'Dodgeball' Sequel in the Works at Fox (Exclusive)

Ben Stiller's Red Hour Films has set Clay Tarver to write the script for a follow-up to the hit 2004 comedy.

Fox and Red Hour are up for another round of dodgeball.

The studio and the production company run by Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld have tapped Clay Tarver to pen a script for a long-talked-about sequel to the hit comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

PHOTOS: 'Ben Stiller Show' Alumni: Where Are They Now?

The 2004 film starred Vince Vaughn as the slacker owner of rundown gym who gathers a group of misfits into a dodgeball tournament in order to defeat an encroaching corporate gym run by Stiller.

The movie grossed more than $114 million domestically on a reported budget of $20 million.

While Fox, Vaughn and Stiller have long mulled the idea of a sequel, little action had been taken. It was even a joke on an episode of Ricky Gervais’ Extras in which Stiller guest-starred.

STORY: CinemaCon: Fox Screens First Footage of Ben Stiller's 'Walter Mitty'

Now the sequel will focus on Vaughn and Stiller forced to team up to fight an even bigger threat, according to sources.

Tarver co-wrote with J.J. Abrams the 2001 thriller Joy Ride but has spent much of his time in the comedy world and has a familiarity with niche, subculture activities.

He is working on Quantum Hoops, which centers on a nerdy basketball team at Caltech, set up Disney and also being produced by Red Hour. He wrote Men Making Music, about the world of competitive barbershop quartets, also at Disney and being produced by Abrams. And he worked with Mike Judge on Meat in the Freezer, a satire about hunting for HBO Films.

Tarver, who is repped by WME and Wetdog Entertainment, also recently wrote the Jack Black and Shine-produced comedy pilot for Showtime titled The Deep Cuts.

Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com

Twitter: @borys_kit