If you could feel a jolt of fanboy dismay this week, it's probably because of a pair of tweets that accused Paramount of holding up progress on sequels to Zoolander and Anchorman. First, Anchorman director Adam McKay implied that the sequel to his 2004 film was dead due to what Deadline later reported was a budget impasse of up to $30 million. Then, Ben Stiller got into the action with this ambiguous tweet: "Ron Burgundy and Derek Zoolander looking to appear in sequels. Both men destitute, without means or intellect to fund their own comebacks."
Say it ain't so: Could Zoolander have strutted down his last catwalk? Movieline rang up Zoolander 2 writer/director Justin Theroux to find out what's what.
According to the multi-hyphenate (who also wrote this week's Iron Man 2), the Zoolander sequel is still very much alive. "Today and yesterday I was with Ben, and today, we continued to break story," he said. "I have not gotten word from anyone to put pencils down, so I am continuing as though we are proceeding with that film."
So what led Stiller to post his nerve-jangling tweet? "I wish I could answer that! Honestly, I don't know," he said. "You'd have to ask Ben. I have no clue what those things mean. I've heard them, too. We're operating as though it's absolutely going."
Though a first draft of Zoolander 2 is not yet written, Theroux confirmed that Owen Wilson is expected to return and Jonah Hill will play the film's villain. How did it feel to get the nod from Stiller to take over directing duties? "It was fantastic," he said. "Obviously, because he will be on set, I will be seeking his counsel. I think he's a fabulous, fabulous director, truly."
For more from my talk with Theroux -- including his thoughts on Iron Man 2's unorthodox writing process and what he has planned for the Zoolander sequel -- stay tuned.
[Photo Credit: Jeff Vespa/Contributor]