For years, there has been talk thatThe Big Lebowskimight get asequel. And it was a rumor spurred on by starTara Reid, who said it was happening. The reality is, it will probably never happen. Not as long as original directorsJoel CoenandEthan Coenare still alive, anyway.
Fans have been hoping that theCoen Brotherswould return to the wacky and wonderful world of The Big Lebowski. And the hope has always been thatJeff Bridgesreprises his role as The Dude. There has also been talk thatJohn Turturromight even get his own Jesus spinoff. Neither imagined scenario is ever likely to happen, though.
Varietyrecently caught up with the legendarydirecting duoto discuss their newGolden Age comedycaperHail, Caesar!, which is in theaters this week. The pair shot down any notion that they’d ever even engage in attempting to do a sequel to The Big Lebowski, which quickly became a cult hit after its 1998 theatrical debut, and has since spawned many conventions dedicated to its various oddball characters. AboutTara Reid’s insistence that the movie was happening,Joel Coenoffered this.
“Tara Reid likes to announce that just like [George] Clooney likes to announce ‘Hail, Caesar! In this case, I don’t think we’ll oblige.”
In terms ofHail, Caesar!,George Clooneyannounced to the press that it was his next project, even though the Coen Bros. had yet to commit to the movie. The actor actually ended up pushing them to finish the script. It appears thatTara Reidjust doesn’t have the same kind of influential pull on the filmmakers. When it comes to the Jesus spinoff,Ethan Coenhas just this one word.
While the Coen Brothers have never directed a sequel, they aren’t against the idea. There is one movie that they’d like to see continued. And that isBarton Fink. But it sounds like that is still a long ways off. SaysEthan Coenabout the sequel.
“We’re going to do a ‘Barton Fink’ sequel at some point. It’s going to be Turturro in Berkeley in the ’60s.”
Joel Coenhad this to add aboutBarton Fink 2.
“That’s the one movie that we thought deserved a sequel, called ‘Old Fink.’ But we don’t want to do it until Turturro is quite old. He’s getting there.”
What do you think? Are you ready forBarton Fink 2? Are you disappointed that there will never be aBig Lebowskisequel? Or should the Coen Bros. just do all new movies? Sound off in the comments below.
