. Bullock and Wiig's stated reasons seem legitimate; it is likely that the sequels to The Heat or Bridesmaids wouldn't be as good as the originals.

Still, it's frustrating that McCarthy won't be given the chance to shine in a role twice and show that she's capable of inhabiting a character more than once without making it feel stale, something the actors behind Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, or even Rush Hour were all able to do. Even if the Heat or Bridesmaids sequels aren't good, it'd be nice for McCarthy to get the opportunity to prove critics wrong, whether or not she actually succeeds. Sequels would help her keep the widespread appeal she's currently gaining by making her accessible to larger audiences. Most importantly, though, they'd show that she is a star, not just Wiig or Bullock. They'd prove that she can hold her own as an actor, and lead a movie to success two times over.

That being said, McCarthy's franchise-free career could actually be a good thing. It'll give her the chance to star in unique roles that showcase different parts of her talent, and be a huge step in avoiding being pigeonholed by Hollywood. Sequels to Bridesmaids or The Heat could make viewers think that all she's capable of is playing tough, messy characters; constant new roles will allow audiences to see her versatility. She's great at playing dirty, but she's just as good at playing sweet, or cooky, or sensitive; You only have to watch one episode of Gilmore Girls to realize this. Not being stuck in a franchise will give McCarthy's other talents a chance to shine.

Whatever McCarthy's future plans are, I have faith. Her next three films in the works — Tammy, a comedy she wrote with her husband, St. Vincent de Van Nuys, another comedy co-starring Bill Murray and Naomi Watts, and B.O.O., an animated kids' movie — all look promising, and I can't wait to see what her characters have in store for us. It looks like America's newest sweetheart will continue to gain momentum. Still, I can't help but wonder what would happen if a Heat or Bridesmaids sequel was in her future. She'd still be America's sweetheart, for sure — but maybe, the path to success would be a little quicker.