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Fans of Zoolander can rejoice as the long-awaited sequel is set to release next year, 15 years after the original hit theaters. This Ben Stiller comedy, which he co-wrote and directed, follows the story of a male model caught in an assassination scheme and has only grown in popularity over time. Dive into these intriguing details while avoiding any risky gasoline battles.
1. DEREK ZOOLANDER FIRST APPEARED AT THE 1996 VH1 FASHION AWARDS.
Stiller originally portrayed Derek as a “Luke Perry-esque” figure, developed alongside writer Drake Sather. Sather was inspired by Stiller’s parody of Beverly Hills, 90210 on The Ben Stiller Show a few years prior.
2. THE FILM'S OPENING SCENE WAS CAPTURED AT THE 2000 VH1/VOGUE FASHION AWARDS.
The moments where Zoolander is dethroned as “Model of the Year” were filmed during the event's commercial breaks.
3. HANSEL'S CHARACTER WAS CRAFTED EXCLUSIVELY FOR OWEN WILSON.
"Owen was crucial to the film's casting because he’s one of the funniest people I know, and the role was tailored for him," Stiller shared with Hollywood.com. "The movie wouldn’t have been possible without him."
4. WILSON FELT ANXIOUS DURING THE WALK-OFF SCENE SHOOT.
The actor admitted he feels uneasy performing in front of big crowds and lacked confidence in his dancing abilities. "Having to do both simultaneously in front of so many people was quite intimidating," Wilson revealed to The A.V. Club.
5. DAVID BOWIE WAS INCLUDED IN THE SCRIPT, BUT STILLER WAS UNCERTAIN IF HE'D ACCEPT THE ROLE.
Stiller envisioned Bowie as the walk-off judge, inspired by his song “Fashion.” Luckily, Bowie approved of the idea.
6. MUGATU’S "DERELICTE" LINE WAS INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS.
In 2008, On the Media highlighted how Zoolander "is both absurd and amusing, yet not entirely made up. Designer John Galliano drew inspiration from the attire of the homeless for a 2000 fashion line, creating a hobo chic aesthetic."
7. WILL FERRELL BLEACHED HIS HAIR PLATINUM BLONDE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS.
Ferrell (Mugatu) mentioned he had to use a wig for part of a season on Saturday Night Live to hide his platinum blonde hair.
8. JUSTIN THEROUX PERFORMED HIS OWN BREAKDANCING MOVES.
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Theroux, who is co-writing Zoolander 2, played the Evil DJ in the first movie. He had showcased his breakdancing skills at Stiller’s wedding to Christine Taylor (Matilda) in 2000, prompting Stiller to include his talents in Zoolander. Theroux's role was influenced by Gary Oldman's character in True Romance.
9. OWEN WILSON DID NOT PERFORM HIS OWN YO-YO TRICKS.
Steve Brown served as Wilson’s yo-yo stunt double. In 2001, the year the film premiered, Brown was recognized as a National Yo-Yo Master.
10. THE ORGY SCENE INITIALLY RESULTED IN AN R RATING FOR THE MOVIE.
Stiller personally appealed to the MPAA’s 12-member board after multiple attempts to secure a PG-13 rating failed, despite re-editing the scene five times. By removing a goat originally included in the scene and persuading the board it was "more humorous than sensual," as reported by the Los Angeles Times, Stiller achieved the desired rating.
11. BLUE STEEL WAS INSPIRED BY STILLER’S PERSONAL MIRROR PRACTICES.
Christine Taylor pointed out to her husband that whenever he groomed his hair in front of the mirror, he would slightly squint and strike what we now recognize as the iconic “Blue Steel” pose.
12. THE DERELICTE FASHION SHOW WAS SHOT IN AN UNUSUAL LOCATION.
While the scene was meant to take place in a subway tunnel, it was actually filmed in an abandoned power plant located in Long Island City.
13. VIEWERS NEARLY GOT A MORE REVEALING LOOK AT MUGATU THAN THEY MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED.
Ferrell agreed to wear pants featuring an ‘M’ cut out on the backside, symbolizing Mugatu. However, "we never actually got to that point," explained costume designer David C. Robinson.
14. MUGATU’S CHARACTER WAS INSPIRED BY A CREATURE FROM STAR TREK.
An albino ape-like monster from the episode “A Private Little War” called The Mugato served as the inspiration. Stiller often incorporates Star Trek references into his movies.
15. THE FILM WAS PROHIBITED IN MALAYSIA.
Malaysia's censorship board deemed the movie “entirely inappropriate” for audiences after discovering its plot involved Zoolander being brainwashed to assassinate the Malaysian Prime Minister. In 2012, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson met the real Malaysian Prime Minister without any issues.
16. THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WAS DIGITALLY ERASED FROM THE FILM.
Zoolander was released on September 28, 2001, shortly after the events of 9/11. The movie included a scene showing the Manhattan skyline, which Stiller chose to digitally modify to remove the Twin Towers. "It’s unfortunate that certain scenes must be adjusted to align with the current climate," independent film producer Michael Mailer remarked to The New York Times at the time.
