Director Judd Apatow responds to Jonah Hill's Superbad sequel idea with his own thoughts on what the story should be. Directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, 2007's Superbad is a raunchy comedy that follows high-school students Seth (Jonah Hill), Evan (Michael Cera), and Fogell aka McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) as they attempt to buy liquor for a party and have a series of misadventures that test their friendship. The film was a massive hit, pulling in $170 million at the worldwide box office and becoming an instant classic within the genre.
Despite its success, Superbad has yet to generate a sequel, and recently Hill has previously said that the only way he'd do Superbad 2 is if the concept took place when he and Cera are in their 80s and single again. Rogen has said it is the one movie he wouldn't want to make a sequel to, out of fear that it would tarnish the status that Superbad has enjoyed as one of his more celebrated films. Cera, for his part, has said that a Superbad sequel just isn't necessary and that it's never been discussed, while Mintz-Plasse has weighed in by pitching a gender-swapped version of the hit comedy.
Director Apatow, who produced Superbad, doesn't agree with Rogen, Hill, Cera, or Mintz-Plasse, however. The filmmaker believes a Superbad sequel should happen (via Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum). He says that he wanted the follow-up to be set in college, with Jonah's Seth flunking out and showing up to visit Cera's Evan at his school. But, Apatow said that he was met with the same pushback about a Superbad sequel potentially ruining the first film. Read Apatow's full quote:
"I always wanted them to do a sequel to Superbad. I know that Jonah said 'Oh it'll be funny to do it when we're 70 or 80,' but I really wanted them to do a Superbad in college where Jonah flunks out of college and just shows up and visits Michael Cera at college. But everyone was like 'Nah we don't want to screw up Superbad by accidentally making a crappy second one' and I would always say the same thing, 'Well that's like saying don't make the second episode of the of The Sopranos. Like, so why do you think we would screw up the second one?'"
Mottola followed up Superbad with Adventureland with Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, and just wrapped production on Confess, Fletch with Jon Hamm. Meanwhile, both Cera and Hill have continued their careers with varying projects, largely in the comedy genre. Cera is known for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Juno, The LEGO Batman Movie, and Arrested Development, while Hill went on to become an Oscar-nominated actor for his work in The Wolf of Wall Street and Moneyball, as well as continuing his comedy work in the 21 Jump Street franchise, and most recently with Adam McKay's Don't Look Up.
Apatow makes a sound point about continuing with a film or television concept if it works (such as his example with The Sopranos). If the cast chemistry is strong and the filmmaking team have a synergy together that creates a movie like Superbad, then it makes perfect sense to continue. It's one thing if there simply isn't an idea to make a sequel, but Superbad rests on the writing and the cast, more so than a formula to be remixed. While it's understandable that the filmmakers and cast may be apprehensive to attempt to capture lighting in a bottle a second time, all those involved are talented individuals who created a now-iconic comedy because of their skills, rather than luck. Hopefully, Apatow's pitch means a Superbad sequel happens well before Seth and Evan are in their 80s.