Paul Rudd Is Getting A Sequel For His Worst Movie
Judd Apatow says This Is 50, a sequel to This Is 40, is on the way.
Paul Rudd is arguably the most beloved man in Hollywood. He was also voted “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine in 2021. Not bad for a man in his 50s. Seriously, he’s 52 years old and looks the same as he did in the 1990s. The man might be a vampire, but I digress. Judd Apatow and Paul Rudd have had a long-standing relationship with one another, as Rudd has appeared in many of the director’s films. That is also the case for Apatow’s wife, Leslie Mann. Based on Mann and Rudd’s hilarious characters from the movie, Knocked Up, a spin-off film was produced. That was 2010’s This is 40. Now Apatow has announced a This is 50 sequel.
Judd Apatow is arguably one of the best comedic writers currently. His whole Apatow-universe has gone over well among audiences. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People and Trainwreck are among some of his best works. While some might believe that This Is 40 is way down on the list of Apatow films, he is excited to make this sequel. According to the director, “I’ve always wanted to make ‘This Is 50’ and it is time. I couldn’t have done it five years ago and I can’t do it five years from now, so I’ve been outlining that and hope it’s something that we get to do.” It’s not often that an Apatow production is denied, especially if it concerns Paul Rudd.
This Is 40 follows the lives of Debbie and Pete as they dealt with marital problems and coming to terms with turning 40 years old. Their hilarious banter with one another is the biggest reason why they were given their own spin-off film. This Is 50 is obviously 10 years later, so we are likely to be treated to much of the same. Though Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl were the focus of Knocked Up, they were both absent in the spin-off film. Hopefully, we get to see what Alison (Heigl) and Ben (Rogen) have been up to all this time. However, there had been some drama between Heigl and Apatow a long while back after she was apparently upset with how women were portrayed in the film, a reunion might not be in the cards. This was also 2008, times have changed, so it could also happen. One can hope.
Apatow is still a busy man, and his schedule might not permit the man to jump right into making the spin-off right away, he is still hoping to get it done. He added, “I’m hoping that comes together. I have an idea that I really like for it.” Apatow’s more recent project is that of the meta-comedy, The Bubble, which is set to release on April 1st. Hopefully, he has time to bring in Paul Rudd for one of his more beloved characters. This Is 50 is something that might be needed right now. We’re all getting older, and sometimes a comedy highlighting the later years in life is what can bring us all together. That, or just jam-packing more fart jokes into the movie works too. While This Is 40 may have been divided in terms of criticism and audience response, the sequel might be more well-received. We will all just have to wait and see.
