Universal Hires Writers For 'Bruce Almighty' Sequel, With Jim Carrey Eyed To Return

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by Kevin Jagernauth
January 9, 2012 8:01 PM
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You would have to go back to 2008's "Yes Man" for the last bona fide Jim Carrey hit. Since then he's starred in the underrated "I Love You Phillip Morris" (which nobody saw anyway), that ill-advised version of "A Christmas Carol" (which did good business, but isn't exactly a Jim Carrey Movie) and last summer's "Mr. Popper's Penguins," which made good coin overseas, but didn't quite register stateside. It looks like he may have a comeback project in the long-developing "Burt Wonderstone" with Steve Carell, which starts lensing soon, but if things go according to plan he'll pick up on a franchise that "The Office" star had taken over for him.

It's easy to forget that "Bruce Almighty" was massive hit, taking in over $480 million worldwide nearly a decade ago. And when Carrey declined to star in a sequel, Carell took over in "Evan Almighty," which flopped and couldn't even get to half of what its predecessor did. Well, Carrey needs a new franchise, Universal wouldn't mind a big hit, and thus Variety reports that Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel ("Hot Tub Time Machine," "Yes Men") have been hired to write a sequel.

Of course, this is all very, very early days. No word if Tom Shadyac will be back; he hasn't directed anything since 'Evan' except his New Age-y documentary "I Am." Also, no mention of Morgan Freeman or Steve Carell, though we presume God will definitely come back, while we could see Evan show up in some kind of cameo.

But really, this is just another sign of Hollywood's creative bankruptcy; and they wonder why the box office is declinig. Do we need to see Carrey with God-like powers again? No. Are we going to? Probably.

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