The dodgeball is in Ben Stiller’s court.
Justin Long is still holding out for a sequel to “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” But only if co-star Stiller will be involved, Long insisted.
The “Barbarian” actor, 44, revealed that he’s happy to do a follow-up to the 2004 sports comedy flick; however, Stiller, 56, would need much more persuading.
“Of course I would love to do it and I hope that it ends up happening,” Long told ComicBook.com recently.
“But I think Ben [Stiller] is a little … What he told me on that podcast was that he’s a little trepidatious about doing a sequel to something so beloved, something that people enjoy so much,” the “He’s Just Not That Into You” actor added.
The “Accepted” star went on, “It’s very risky, you don’t wanna shit on the original, you want something just as good. So I think he’s a little wary of that, of trying to re-create something that was very specific to that time, but I hope he comes around on it.”
The film was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber and starred Vince Vaughn and Stiller as two rival gym owners who duel via a very intense dodgeball tournament.
The cast also includes Christine Taylor, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk and the late Rip Torn.
Long then noted how Vaughn, 52, already has an idea for a sequel and is waiting for Stiller’s consent.
He added, “Vince is a very convincing person, so I’m just hoping Vince can convince him with his idea. It’s a funny idea, I don’t wanna say what it is. I know Ben loves ‘Dodgeball’ and loves that character. I remember how much fun he had playing it. He was always laughing.”
The “Tropic Thunder” actor may be apprehensive to do another sequel after his 2016 comedy “Zoolander 2” failed at the box office at the time.
The director divulged to Esquire earlier this year that “Zoolander 2” led him to helming dramas such as “Escape at Dannemora” and “Severance.”
“I might have gotten distracted by other bright shiny objects, but instead it opened a path where I could just do what I’d honestly wanted to do for years and years, which was: just direct something!” Stiller said.
He added, “To say, I’m just going to work on this project that I want to work on, because it takes a little time to get these things going, and if you don’t stick with it you don’t get there.”