Dodgeball sequel gets the go ahead

Get ready to dodge, dip, duck, dive and… dodge all over again, as 20^th Century Fox and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour have commissioned the script for the Dodgeball sequel.

This one has been a long time coming, having been a rumour since the original’s release in 2004. Now, news comes that steps have finally been taken to get this project off the ground. The original film was written and directed by Rawson Thurber, however, with new writer Clay Tarver tackling the script; it is unclear as to whether Thurber will return for the sequel.

Little is known about the sequel at this stage, other than the plot will revolve around Vince Vaughn’s slacker gym owner, Pete La Fleur, teaming up with old rival, the deliriously manic White Goodman (Stiller), to face down a new threat. With a little luck the original’s stellar cast of Justin Long, Christine Taylor, Rip Torn, Stephen Root and Alan Tudyck (as well as the hilarious commentary duo of Jason Bateman and Gary Cole) will return.

The original Dodgeball film, released back in 2004, centred on Vaughn’s La Fleur, an easy-going guy running a gym occupied by a bunch of out-of-shape misfits. When La Fleur’s gym comes into financial troubles, La Fleur and the gang, with a little guidance from Dodgeball legend Patches O’Houlihan (Torn), enter a Dodgeball contest. Unfortunately for them Goodman, owner of the rival and shinier complex, Globo Gym, has also entered a team in a bid to beat La Fleur and takeover his gym.

If Tarver can capture the impressive humour and slapstick entertainment of the first film, we may be in for a treat. No word on the release date yet, but expect more news to come on this one.