“It’s almost more difficult to work together as everybody has gotten successful. Everybody is doing their own thing, and it’s sometimes hard to get together.”
Despite Ben Stiller’s statement in 2006, it looks like things are starting to come together for Zoolander 2, the sequel to the 2001 comedy starring Stiller, Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor, Jerry Stiller, Milla Jovavich, and Will Ferrell. Yesterday it was announced that Spanish actress Penelope Cruz will join the cast in the second installment.
Stiller, who is also directing the film, will reprise his role as the empty-headed supermodel Derek Zoolander. There have been rumors that Ferrell and Wilson will also return. Ferrell confirmed his role in the upcoming film in September by saying that Mugatu is a big part of it.
“We are actually supposed to do a read-through of a sequel script soon,” Ferrell said.
At this point it isn’t clear who Cruz will be playing although, given her beauty, she could be joining as a fellow supermodel.
The 40-year-old actress just finished wrapping up Ma ma in Spain, directed by Julio Medem. She is also set to play a small role in the new Sacha Baron Cohen comedy, Grimsby.
In early 2011, Stiller confirmed that the new Zoolander script, written by Justin Theroux, was completed and gave audiences the basic plot, saying, “It’s ten years later and most of it is set in Europe… it’s basically Derek and Hansel… 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. Will Ferrell is written into the script and he’s expressed interest in doing it. I think Mugatu is an integral part of the Zoolander story, so yes, he features in a big way.”
When Zoolander first hit theaters in 2001, it wasn’t very well received but since then has gained a growing cult following. This is similar to Dumb and Dumber and Dumb and Dumber To which just hit theaters last weekend, roping in $36 million.
Does this surge of silly sequels mean we should be waiting for Dodgeball 2? We can only hope.