Jack Black’s School Of Rock 2 Hopes Forget The Best Part Of The Original

Jack Black has openly called out his excitement over a prospective School of Rock 2, but any possible sequel would likely lack the unique energy and comedic spark that made the original so memorable. In School of Rock, Black played Dewey, an out-of-work musician who poses as a substitute teacher to cover his rent. Desperate to win a battle of the bands, Dewey transforms his class into a band, unwittingly teaching them (and himself) more than they could have ever expected.

Directed by Richard Linklater, School of Rock was a hit when it premiered, and cemented Jack Black as a comedy movie star. However, the film never received a sequel, with the cast instead moving on to new projects. Jack Black recently voiced his support for a potential follow-up to the film which makes sense given Black considers it his favorite film he has made. However, there are some inherent challenges with a sequel. Chief among them, it’ll be hard for any School of Rock 2 to match the unique strengths that made School of Rock so effective in the first place.

Jack Black’s School Of Rock 2 Hopes Forget What Made The Original Movie Great

School of Rock 2 would likely lack Dewey’s important character growth and comedic secrecy, both of which were crucial elements of the original film. Jack Black has been championing a potential sequel, according to the The Hollywood Reporter — with the actor proclaiming he’s “ready” to reprise his role from the 2003 film if writer Mike White also returned. Black’s chaotic portrayal as an unlikely teacher was the central comedic thread of the film. This also provided the emotional core by allowing Dewey and the students to genuinely inspire one another to improve themselves.

A big part of School of Rock‘s comedic plot and emotional throughline revolved around the secrecy Dewey and the class went through for the band. It was used as comedic fodder and their discovery served as the plot’s all is lost moment. However, given the first film, these kinds of beats would be impossible to replicate without feeling repetitive. Elements of Dewey’s character would likely be seen as far sketchier from a modern perspective, potentially adding some unintended queasiness to the concept. A sequel likely wouldn’t capture the uniquely earnest elements of the original story that kept it wholesome.

Why A School Of Rock Sequel Wouldn’t Live Up To The Original

School of Rock 2 is fighting an uphill battle by its very nature. School of Rock is a great film, a surprisingly sweet and consistently funny family film about music and self-confidence. It makes sense why Black would want to return to the role, and it’s possible a prospective sequel could live up to the original. However, School of Rock is firmly rooted in its time, and trying to update it for modern perspectives might be tricky given the changing tastes in music and perspectives on youth culture and teaching. It’s been too long for a sequel to make sense.

School of Rock 2 would likely have a hard time justifying some of Dewey’s choices and would have to justify a return to a deceptively tricky character in Dewey. His growth in the original film would be hard to replicate, and undoing it to give Dewey a new arc might cheapen the previous film. School of Rock isn’t the kind of film built for a legacy sequel, either. While Jack Black would be undoubtedly fun in any potential School of Rock 2, his skills would be put to better use elsewhere.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter