Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story star looks completely unrecognizable from role in iconic film released 20 years ago
One of the stars of the 2004 comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story looks completely different from her role in the iconic film released 20 years ago.
Missi Pyle, 51, played Fran Stalinovskovichdavidovitchsky – a dodgeball player from Romanovia, where the game is the country’s national sport.
The original film follows a group of misfits who enter an evasive tournament in Las Vegas to save their beloved local gym, Average Joe’s, from the onslaught of corporate health fitness chain Globo Gym.
Known for her monobrow, Fran is recruited by Ben Stiller’s character, owner White Goodman, to join Globo Gym’s team.
But two decades on, actress Missi looks a far cry from her Dodgeball character – who had crooked teeth, a monobrow and wore her hair in Princess Leia-esque buns.
Missi Pyle (seen in 2023), one of the stars of the 2004 comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story looks completely different from her role in the iconic film released 20 years ago
Known for her monobrow, Fran is recruited by Ben Stiller’s character, owner White Goodman, to join Globo Gym’s team
In the years since, the hilarious Missi has built up an impressive portfolio of film and television work, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Two Broke Girls.
Most recently, Missi was in the 2023 Amazon Prime show Shelter, based on the book by Harlan Coben. The miniseries was canceled after one season.
It comes after it was revealed that Vince Vaughn, who played Average Joe’s Gym owner Pete LaFleur in the original film, is set to appear in an upcoming Dodgeball sequel, made by 20th Century Fox.
Jordan VanDina will write the screenplay for the sequel, Deadline reported after Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed the first film.
It was not immediately clear whether Rawson, who most recently directed the 2021 film Red Notice, would sit in the director’s chair for the sequel.
Vince, 53, will reprise his role as Peter La Fleur in the sequel to the hit film, which also starred Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Justin Long, Stephen Root and the late Rip Torn.
Other notable names who appeared in the original film include Missi, Jason Bateman, Gary Cole, Alan Tudyk, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams, Hank Azaria, Chuck Norris and William Shatner.
The first film, which grossed $168 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, saw Globo Gym attempt to buy Average Joe’s.
Two decades on, actress Missi looks a far cry from her Dodgeball character – who had crooked teeth, a monobrow and wore her hair in Princess Leia-esque buns
In the years that followed, the hilarious Missi (seen in 2023) built up an impressive portfolio of film and TV credits, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Two Broke Girls
The film culminated with the groups entering a $50,000 (£39,760) dodgeball competition in Las Vegas.
The second part of the franchise, according to the outlet, “will continue the story of Vaughn’s award-winning gym owner” based on an idea from the actor.
Thurber talked to the outlet about revisiting the franchise in 2021 via TV or film projects.
“You know what — never say never,” Thurber said. ‘I never thought of Dodgeball as a series, but it could actually be fun.
‘I’m really proud of Dodgeball – it’s my first film and people still seem to really like it.
‘I would say never say never and that has to be the right attitude about it. But yes, maybe.’
In December 2022, Vince confirmed that he and Ben Stiller were open to making a sequel, after initially saying that Ben was ‘cautious’.
During a premiere of the comedy Christmas With The Campbells, which Vince co-wrote and produced, he confirmed his and Ben’s interest in making a follow-up film, as long as it involves quality material.
It comes after it was revealed that Vince Vaughn, who played Average Joe’s Gym owner Pete LaFleur in the original film, is set to appear in an upcoming Dodgeball sequel, made by 20th Century Fox
“They’ve always talked about this stuff forever, and I had an idea that was fun and the studio likes it, so we’ll see where it ends up,” Vince shared. The Hollywood Reporter.
“I think Ben is open to doing it, I actually think he’s in the same boat as me, which is, if it’s a really fun and good idea, then it’s fun, but if it’s just something to go and do it again, why then?” Vaughn explained.
Vince believes that sequels can be successful when the script has ‘a story that could stand on its own’.
“You just want to make sure, going into Dodgeball, that it feels like a nice continuation,” the Wedding Crasher star said.
‘I think for all of us, if it feels right and it’s fun, it would be something to come back to, and if it’s not, it’s just another idea being kicked around.’