Trish Sie Takes the Helm for ‘Pitch Perfect 3,’ Elizabeth Banks Shows Support

Director-actress Elizabeth Banks has passed on the director's chair for "Pitch Perfect 3" to Trish Sie.

This would be Sie's biggest directorial job to date, although she is not unfamiliar to musical productions having directed "Step Up All In" - which was the latest entry in the "Step Up" franchise.

Earlier this year Variety first announced that due to schedule conflicts with Banks sadly would not return to take the helm for the third film. After Banks left, Universal immediately tried to find a new director for the third installment of the musical movie.

Banks explained at the Producers Guild's Produced By conference last June that her parental duties and other projects led her to decide that Pitch Perfect's future would be better in the hands of a director who can give it a hundred percent time and attention.  

Banks cheerfully tweeted her support for the new director on Thursday afternoon sying "#PitchPerfect has a new leader - so excited @bigbadtrish is directing #PP3!"

Universal studios had moved back the movie's release to next year, Dec. 22, 2017, to gain time for finding Banks' replacement.

Pitch Perfect, a $15 million budget film, was first directed by Jason Moore who helped launch the franchise to overwhelming box office success giving Universal the confidence to give the go ahead for a second movie.

Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Brittany Snow will all return for the third film with Kay Cannon taking script writing duties. 

Although she will not be a director, Elizabeth Banks will also reprise her role as Gail and serve as a producer along with Max Handelman of Brownstone Productions for Pitch Perfect 3.