A sequel to Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is officially in the works after nearly 20 years, with Vince Vaughn set to reprise his role. Deadline reports that a sequel to the cult comedy starring Vaughn and Ben Stiller is in early development at 20th Century Studios, with Vaughn likely to produce.
According to Deadline, the film is set to “continue the story of Vaughn’s prize-winning gym owner” Peter LaFleur. The Binge screenwriter Jordan VanDina will pen the script based on an idea from Vaughn.
The original 2004 sports comedy centres on a group of misfits who come together to save their beloved Average Joe’s Gym. It follows their entry into a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in a bid to win its $50,000 prize and save the gym from being taken over by corporate chain Globo Gym, owned by Stiller’s White Goodman.
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The film grossed more than $168m against a $20m budget and became a cult classic. It starred an ensemble cast including Justin Long, Christine Taylor, Hank Azaria, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Gary Cole, Jason Bateman, and the late Rip Torn.
All that’s known about the #Dodgeball sequel, in terms of plot, is that it will continue the story of Vince Vaughn’s prize-winning gym owner. Serving as the basis for VanDina’a script is an idea from Vaughn https://t.co/aeS8rzUBWn pic.twitter.com/mmixwY0UCd
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE)
Dodgeball’s writer and director Rawson Marshall Thurber previously discussed the possibility of a sequel in a 2021 interview with Deadline.
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“You know what – never say never. I never thought about Dodgeball as a series, but that actually might be fun,” he said.
“I’m really proud of Dodgeball – it’s my first film and something people still really like it seems. I would say never say never, and it would have to be the right take on it. But yeah, maybe.”
While it is unclear which of the film’s stars will also reprise their roles, Long revealed his hopes of bringing Stiller on board in a 2022 interview with ComicBook.com.
“I would love to do it and I hope that it ends up happening, but I think Ben is a little trepidatious about doing a sequel to something so beloved,” he said. “It’s very risky, you don't want to s**t on the original, you want something just as good, so I think he’s a little wary of that.
“I know Ben loves dodgeball and loves that character. When we got together years later to do a reunion and Ben put on the mustache again I remember him talking about how happy it made him and how much fun that character was.
“I do know that Vince has a great idea for it and it’s just a matter of getting Ben on board. Vince is a very convincing person, so I’m just hoping Vince can convince him with his idea.”
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