Fantastic news to kick off a new week, readers: Jack Black and Richard Linklater are set to reunite for a sequel to their wonderful 2003 (2004 for us Brits, though) comedy, School Of Rock.
If you remember – and if you don’t, get renting immediately – School Of Rock saw Black as Dewey Finn, a schlubby musician who fills in, illicitly, as a substitute teacher at his local school, and introduced his charges to the power of rock!
Filled with cracking gags, excellent performances from its child cast, a great soundtrack, genuine charm and a role that fitted Black like a glove, it was also the biggest hit of Black’s career (that wasn’t, we hasten to add, an animated film) as a leading man. And no, King Kong doesn’t count – he was strictly supporting in that film, baby.
And, no prizes for guessing that it was the biggest film of Linklater’s indie-centric career, too. So it’s not entirely surprising that both men are keen to return to the well of rock one more time.
This time around, in the provisionally-titled School Of Rock 2: America Rocks, Dewey takes a bunch of summer school kids on a trip across America, taking the time to educate them on the history and power of rawk as he does so.
Also returning are producer Scott Rudin and screenwriter/co-star Mike White, who played Dewey’s hapless best friend, Ned Schneebly. This will be the fourth that White has written for his pal, Black – Nacho Libre and Orange County are the other two.
No word yet on whether any of the kids from the original will be back for this one, though. We’d like to think so, though – those kids had great chemistry with Black, and their band – School Of Rock – kicked all kinds of righteous ass.
As with the first movie, Paramount will be picking up the cheques.To the people who gave this the green light, we raise our goblets of rock... and salute you.