'Twins' Sequel 'Triplets' in the Works for Arnold, DeVito...and Eddie Murphy

Is the world ready for a sequel to Twins?

Universal and Montecito Picture Co. are hoping to develop a doozy of a follow-up to the 1988 hit comedy that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito that would reunite the two stars.

But wait, there’s a twist: In the new scenario, Eddie Murphy would act as a third brother.

Titled Triplets, the story would see Schwarzenegger and DeVito as brothers Julius and Vincent, conceived experimentally, who discover they have third sibling.

The project doesn’t have a director at this early stage -- Ivan Reitman, who helmed the original, would only act as a producer with his Montecito Picture Co. cohorts Joe Medjuk, Tom Pollock and Ali Bell, according to sources -- but the hunt is on for writers to develop the idea. Insiders caution that no substantial creative discussions have taken place between Universal and Montecito.

The actors are attached to star.

This wouldn’t be the first sequel to an 1988 film that Universal is working. The studio is developing a sequel to Midnight Run that sees Robert De Niro, one of the film’s two original stars along with Charles Grodin, returning in an incarnation to be directed by Brett Ratner.

Maybe they can get Jeff Beck to do another cameo.

DeVito and Schwarzenegger still want to make 'Triplets' with Eddie Murphy

Danny DeVito has revealed that he and Arnold Schwarzenegger are still keen to make a somewhat unlikely sequel to Twins.

In the 1988 comedy, DeVito and Schwarzenegger play chalk and cheese characters who discover they are non-identical twins conceived in a botched genetic experiment and separated at birth. While Schwarzenegger's Julius inherited all the "desirable traits" of the parents, DeVito's Vincent got saddled with the "genetic trash".

Last March (2012), it was revealed that Universal Pictures is planning a belated sequel called Triplets. In the new movie, Julius and Vincent will find out they have a third brother played by Eddie Murphy.

Speaking in June (2012), Schwarzenegger said that Universal "has moved it along", but admitted the sequel had no screenwriter yet. Since then, little has been heard about Triplets.

Now DeVito has provided an update, telling ShortList that the sequel is still looking for a screenwriter. He explained: "We want to do Triplets, but we've got to get Universal off of its butt. We've got to get a script. [Arnie and I] had dinner with Eddie Murphy, and he likes the idea. It's been going on for six or eight months now. We don't want it to be fluff just because it's Twins 2... We want it to be great."

Arnold Schwarzenegger on 'Twins' sequel 'Triplets': 'Eddie Murphy loves the idea!'

Arnold Schwarzenegger has given an update on the mooted sequel to Twins.

In the 1988 comedy film, Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito played chalk and cheese characters who discover they are non-identical twins conceived in a botched genetic experiment and separated at birth. While Schwarzenegger's Julius inherited all the "desirable traits" of the parents, DeVito's Vincent got saddled with the "genetic trash".

A belated sequel has been in the works at Universal Pictures since 2012 entitled Triplets, with Eddie Murphy linked to the role of a third brother. Writer-actor Josh Gad was hired to write the screenplay, but said earlier this year (2015) that the project was now "on hold".

However, Schwarzenegger has now spoken more positively about the prospective sequel in an interview on The Howard Stern Show. "Now we are talking about a sequel, where we find out at the funeral of our mother, when we read the will, that there's three of us," the actor explained. "Eddie Murphy loves the idea. Danny DeVito and I had lunch with Eddie Murphy over at my house, and talked about the thing, and we were laughing and laughing the whole meal through because it was such a funny idea."

Continuing, Schwarzenegger described the idea as "hilarious" and confirmed that Triplets has a script which is now being "fine-tuned".