Bad Santa 2 being written by duelling screenwriters

Screenwriters: enter the Thunderdome! Dimension Films has commissioned two screenwriters to pen individual scripts for a sequel to Bad Santa.

According to the L.A. Times, the two writers (John Phillips and Johnny Rosenthal) are aware that they are participating in a writer’s duel. Although only one of the scripts will be selected for the sequel, there is a chance that the other will be reworked into a third film.

There is something cruel about two writers being forced to compete for the same project, but they’ll both walk away with a paycheck, so maybe it isn’t all bad. And we, the audience, will get a Bad Santa 2 regardless, and that’s definitely good news. Star Billy Bob Thornton will return to play the title character.

The original Bad Santa was penned by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who went on to direct I Love You Phillip Morris. Producers Joel and Ethan Coen, as well as director Terry Zwigoff did an uncredited pass on the first script.

Discuss: Fight!