Justin Theroux explains why he thinks it’s the perfect time forTropic Thunder 2. Directed by Ben Stiller, who co-wrote the script with Theroux and Etan Cohen, the 2008 comedy follows a group of self-absorbed actors shooting a big-budgetVietnam War moviewho, after being dropped in the jungle, must become the soldiers they are portraying to survive. The movie stars Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr., while Theroux cameos as a UH-1 Huey gunner and his DJ fromZoolander(the latter in a deleted scene).
During an interview withComicbookpromotingBeetlejuice Beetlejuice,Theroux discussed the possibility ofTropic Thunder 2. He hinted that he has some ideas for a potential sequel, though he’s keeping them secret for now, while also suggesting that evolving trends in Hollywood could play a role in shaping a sequel if further inspiration strikes, as it did with Tim Burton for theBeetlejuicesequel. Read Theroux’s full comments below:
I have some stuff already churning that I’d love to do, but I’ll keep it a secret. Hollywood just gets funnier as the years go on. It never ceases to amaze me how navel-gazing it can be. There’s a million things – we’ve gone through so many movements in Hollywood that I think those would all be somehow in the mix. Listen, if an idea strikes me, like it struck Tim, where it’s like, “Oh, this could be a sequel,” I’ll definitely do a sequel.
Will Tropic Thunder 2 Happen?
Why Now Could Be The Perfect Time For A Sequel
Released in 2008,Tropic Thunderwas beloved by critics and audiences alikeas a smart summer comedy featuring sharp satire, subversive humor, and an unforgettableperformance from Robert Downey Jr., which even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a rarity for a comedy. The movie was also a box office success that made more than $195 million, and in the years since its release, remains a bold and proactive example of American comedy. Because of its standing, there has been occasional talk of a sequel over the years.
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WhileTropic Thunder 2remains an uncertainty,a spinoff film centering on Tom Cruise’s Les Grossmanwas actually announced in 2010 with a script written by Michael Bacall (21 Jump Street,Project X), who later said the spinoff would explore the origin of Grossman’s anger issues. That iteration of the project obviously never came to fruition, but as of 2022, Cruise and his frequentMission: Impossiblecollaborator Christopher McQuarrie started working on the spin-off, though it’s unclear if Grossman would be the lead character or a supporting one.
Theroux is right about now being the perfect time for a sequel. In 2008,Tropic Thunderwas a timely satire ofprestigious war movies, the Hollywood studio system, and method acting. Over 15 years later, a sequel could take aim at more modern trends in Hollywood, such as the oversaturation of sequels, reboots, and franchise films, particularly superheroes. With Theroux being the latest to express interest in a sequel, perhaps the ball could finally get rolling onTropic Thunder 2.
Tropic Thunder
Cast
Written and directed by Ben Stiller, Tropic Thunder follows a group of bumbling actors attempting to make a Vietnam War film, who find themselves dropped into a real-life warzone when they are abandoned in the middle of the jungle they are shooting the film in. Stiller also stars in the film, with an ensemble cast that includes Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Jay Baruchel.
