Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz have one condition to return for The Mask 2.

The Mask seems like one of those movies that could only have been in the 1990s. While mostly known as one of the quintessential Jim Carrey classics that catapulted him to superstardom, Chuck Russell’s beloved 1994 comedy also has a surprising ’90s bleakness and a surprisingly mischievous grown-up sensibility.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact The Mask was originally conceived as a horror filmor because it’s directed by the guy who directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and the 1988 remake of The Blot , but there’s always been something a little dark about the movie, which on the surface seemed like a good excuse for Carrey chewed the scenery in his typical manner. For example, when Peter Greene’s Darian Tyrell donned the titular artifact at the end of the film, it was actually a bit scary to watch his demonic form emerge. Meanwhile, Stanley Ipkiss from Kerry lived a decidedly boring life, working as a bank teller and spending his nights watching classic cartoons alone in his flat. Plus, Cameron Diaz’s portrayal of Tina Carlyle was about as masculine and sexualized as a movie aimed at a younger audience could get away with.

All of this created a truly amazing mix that today seems like it could only have existed in its decade. But nothing truly lives up to its time in Hollywood, because there’s always the threat of a legacy sequel, a painful multiverse-induced cameo, or an unnecessary remake on the horizon. Still, with The Mask holding a special place in the hearts of many ’90s kids, the prospect of seeing an actual sequel (and not a sequel to 2005 that didn’t need to happen“Son of the Mask”) certainly causes a fit of excitement. However, in order for this to happen, Carey and Diaz have certain conditions that must be met.

Cameron Diaz made her film debut in The Mask and immediately saw her career take off. The former model actress unexpectedly found herself starring in a string of indie dramas after Mask, eventually becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the late ’90s. This decade ended with according to Rotten Tomatoes, remains Diaz’s best filmBeing John Malkovich, but the actor has a lot to offer after that, starring in some of her biggest films in the early 2000s and 2010s.

However, after a series of three poorly received films in 2014, Diaz disappeared from Hollywood for a full 11 years, revealing in 2018 that she had officially retired from acting. Then, in 2025, she suddenly returned. Not as part of some sort of career-altering drama that saw her playing against type in the Matthew McConaughey revival, but in a Netflix comedy that was dismissed by critics as yet another streaming dud. It certainly wasn’t the triumphant return fans were hoping for, but perhaps a return to the role of Tina Carlisle could help remedy that.

A conversation with Access Hollywood (via CNN) about a possible Masks sequel, Diaz revealed that she would be open to the idea “if Jim is on board.” She added, “I mean, I’ve been riding these coats since day one.” So if a proper Masks sequel was on the table, bringing Diaz and Jim Carrey back together seems like it would be as easy as getting Carrey to agree to return — which, judging by his recent statements, isn’t out of the question.

After 2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Jim Carrey has claimed he is seriously considering retirement. He said at the time that “if the angels brought some script written in golden ink,” he might reconsider. Then, just two years later, Carey said no to retirement and returned to Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It’s hard to imagine that the Sonic triquel was written in gold ink, suggesting that Carey’s thoughts on retirement aren’t all that serious. Which in turn means there’s real potential for a proper sequel to The Mask.

He asked ComicBook.com about returning for such a film, Carrey was a bit coy, but at least seemed open to the idea:

“If somebody had the right idea, I think … It’s not about the money. I’m kidding about the money … But I never know. You can’t be certain about these things. I said I’d like to retire, but I think I was talking more about taking time off, because once you have a good idea or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with and so on, things change.”

So to see Stanley Ipkiss and Tina Carlyle return, someone has to give Carrey a great script and he has to agree to do it, which should guarantee Cameron Diaz’s involvement. Judging by how Sonic 3 brought Carrey out of retirement, I’m not sure the idea of ​​Masks 2 is supposed to be that fantastic either. Let’s just hope that if a sequel ever comes out, it retains that amazing mix of styles that made the original so great.