‘Zoolander 2’: Ben Stiller Crushes Our Hopes For A Sequel

Zoolander 2 is a flick that many people can’t wait to experience on the big screen. Unfortunately, the follow-up probably won’t happen at any point in the near future.

Paramount Pictures didn’t make a ton of money off Ben Stiller’s comedy when it arrived in theaters in 2001. The $25 million comedy only grossed roughly $60 million worldwide, which isn’t really enough for the studio to get excited about a Zoolander sequel.

However, Zoolander has become something of a cult item in recent years. Thanks to DVD, people have come to appreciate the film’s unique brand of cinematic lunacy. Unfortunately, even brisk home video sales can’t convince Paramount that Zoolander 2 is something that should happen anytime soon. Insert audible sigh here.

According to Cinema Blend, Ben Stiller recently revealed that nothing is happening with the sequel at the moment. While there’s obviously an interest in Zoolander 2, nobody seems too concerned about getting the project off the ground.

“[‘Zoolander 2’] has been discussed and in some way in the works for ten years, but there are no plans to start production any time soon,” Stiller told The Hollywood Reporter.

Fashionista reported last year that Zoolander 2 would follow Derek (Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson) as they attempt to get their careers back on track. At the time, rumors suggested that Jonah Hill would join the cast. Justin Theroux, also known as Jennifer Aniston’s fiance, was reportedly on-tap to direct the sequel.

“I don’t want to give away too much, but [‘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,” Stiller explained.

While it’s obvious that certain people would love to get their hands on a copy of Zoolander 2, the first film didn’t receive a ton of strong reviews right out of the box. Late film critic Roger Ebert detested the comedy, though he later apologized to Stiller for the horrible receive he delivered upon the flick’s release.

Stiller explained last year:

“I ran into him like five or six years later backstage at ‘The Tonight Show,’ and he said, ‘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.’ I know people who like reading reviews, but, for me, you can always feel what’s getting good reviews or bad reviews. People will let you know. For me, that metric is one you can’t get wrapped up in. What do you do if they don’t like you? I guess you can learn from them.”

Are you disappointed that Zoolander 2 probably won’t happen anytime soon?