Color-coordinate the make-up and dust off the catwalk, because Derek Zoolander is getting ready to return in Zoolander 2, the sequel to Ben Stiller's 2001 comedy film about a dim-witted but good-hearted male model who finds his place in the limelight challenged by a new contender, Hansel, who is so hot right now. There was also a plot involving Derek being brainwashed into becoming a sleeper agent trained to assassinate the Malaysian prime minister. Things got weird.

Talk of a sequel to Zoolander 2 began in 2008 and since then there have been occasional updates indicating that the project is moving forward. Very, very slowly, apparently. The most recent report indicated that Penélope Cruz was in talks to join the cast and there is a script in place, which is possibly the same one that Stiller co-wrote with Tropic Thunder screenwriter Justin Theroux.

Now another star from the original movie has confirmed that Zoolander 2 is still headed to the screen and that she's going to be a part of it. Christine Taylor, who  played investigative reporter Matilda Jeffries in the original film and has starred in a number of other movies alongside Stiller (the pair are also married), told EW that Matilda is definitely coming back, though she can't give details of exactly how.

"I can tell you that I'm involved, but that’s all I can say. I can tell you it’s happening, but I can’t tell you where Matilda’s at and where their relationship is at. It’s all top secret!"

By the end of Zoolander Matilda and Derek had a child, Derek had fulfilled his dream of founding the Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Who Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too, and both he and Hansel had left the fashion industry. It's hard to imagine a sequel dropping the male model angle altogether, so presumably Zoolander 2 will find a way for Stiller and Owen Wilson to get back into some fancy clothes.

Probably the closest comparison to Zoolander 2 is Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, and not just because of Will Ferrell. Both are sequels to comedy films that are almost universally loved and frequently referenced and quoted, which means there's a lot of pressure to deliver a follow-up that stands on its own rather than just retreading old ground. Hopefully Stiller can achieve that with Zoolander 2 - but first, the movie needs to actually get made.

We'll keep you updated on Zoolander 2 as development continues.

Source: EW