Ace Ventura 3 is officially in the works, and here's everything we know so far about the sequel to Jim Carrey's classic pet detective comedies. While Carrey is regarded as a comedy legend today, and also renowned for his occasional forays into dramatic acting, his ascent to movie stardom can all be traced back to one character: Ace Ventura. While his years on FOX sketch comedy show In Living Color helped get Carrey noticed by the masses, it was his turn as the unorthodox animal sleuth that vaulted Carrey to the A-list.

With Ace Ventura, Carrey was basically allowed to cut loose, incorporating his skills with wacky facial expressions, slapstick, and vocal manipulation into just about every scene. It was a role tailored to Carrey's strengths, and left audiences wanting more of both the character and the actor. Naturally, critics hated Ace Ventura - after all, its lead literally talks out of his butt - but moviegoers found Ace hilarious, turning the comedy into a smash hit.

Related: Every Ace Ventura Movie Ranked

Critics were even more unkind to sequel Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, but Carrey and company got the last laugh, making even more money at the box office. Since then, Carrey has moved on and the franchise has went largely dormant. Until now, that is.

Why Ace Ventura 3 Has Taken So Long

Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura Pet Detective

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls hit theaters in 1995, and outside of animated series and a mostly forgotten TV movie about Ace Ventura Jr., there's been no forward movement on the franchise. An Ace Ventura 3 was reported as being in development back in December 2019, and in March 2021, rights holders Morgan Creek confirmed that a third Ace Ventura outing is indeed in the works. As for why a proper third movie never happened up until now, the primary reason is Jim Carrey himself, who rarely does sequels, and had no interest in returning. However, he's reportedly become open to the idea in more recent years.

Ace Ventura 3 Story

Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

At this point, with Ace Ventura 3 still in the pre-production stages, absolutely no information has been released regarding the plot of the sequel. Considering the wacky nature of Ace and the cases he investigates, and just how different the first two films are from one another, the possibilities for what Ace could do next are wide open. One presumes his passion for protecting animals is alive and well, and he's still finding himself in sticky situations.

Ace Ventura 3 Cast & Crew

ace ventura jim carrey

As for the crew, Morgan Creek has revealed that writing duo Pat Casey and Josh Miller are handling scripting duties on Ace Ventura 3, after previously penning the well-received Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Where things get tricky is that no cast is yet confirmed, very much including Jim Carrey himself. It's impossible to imagine Ace Ventura 3 working without Carrey in the lead, and it would be foolish for Morgan Creek to proceed without him. However, the hiring of Sonic's writers might be a clue, as they just wrote for Carrey's Dr. Robotnik.

Ace Ventura 3 Release Date

Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura - Surprised Face

Since it's still in the early stages, Morgan Creek has yet to set a release date for Ace Ventura 3. With Hollywood only now beginning to escape from its Coronavirus-induced production prison, it's possible that Ace Ventura 3 might not begin filming until 2022, whether or not Carrey gets locked in to return. It's unlikely we'll Ace Ventura unleash another alrighty then in theaters before 2023.

More: The Actors Who Almost Played Ace Ventura (Instead of Jim Carrey)