Judd Apatow‘s sort of sequel to KNOCKED UP, THIS IS 40, may get a sort of sequel itself in another few years. The director mentioned in an interview that he would like to revisit the characters played by his daughters in both of those movies as they continue to grow up.
According to an interview with Apatow, he would like to follow in the film footsteps of a famous French director: “…I like the series that Francois Truffaut made where he revisited the same character five different times in five different movies. I think it’s fun to see people grow up. I’m interested in it with Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd’s characters… Pete and Debbie… but I’m even more interested in Maude and Iris.”
Obviously the man is partial to his daughters but this would be a very interesting series. KNOCKED UP followed people in their twenties discovering relationships and families while THIS IS 40 gave attention to mid-life crises and financial fallout alongside the terrors of teenage children. A third film following the kids would make for a very interesting perspective.
Apatow continues to say “When we first met Maude’s character, Sadie, she was 8-years-old, she didn’t understand where babies come from and know we see her five years later and she’s just cursing and screaming and having teenager problems so I’m thinking that maybe in the next one she’s in college…or maybe I’m just lazy and this is a great way to make home movies…”
Either way, it cannot be argued that Apatow can pretty much make any movie he wants. THIS IS 40 did not get nearly the attention it should have during the Christmas movie season. I just watched it this week and thought it was quite good. I do feel that single people without kids will not relate nearly as well to it as those of us with wives and children. But, the signature Apatow dialogue is all there and I am sure a follow up with the kids taking center stage would surely be the closest thing to an UNDECLARED movie we may ever get.
THIS IS 40 will hit Blu-ray in an Unrated edition on March 22nd.