Justin Long On Vince Vaughn's 'Dodgeball 2' Pitch: "It's A Great Idea" But Ben Stiller Needs To Get On Board

Nearly two decades have passed since “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” hit theaters. And for teens of the early ‘00s, Rawson Marshall Thurber’s sports comedy remains a classic. In the film, Vince Vaughn faces off against Ben Stiller in a dodgeball tournament over the ownership of Vaughn’s gym. It’s a silly premise, but Stiller plays it up well as deranged Globogym owner White Goodman, and the supporting cast of Christine Taylor, Justin Long, Rip Torn, Alan Tudyk, and Stephen Root put the movie over the top. A guilty pleasure for some but an all-time favorite for others.

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So, why didn’t they ever make a sequel? Variety reports that, according to Justin Long, Vince Vaugh apparently has a great idea for one, but Ben Stiller still needs to give it the okay. “Of course, I would love to do it, and I hope it ends up happening,” Long told ComicBook.com, “but I think Ben 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.” An understandable concern from Stiller. “It’s very risky,” continued Long. “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 recreate something that was very specific to that time, but I hope he comes around on it.”

Maybe Stiller’s afraid a sequel to “Dodgeball” may end up like 2016’s “Zoolander 2.” That hat movie tanked at the box office, making just $56 million on a $50 million budget, and critics also despised it. Stiller even told Esquire earlier this year that watching the “Zoolander” sequel go bust was “not a great experience,” so he’s wisely wary of making the same with “Dodgeball.”  

Still, in 2017, the “Dodgeball” cast had a reunion for a charity event, and Long said Stiller loved playing White Goodman again. “When we got together years later to do a little mini reunion for this charity and Ben put on the mustache again, I remember him talking about how how happy it made him playing White Goodman again and how much fun that character was,” said Long. “I do know that Vince has a great idea for it and it’s just a matter of getting Ben on board.”

And Long believes Vaughn may know what to say to for Stiller to sign on. “Vince is a very convincing person, so I’m just hoping Vince can convince him with his idea,” continued Long. “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.”

So, maybe an on-screen “Dodgeball” reunion two decades after the fact? If Vaughn, Long, Stiller, and the rest of the 2004 movie’s cast want to do it, they better do it fast. Stiller is already 56, so his Globogym days are nearly over.