Many Zoolander 2 fans became very excited Tuesday with the release of two new posters promoting the highly-anticipated sequel.
Collider reports that Paramount Pictures released the promotional posters featuring two of the first film’s leading characters: Derek Zoolander (played by Ben Stiller) and his longtime rival-turned-friend Hansel McDonald (played by Owen Wilson).
The first promotional poster shows Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald showing off their signature looks for their smartphone cameras, apparently working hard to create perfect selfies.
The second Zoolander 2 promo poster features a black-and-white cologne advertisement featuring Derek Zoolander’s Blue Steel look and a signature fragrance called “Zoolander No. 2.”
In addition to generating laughs from longtime fans and critics of the first Zoolander movie, these two posters shine a spotlight on an even more impressive point.
Both Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson look like they hardly aged at all since the release of the first movie!
Yes, it is true that both photos were likely edited and enhanced long before they were published. However, when you take into consideration that the first film was released nearly 14 years ago, the observation is still impressive nonetheless.
In a March interview with Coming Soon , Ben Stiller explained how Zoolander 2 started to come together again – especially since the original script for a follow-up sequel was written nearly a decade ago.
“Last year, we started looking at it again and it seemed like the confluence of events of everybody wanting to do do it, and it got to a point where it actually came together. And it’s exciting to finally be able to talk about it, too.”
Stiller also confirmed the news of Zoolander 2 via social media when he posted a photograph of himself and Owen Wilson dressed in character on Instagram with a caption that spoke volumes.
“Apparently Derek and Hansel have come to terms on #Zoolander2”
Owen Wilson mentioned the odd nature of a Zoolander sequel in an August interview with The Daily Beast . The No Escape actor stated that it was a little awkward to film a sequel to a movie that did not perform well commercially when it was first released.
“The first one didn’t do that great, so it’s a little odd to be doing a sequel. It wasn’t a huge box office hit to begin with but I guess over the years some people really embraced it.”
Box Office Mojo reports that the 2001 film, Zoolander , generated more than $60.7 million at the worldwide box office – over $45 million of which was generated by sales in the United States alone.
As a director, Zoolander was Ben Stiller’s fourth film. He played more of a supporting role in the 1994 film Reality Bites starring Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder. He had a very small (and easily overlooked) acting role in his 1996 film The Cable Guy starring Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick.
The cable guy and reality bites @TGVCinemas : movies were directed by Ben Stiller? pic.twitter.com/zrU4gS7Okq ”
— Nurfitri Liyana (@LiyanaNurfitri) December 26, 2013
However, Zoolander placed Ben Stiller directly under the primary spotlight of his own movie. Years later, Ben Stiller struck box-office gold as a director with the Oscar-nominated film, Tropic Thunder . He also took more of a dramatic turn in one of his most recent directorial efforts – the 2013 film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty .
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – #BenStiller #KristenWiig #SeanPenn My Poster for #WalterMitty pic.twitter.com/dQ37mywv8x
— Shadrach Del’Monte (@shadzdelmonte) October 1, 2015
Most fans and critics, though, distinctly remember Ben Stiller for using his signature looks on the runway as a fashion model in Zoolander .
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson will reprise their roles as Derek and Hansel on the big-screen when Zoolander 2 struts its way into theaters on February 12, 2016.
[Image Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]