There have been a lot of headlines from Paris Fashion Week, but Tuesday’s unique announcement tops them all. At the close of the Valentino show, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took to the runway, reprising their Zoolander characters Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald to the tune of “Don’t You Want Me.”
News of the appearance spread like wildfire via Vine and Instagram, and it wasn’t long before Paramount confirmed that a sequel to the iconic comedy would be released Feb. 12, 2016. There are also reports the film will begin shooting in Rome, the designer’s home base, in the spring.
The really, really, really good-looking men undoubtedly stole the show with their blue steel stares, outshining the other models as only Derek and Hansel could. Even more surprising — Derek appears to have completely conquered his inability to turn left! Later, Valentino’s reps described their couture: “Derek wears a custom night butterflies brocade suit with hand-embroidered overcoat and black creeper shoes. Hansel wears a silk continent print pajama suit with double cashmere overcoat and open sneakers.”
It’s been 14 years since the original film was released and rumours of a sequel have circulated for at least half as long. Stiller will return to the director’s chair with a script by Justin Theroux. Earlier this year, Christine Taylor (Stiller’s wife in real-life) reported she would reprise her role as journalist Matilda Jeffries though the direction of her character or the current state of her relationship with Derek remains unknown. Penelope Cruz is also set to star opposite the male supermodel, though still no word on whether Will Ferrell will return as the evil designer Mugatu.
Regardless of whether the story revolves around the aging fashion duo reinventing themselves for the modern catwalk or involves Derek overcoming his disappointment in his overweight, smart son (both ideas that have been floated), fans will sashay to the theatre. So only one question remains after the trendy launch: who won the walk-off?!
