After actor Justin Theroux told Vulture that he was most likely backing out of directing the sequel, Ben Stiller seems the best choice for Zoolander 2.
Justin Theroux, fiance of Jennifer Anistion (Friends, We’re the Millers), originally appeared in the first film as the evil D.J. and was on board to direct the second installment until other opportunities got in the way.
“Yeah, we’ve got a script for the sequel, and we’ve just been in talks again,” he said. “We’re trying to sharpen it and hone it and, actually, I don’t want to jinx anything, but it looks like it actually might be starting to get up and running.”
But coordinating everyone’s schedules has been difficult.
“It’s actually been a little hard with The Leftovers, but now I’m back full-time to dedicate time toward doing it. I met with Ben a couple times when I was in New York doing the show, and then I’m meeting again with him probably in September.”
But when asked if he would be directing the new film, Theroux said that he didn’t think he was going to do it anymore.
“It really depends on whether [The Leftovers] gets picked up. If it gets picked up, then I don’t think I’ll have the time to do it. So it’ll probably get handed to Ben, which would be awesome.”
In the 2001 comedy, Ben Stiller played Derek Zoolander, a dim-witted but good-natured male fashion model. Other members of the cast included Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor (Stiller’s wife), Will Ferrell, Jerry Stiller, John Voight, Vince Vaughn, and many others including several celebrity cameos.
Although the film only grossed $60 million worldwide, thanks to DVD it eventually gained a large cult following.
Roger Ebert, who orginally wrote a horrible review of the film, later apologized to Stiller, saying,”Hey, I just want to apologize to you. I wrote that about Zoolander, and I [now] think it’s really funny. Everything was a little crazy [back then]. It was September 11 and I went overboard.”
However, despite the public interest, Stiller has not committed to directing Zoolander 2.
“[‘Zoolander 2’] has been discussed and in some way in the works for ten years,” Stiller told the Hollywood Reporter. “But there are no plans to start production any time soon.”
But Stiller did add that “[Zoolander 2 is] basically Derek and Hansel ten years later. Though the last movie ended on a happy note a lot of things have happened in the meantime. Their lives have changed and they’re not really relevant anymore. It’s a new world for them.”
Time will tell if Stiller actually agrees to direct, if Theroux changes his mind, or if Zoolander 2 will even happen at all. But fans sure hope to get to see “Blue Steel” again soon.
Image via YouTube