Summary

  • Peter Farrelly reveals why There's Something About Mary 2 never happened.
  • Unlike the case of Dumb and Dumber, the director felt that the story had ended.
  • Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller's careers were boosted by the film, as they both had iconic roles following the 1998 romantic comedy.

Peter Farrelly reveals why There’s Something About Mary featured a leading cast including Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, and Ben Stiller.

Years later, Farrelly explains why a sequel to There’s Something About Mary never happened. Speaking with Comicbook.com, Farrelly said that the studio “did talk about a sequel” when There’s Something About Mary initially came out. However, Peter Farrelly and his co-director brother Bobby felt that the story had “ended.” Their big idea, which would have been the revelation of a shocking and risqué part of Mary’s past, did not go over well with the studio execs, so they abandoned the thought of the project. Check out the full quote from Farrelly below:

You know, Dumb & Dumber was the one, like you could do ten Dumb and Dumbers, honestly, and I really enjoyed Dumb & Dumber 2 -- the one that we did. And I love those two guys, so...bring it back. Something About Mary, when it came out they did talk about a sequel -- the studio -- and honestly we were like, 'It ended, that's the thing.'

The Legacy of There’s Something About Mary

There's Something About Mary Ben Stiller screaming during zipper scene

While There’s Something About Mary 2 never materialized, the film helped launch several careers. The film is now regarded as an iconic '90s movie, and part of what helped put Diaz on the map as a comedy star. Prior to There’s Something About Mary, Diaz had made her acting debut in 1994 with The Mask, and then went on to make smaller films. After Mary, she went on to take on several notable roles, including in Being John Malkovich, Charlie’s Angels, Vanilla Sky, and the voice of Princess Fiona in Shrek.

Stiller’s career was also assisted by There’s Something About Mary. While Stiller had more roles before the film than Diaz, his role in There’s Something About Mary catapulted him forward. After leaving the classic 1998 film’s set, he went on to act in some of his most iconic roles, including in Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Split image showing Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich and The Mask.
Related
Cameron Diaz's Best Movies, According To Metacritic

Cameron Diaz will come out of retirement for a new movie opposite Jamie Foxx, possibly adding a new entry into her long list of acclaimed films.

There’s Something About Mary was pivotal in the careers of its directors. While 1994’s Dumb and Dumber showed the Farrellys’ skill towards goofy comedy, There’s Something About Mary helped establish them in the romantic comedy genre, a skill they would use again in films like Shallow Hal and Fever Pitch. So, There’s Something About Mary still left an indelible impact on its cast and crew even if it did not garner a sequel.

There's Something About Mary is available to stream on Starz.

Source: Comicbook.com