Hey, guys. Whoa, Big Gulps, huh? All right! [Deeply awkward pause] Well, see ya later – that sub-ten second mini-sequence alone, friends, is sufficient to assure Dumb and Dumber‘s status as a mirth-inducing movie gem. A pity then that the planned sequel, which would have reunited stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels and directors the Farrelly Brothers, now looks sunk, due to Carrey exiting the project.

The problem, it would seem, was that the man who earned his first multimillion dollar pay cheque as simpleton chauffeur Lloyd Christmas felt Warner Bros. and New Line were not as enthusiastic as they should have been about the sequel to a movie which earned nearly $300m off a $15m budget.

Confirming his departure from the Dumb and Dumber follow-up, Carrey remarked…

I would have thought Dumb and Dumber 2 was a no-brainer. After all, it’s implied in the title

But while there probably plenty who agree with that assessment, it is possible to see the studios’ point of view too.

Though still a reasonably solid box office performer, Carrey is not the draw he was, while the Farrellys are in a similar position, with all their biggest hits (including Dumb and Dumber, their debut) being now more than a decade behind them. Which is not to mention the fact that the sequel script had been written by Sean Anders and John Morris, who co-directed last weekend’s panned ‘n’ bombed Adam Sandler flick, That’s My Boy.

Still, it might have been a hoot to see Carrey back as Christmas, especially given his co-star would have been the ever-excellent Daniels. And let’s face it, Dumb and Dumber 2 was a better bet than a sequel to just about any other Carrey movie – Yes Man: Yes Harder, anyone? More Fun with Dick and Jane? The Number 24? Mr. Popper’s Penguins… Strike Back!?

Source: ET