The 'Dodgeball' Sequel is Really Happening!
by Shannon Keirnan
“Dodgeball” fans can rejoice—that long-awaited, much hoped-for sequel is finally in the works.
The studio and production company run by Ben Stiller and his partner Stuart Cornfeld have recruited Clay Tarver to pen the story. Tarver co-wrote “Joy Ride” with J.J. Abrams but has otherwise only dabbled in smaller projects to this point.
The sequel will focus on Average Joe’s Gymnasium’s Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn) forced to team up with Globo-Gym owner and former competitor White Goodman (Ben Stiller), as the two take on an even greater enemy.
“The great opportunity is that those guys ended still completely at odds. And now they’ll have to work together, which will be really fun,” says Tarver.
He plans to have the script finished within a few months, and adds that Stiller and Vaughn have been very involved in the pre-work of pulling the film concept together.
The idea of a sequel has lingered since the film hit in 2004, though no serious action was taken. It was even a joke on Ricky Gervais’ show “Extras,” with Stiller guest-starring. “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” grossed $114 million domestically on a budget of $20 million.
No word yet on returning cast—Christine Taylor, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams and Alan Tudyk were all necessities in the first film, alongside, of course, the wrench-throwing character played by Rip Torn (who is not, apparently, as dead as the Internet would have you believe).
Also no confirmation if the director of “Dodgeball,” Rawson Marshall Thurber, will be returning to bring us our sequel.