EXCLUSIVE: Josh Duhamel (The Thing About Pam) launched production today on Buddy Games 2—the sequel to the 2019 comedy Buddy Games, in which he starred alongside Kevin Dillon (Entourage), Dan Bakkedahl (Made for Love), James Roday Rodriguez (A Million Little Things), Nick Swardson (The Wrong Missy) and more. Dillon and Swardson will be back to star in the movie, which is shot in Vancouver. GinniferGoodwin (Pivoting), also stars in the film.
The original indie distributed by Saban Films and Paramount Home Entertainment watches as a group of friends reunite for a wild assortment of absurd physical and mental challenges known as The Buddy Games—in the process, healing old wounds, righting past wrongs and figuring out the true meaning of friendship. Duhamel adapted his script with Bob Schwartz, Jude Weng and directed it.
The sequel picks up with Bobfather (Duhamel) and the guys following the death of one of their own, as they take an unexpected journey to commemorate his life. They decide to take the urn and flee the funeral. Then they travel to the birthplace of the Buddy Games tradition. Things turn south once they arrive at Spring Break.
Duhamel and Michael J. Luisi are producing the pic written by Gabriel McKinley. The production companies involved are Ruth Bernstein’s The Long Game and Duhamel’s Dakotakid Productions. Paramount Global Distribution Group will release the film in theaters at a date that has not yet been disclosed.
“I’ve never had as much fun as I did making the first BUDDY GAMES and honestly feel like BUDDY GAMES 2 is shaping up to be every bit as fun as the first,” said Duhamel. “After the success of the first movie, I’m beyond excited to get the band back together to do it again.”
Buddy Games marked the feature directorial debut of Duhamel, who most recently starred alongside Renée Zellweger on NBC’s The Thing About Pam. The multihyphenate will next appear on The Mighty Ducks 2: Game Changers Disney+. He stars in crime drama Bandit with Mel Gibson, Elisha Cuthbert, and thriller Blackout with Nick Nolte. Jennifer Lopez also stars in Shotgun Wedding.
Dillon is a three-time Emmy nominee who recently shot the pilot Ramble On from Doug Ellin, starred in HBO’s Entourage and is otherwise best known for turns in films like Platoon and The Doors. He is currently starring alongside Mel Gibson in Hot Seat, a thriller. His next projects include the thriller On the Line featuring Gibson and the drama Reagan starring Dennis Quaid.
Bakkedahl can be seen recently on American Crime Story, Made for Love and The Goldbergs. He’ll next appear in films including the comedy Sick Girl with Nina Dobrev, Megan Seely’s comedy Puddysticks, Alexi Pappas and Jeremy Teichner’s Not an Artist and Steven Brand’s Joe Baby.
Rodriguez plays Gary Mendez in ABC’s A Million Little Things and is otherwise best known for his turn as Shawn Spencer on Psych.
Swardson is an actor and comedian whose recent credits include the Netflix animated series Hoops and the streamer’s David Spade comedy The Wrong missy.
Known for turns in series like Why Women Kill and Once Upon a Time, Goodwin most recently starred as Jodie on Fox’s Pivoting.
Duhamel is repped by ICM Partners, John Carrabino Management and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Dillon by APA and Gallant Management; Bakkedahl by Gersh, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Rodriguez by ICM, Principal Entertainment LA and Peikoff Mahan Law Office; Swardson by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; and Goodwin by WME, John Carrabino Management and Gendler & Kelly.