One of the more memorable movies in Jim Carrey's meteoritic rise to fame was 1994's The Mask, his second starring vehicle, opposite Cameron Diaz, as a mild-mannered bank teller who transforms into a larger-than-life cartoon persona after stumbling upon a mysterious mask. Despite the success of the film, Carrey has never starred in a sequel (2005's Son of the Mask featured neither Carrey not Diaz), however, he said that could change under the right circumstances.
During a recent conversation with ComicBook.com while promoting the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie, the 62-year-old was asked "what it would take for him to put on The Mask again." It's no doubt a question Carrey has been asked many times in the 30 years since the film was released. But he still gave an earnest answer, and even suggested that he would be open to it.
"Oh gosh, you know, it has to be the right idea. If somebody had the right idea, I guess," he explained. "It’s not really about the money. I joke about the money… But I never know. You can’t be definite about these things. I said I’d like to retire, but I think I was talking more about power-resting. Because as soon as a good idea comes your way, or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with and stuff, it just—things tend to change."
Carrey was referring to previous comments he made to Access Hollywood in 2022, prior to the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. "Well, I’m retiring. Yeah, probably. I’m being fairly serious," he said at the time. "It depends. If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break."
However, while promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 3 last week, Carrey walked back his retirement comments.
"That might have been hyperbole," he admitted. "You know, I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And, you know, it's just—I bought a lot of stuff, and I need the money, frankly."
From the sound of it, the only thing between the world and The Mask 2 is an idea that is given Carrey's blessing. And with Diaz likewise out of retirement, the timing couldn't be better. Hollywood screenwriters, take note.
