'American Reunion' Was Seann William Scott's Inspiration

Have you looked at the upcoming comedy grand slam "American Reunion" and thought to yourself, "This movie feels completely unnecessary?" Well, as would probably be a plausible catch-all defense for many a bad idea, you could blame Stifler for that.

The latest proper sequel in the coming-of-age sex comedy anthology - not counting the several direct-to-video spin-offs, the first since 2003's "American Wedding" - reunites 1999's entire original "American Pie" cast for the first time since that ensemble romp re-invented the high school sex comedy. After hearing what Scott told Digital Spy recently, it sounds like it certainly took this "reunion" concept a head-scratchingly long time.

The whole "reunion" concept was actually pitched by Scott way back around the first movie's breakthrough. Main players instead dropped out increasingly over the ensuing two direct sequels. Co-leading sexy ladies Shannon Elizabeth and Mena Suvari were both reduced to bit roles after lots of screen time in the first movie. "American Wedding" only included returning leads Alyson Hannigan, Jason Biggs, Thomas Ian Nichols, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Eugene Levy and Scott. Though not appearing, franchise leads Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth and Suvari were never even really paid the courtesy of having their absences explained.

"It was a long time in the making because I pitched the movie three years ago, the idea of bringing everybody back for a high school reunion," Scott, who co-executive produced the movie with Biggs, explained. "I had three years to go, 'Wow, how much fun is it going to be to play Stifler in his 30s'. It was a blast."

Shot over this past summer in and around Atlanta following a late-spring start, the movie does indeed tell the story of what's happened to everyone since "American Wedding." Jim (Biggs) and Michelle (Hannigan) are happily married and raising a baby. Oz (Chris Klein) is now an NFL sportscaster. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) works from home as an architecht. Finch (Thomas) has become a world traveler. But Stifler is in his 30s and running a car wash. "He's regressed . . . I was like, 'He's gotta be just weird! He's older now, so he's got to be weirder and crazier!'" Scott said. "I don't eat dog s**t in the movie, though, not like in ['American Wedding']. Some weird stuff happens."

The whole East Great Falls High School Class of '99 reunion goes down April 6 in theaters everywhere. Naturally, it will be rated "R."