Jonah Hill's idea for a sequel to his 2007 comedy classic Superbad is a brilliant take on comedy sequels. The original Superbad starred Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, and Emma Stone. The 16-year-old film followed Hill, Mintz-Plasse, and Cera's characters Seth, Evan, and Fogell as they try to attend a party hosted by Seth's crush Jules (Emma Stone) by promising to supply the alcohol for the evening, with hilarious consequences.
The 2007 original was met with financial success and critical praise upon release; since then, the film went on to become a pop culture icon and a big part of the legacy of every actor involved. Different members of the Superbad cast have commented on a potential sequel, with the general consensus leaning towards not making one. It's hard to follow up a film like Superbad, especially while avoiding the generic tropes that crop up in even the best comedy sequels, but Jonah Hill's pitch could be the best way to do a SuperBad 2.
Revisiting the iconic characters in their twilight years could be a great setup for Superbad 2. A sequel featuring elderly versions of Seth, Evan, and Fogell would avoid being a rehash of most of the middle-aged comedies released thus far. Additionally, this premise would offer a new perspective through which the story of these characters can continue, without tarnishing the stellar reputation of the original, as it's a concept that manages to be massively removed from the original, while still clearly keeping ties to the franchise. It's worth note that many comedy sequels tend to have the cast reappear when they are middle-aged, meaning the concept of going straight from teenage characters to their elderly selves alone is a comedic one.
It is difficult to create a sequel to a film as beloved as Superbad without dampening the legacy of the original, especially with the cult-like fan base the 2007 comedy managed to grow over the years. However, picking up with these characters in a retirement home as 80-year-old men creates huge potential for fresh and original comedy that still keeps the best elements of the original, subverting expectations by taking the teen comedy and exploring the cast's geriatric future. It would be the breath of fresh air the comedy movie genre desperately needs, especially when it comes to sequels. Comedy movies like Grown Ups 2 and Dumb and Dumber To struggled to achieve the same level of success as their respective predecessors, mainly due to a lack of creativity, an issue that Superbad 2 can avoid if it were to adapt Hill's idea.
It is too early to tell whether Hill's vision of Superbad 2, or any version for that matter, will ever see the light of day. Various cast members have explicitly stated that they do not see themselves returning to make another Superbad, probably due to the reception comedy sequels tend to receive from critics and audiences alike. Fortunately, Jonah Hill's premise is an original idea that subverts comedy cliches and could potentially make for a great film. While audiences would love to see Hill's idea come to life, given that the main cast is still in their thirties, it could be another 50 years until his version of a Superbad sequel hits theaters.