Someone obviously decided that this is Announce Sequels Many Thought Would Never Happen Week. This one is even more unexpected than Anchorman 2 yesterday. After years of rumours, chit-chat, denials, whispers and Danny DeVito mentioning the idea, The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Universal is planning to produce Triplets, a sequel to 1988 comedy Twins. And it’s one that would not only reunite DeVito with onscreen brother Arnold Schwarzenegger but also… wait for it… would add Eddie Murphy as their new surprise sibling!
This could either be the greatest thing to happen to ‘80s comedy film franchises in the history of the universe or, you know, it could be an appalling concept that will bring about the Mayan apocalypse a few months early.
True, the first film – which hinged on an experiment to create the perfect human that spawns Schwarzenegger’s Herculean philosopher Julius and yet somehow also burps out DeVito’s low-rent Vincent – couldn’t be more of a mixed bag if it was found in a bag containing several smaller bags of pick ‘n’ mix. In a food mixer. Which in turn is in a cement mixer. But there was some decent comic material to be had as the mismatched men thwarted nasty loan shark types who were after small-scale shyster Vincent.
Right now, all that exists is a twinkle in producer Ivan Reitman’s eye, but he’s working with his Montecito Picture Company and the studio to track down a writer and flesh out the concept that would see Julius and Vincent joined by Murphy’s fellow relation. The actors are all attached, but it remains to be seen if this will make it down the development birth canal.
Reitman won’t be calling the shots this time, so there’s a chance for someone else to bottle the magic that only happens when you combine the Austrian Oak and the man who spins stories of monkey attacks on his genitals… And let's face it, after** A Thousand Words**, Murphy could use a comedy people might actually want to see...