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As confirmed via a genius publicity stunt today, where Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson closed out Maison Valentino's Fall/Winter 2015 fashion show in Paris in fierce form as their iconic (as far as us Millenials™ are concerned, at least) supermodel characters Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald, Zoolander 2 is indeed on the way. Along with Will Ferrell, the three delivered the so-goofy-it's-awesome original film back in 2001, and cries for a sequel from devoted Blue Steel fans have rung out ever since.
Fourteen years, a sequel to Anchorman, and three whole Night at the Museum movies later, Stiller is finally ready to give the streets what they want. But Paramount's announcement—that the film is set to drop February 12, 2016—and today's stunt aren't as random as they may seem. Stiller and a few co-conspirators have been kicking around ideas for a Zoolander 2 for years now, and there are already a few details floating around. We have roughly a year to go, so here are a few morsels to tide you over until the next big development. This is everything there is to know about Zoolander 2...including if that will really be the title.
It might have a really, really ridiculously perfect name.
Twolander is the working title for the project, according to Owen Wilson, who dropped the name during a guest stint on The Tonight Show back in 2010. Of course, it's possible he was just joking, but the idea of a Zoolander sequel is silly enough. It deserves an equally, self-aware, stupid title, no?
Derek and Hansel are taking their talents abroad.
When Stiller teased the plot about four years ago, he revealed that the sequel picks up with Derek and Hansel 10 years later, and in Europe (filming is set to begin this spring in Rome). By the time Zoolander 2, Twolander, whatever, drops, it will have been 15 years since the original. Safe bets indicate the timeline will expand to reflect as such.
The plot involves Derek and Hansel as washed-up versions of their former selves.
Some reports indicate Justin Theroux (of Tropic Thunder and Iron Man 2 screenwriting fame) worked on the new screenplay. In other instances, Stiller implied he wrote the script himself. Either way, the plot will apparently find your boys Derek and Hansel in Europe, and washed up, as most models usually are a decade after their prime. How will they regain relevance? A rumored new, antagonizing model company will probably factor into their renewed sense of runway self-worth.
Mugatu's back.
Rest assured, Ferrell's in the cut. Stiller said he wrote Mugatu into the script because he's an "integral part of the Zoolander story," and last September Will himself confirmed that he's down. No word yet on Billy Zane, though.
Penelope Cruz will be in the movie.
As a cameo? Hansel's love interest? An antagonist? Who knows, but she's listed on the IMDb page for the sequel. No doubt she'll be easy on the eyes, but here's hoping that whatever her role is, it flexes her underrated comedic skills as much as it does her beauty.
Eddie Murphy might make an appearance, and he has his own version of Blue Steel.
During promo for his new movie with Ben Stiller, Tower Heist, Eddie Murphy expressed casual interest in co-starring in a potential Zoolander sequel, and even displayed his own model gaze to match Derek's Blue Steel: "Black Iron." Obviously, he was just kidding around but hopefully the gag inspired Stiller to include a part for his homie (like the original, we're expecting plenty of cameos) once he actually gets around to writing the script.
Derek Jr. won't have inherited his father's perfect genes.
Whether he ends up being 10 or 15 years old, one plot point regarding Derek Jr., last seen stealing the runway spotlight as an infant, has been revealed; he'll be overweight. An image conscious supermodel with a fat son? Sounds like comedy gold. Let the dreamcasting begin.
