Though it failed to set the box office on fire upon release (it made $9.3 million worldwide, and cost $10 million to make), MacGruber, the comedy movie spun off from a series of sketches on Saturday Night Live, has long become a cult favourite, blowing up on home video and streaming platforms almost as much as its hero accidentally explodes buildings and objects. And while there had been talk of a potential sequel, it appears the character may pop back up on the small screen.
"We just spent the last two days pitching it as a series,” co-writer/director Jorma Taccone tells The Daily Beast. "Eight-to-ten episodes. I’m really hoping that when you print this there’s an announcement that it’s actually happening, because I know nothing right now. This is the first time I’ve mentioned it, so this may be a tragic interview." So far, that has not happened, but we remain hopeful.
The film followed Will Forte's title character, a former special operative called back into action and teamed up with Ryan Phillippe's Piper and old colleague Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig) to take down the villainous Dieter Von Cunth (Val Kilmer).
With luck, Taccone is hoping to reassemble the whole cast for the show, should it find a home. "It’s everyone. Val was blown up pretty badly, he’ll have half a head. Everyone is so down," says Taccone. "What’s nice is that, when you make something that had the heartbreak of not doing so well financially... I would feel terrible if the people involved were embarrassed about it, but Ryan loves that shit, Kristen loves that shit, all the people involved are so psyched." Though the sequel never happened, there are plenty of ideas for new stories, and now maybe we'll actually get to see them come to life. Whichever company passes can expect an upper decker.
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