In case it hasn't sunk in yet: yes, Dumb and Dumber To - Bobby and Peter Farelly's aptly-named sequel to their popular 1990s lowbrow comedy hit Dumb and Dumber - has, in fact, begun production, with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprising as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, respectively.

This news arrives following a year of speculation as to the belated project's fate, teetering between falling into the abyss of development hell for comedy sequels (where it would've joined Ghostbusters 3) and finally becoming a reality. (That Dumb and Dumber 2 began production right after Daniels became an Emmy-winner for his role as Will McAvoy on Aaron Sorkin's self-important TV series The Newsroom - that's just icing on the cake.)

Hence, there's been a surge in casting announcements for the project in recent weeks. 1980s icon/Oscar-nominee Kathleen Turner (more recently seen as Sue Collini on Californication) was one of the first new additions confirmed for Dumb and Dumber To, followed not too long thereafter by such recognizable faces and small screen actors/actress as The Walking Dead alum Laurie Holden (who plays Andrea on AMC's successful zombie/survival drama TV series).

Rob Riggle cast in Dumb and Dumber To

THR, following the start of production, has since confirmed that comedic type Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street) is onboard for the Farrelly's long-awaited sequel, which picks up in real-time after the first movie and is reported to revolve around Harry and Lloyd's efforts to locate Harry's (presumed...) long-lost daughter - as featured in the script written by the filmmaking siblings, partly drawing from an earlier draft written by Sean Anders and John Morris (We're the Millers).

In addition, it's been revealed that a certain Oscar-winning actress will make a cameo in the film. If you don't want to be spoiled ahead of sitting down to watch Dumb and Dumber To in theaters, then STOP READING NOW.

*

**

***

MILD SPOILER AHEAD

***

**

*

Still here? The actress in question happens to be a confessed hardcore fan of the original Dumb and Dumber - and yes, of course we mean Meryl Streep Jennifer Lawrence. Unfortunately, Lawrence won't be playing the (purported) offspring of Harry; rather, she is reported to be playing the young version of Turner's character via a flashback sequence.

Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkholme

Turner, as it were, is reported to be playing Harry's former flame and baby mama, who sends him and Lloyd a letter revealing that the former's child needs a kidney transplant. Meanwhile, Riggle is supposed to make a double-appearance, as a pair of twins: handyman Travis and his unstable brother, Captain Lippencott ("Captain" of what, is anyone's guess right now).

Intriguing casting announcements aside, many a person is just waiting on the trailer for Dumb and Dumber To, in order to better gauge whether this sequel looks to be a good idea finally realized... or a bad idea that never should've happened in the first place. Daniels, for his part, has promised that the sequel will outdo the original Dumb and Dumber in terms of (dis)tasteful gags and outrageous humor. Thing is, not having enough lewd humor is generally not something that the Farrellys' output from the past 10-15 years (see: Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hall, Three Stooges, etc.) has been criticized for.

Do you think the casting and premise for Dumb and Dumber To is crazy enough to work - or just crazy?

_____

Dumb and Dumber To doesn't have an official release date yet, but is expected to open in theaters in 2014 (i.e. in time for the original movie's 20th anniversary).

Source: THR