Here’s some news that is bound to delight the five people out there who were clamoring for a sequel to the 2009 surprise hit Paul Blart: Mall Cop. A follow-up to the comedy that featured dozens of fat jokes, uncomfortable racial stereotypes and moments of Kevin James falling down is now set to begin production this April.
James will reprise his role as the bumbling, segway-riding security officer and will also co-write the script with Nick Bakay, the same writer/actor with whom James penned the original. James will also produce the sequel alongside Adam Sandler and Todd Garner.
Meanwhile, Paul Blart: Mall Cop director Steve Carr is not returning for the sequel, so the reins are being handed over to director Andy Fickman, who previously helmed several family comedies with a high quotient of slapstick, such as Parental Guidance, She’s the Man and The Game Plan.
It has been five years since Paul Blart: Mall Cop became one of the highest-grossing winter releases of all time, taking in $146 million in North America off a $26 million budget. Although that film was a big hit among younger audiences, there will likely be at least six years between Mall Cop and its sequel. Will those who had been grade-schoolers back in 2009 still be eager to show up with their friends and families for a sequel, so many years later? Also, keeping the relative box office disappointments of Zookeeper and Here Comes the Boom in mind, does James’ schtick still resonate with ticket buyers?
Although there is no plot synopsis yet, I can imagine that the film will likely involve another mall invasion, which must be thwarted by the determined yet oblivious mall security guard. The first Paul Blart: Mall Cop was low on star power (rounding out the cast was a pre-Glee Jayma Mays and pre-Emmy Bobby Cannavale), so perhaps James can count on some of his Grown Ups co-stars to add some star pedigree.
Are you looking forward to a Paul Blart: Mall Cop sequel? Let us know in the comments section!
