Jack Black thinks it’s time to reprise one of his breakout starring roles. THR reports (via JOE) that the comedic actor said he’s “ready” to do a sequel to Richard Linklater‘s “School Of Rock,” the comedy from 2003.
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“I wish there’d be a “School of Rock 2 Electric Boogaloo,”” Black told the outlet, a riff on the title to the 1984 sequel to “Breakin’,” a breakdanced-themed cult movie. Linklater’s film saw Black star as Dewey Finn, a rocker turned substitute teacher at a private elementary school who transforms the kids in his class into a rock band. The film was one of Linklater’s biggest commercial successes, taking in $131.5 million off a $35 million budget at the box office. And Black’s manic, gleeful leading role was a career breakthrough, leading him to launch similar projects like “Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny” in 2006.
“School Of Rock” also stars Mike White, who also wrote the film, Joan Cusack, Adam Pascal, Lucas Papelias, Sarah Silverman, Chris Stack, and Miranda Cosgrove. And since it’s been over two decades since the original film, there’d likely be a “school reunion” quality to the sequel. All those child actors from the band, like Papelias and Cosgrove, are now at least in their thirties, with Black at age 54, White at 53, and Cusack at 61. So that’s something to consider for “School Of Rock 2.”
But Black has one condition he wants followed for a potential sequel: Mike White needs to write the script. But White is in a career renaissance right now after creating “The White Lotus,” one of HBO‘s most popular shows of the past few years, so he may be a little too busy to pen something up for Black & co. “You know Mike White wrote the first one and he’s a genius,” Black said. “And we’d have to have Mike White back in the saddle, but he’s real busy right now with “White Lotus,” the best show on TV.”
That right, White’s Ned Schneebly, Finn’s roommate in “School Of Rock,” created HBO’s acclaimed dark comedy about a global hotel chain and its guests and staff. And one can’t imagine White would apply that show’s sensibility in a “School Of Rock” sequel. But the difference between the 2003 film and series, which just started shooting its third season in Thailand, shows White’s range and abilities as a writer. Maybe “School Of Rock 2” comes into fruition after Season 3 of “The White Lotus” wraps?
In all likelihood, a “School Of Rock” sequel won’t happen any time soon, but it has had follow-ups of sorts in recent years. Nickelodeon made a TV series based on Linklater’s movie that lasted three seasons, from 2016 to 2018. And a Broadway musical based on the film opened in 2015 before closing in 2019. Maybe those two endeavors didn’t last because they lacked the voice, charisma, and energy of Black, White, Linklater, and the movie’s original ensemble. But hey, if White is game to cook something up, maybe “School Of Rock 2 Electric Boogaloo” could be another hit film all these years later.