Third 'Dumb And Dumber' Might Stall Without Jim Carrey

Just as unexpectedly as it seemingly came together, a third "Dumb and Dumber" adventure looks bound for life-support.

Jim Carrey, who starred in the 1994 Farrely Brothers smash with Jeff Daniels about roadtripping re-re chums, announced Tuesday via his publicist that he was done with trying to develop a third movie reuniting he and Daniels as Harry and Lloyd. The Los Angeles Times reports today that both Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema will torpedo the project if Carrey doesn't have change his mind and rejoin it.

Carrey's representative told "Entertainment Tonight" yesterday that the proposed "Dumb and Dumber To" wasn't progressing fast enough through development for the star's liking. Original writers and directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly were set to once more pen and lens, and a source the Times claims is close with the production but not authorized for public comment revealed that the pair still plan on completing it along with New Line. It's reportedly Warner Bros. insistence that without Carrey, the film should just die in peace.

New Line executives have allegedly harbored their own reluctance based upon stacking the "Dumb and Dumber" numbers up against 2003's prequel "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd." The 2003 feature was made without the Farrellys' involvement, and with two younger actors replacing Carrey and Daniels. "Dumb and Dumber" made $127 million in 1994. "Dumb and Dumberer" grossed $26 million domestically.

Let this one die, guys. New Line Cinema has a fantastic track record with building multi-film  franchises. It's "The House That Freddy Krueger Built" because despite the first film and "Wes Craven's New Nightmare" being the only truly great ones, "A Nightmare On Elm Street" sequels repeatedly made big bank. "Lord of the Rings?" Legendary successes. Even the first "Blade" sequel was pretty good, even if not on par with the original.

"Final Destination" proves year after year that nobody at New Line really knows what "Final" means.

But that's the thing: those narratives all had logical points to which they could travel. Before this project goes an inch further into development, someone owes an explanation detailing just how the first movie didn't wrap up everything nicely with nothing left worth saying.