Charlie Day remains interested in a third "Horrible Bosses" movie

The ‘Horrible Bosses’ franchise centers on three friends, played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis , who are fed up with their overbearing and manipulative toxic bosses. In the 2011 original, their frustrations boil over into an absurd murder plot, with the chaos escalating from there. The films mix dark humor with workplace satire, helped along by a starry supporting cast that has included Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jamie Foxx.

Charlie Day recently stirred up excitement about the possibility of a third installment. While giving props to ‘The Naked Gun,’ which carried plenty of weight in proving comedies can still thrive theatrically, Day made it clear he’s enthusiastic about returning for ‘Horrible Bosses 3.’

“I’d love to do a third one. Hopefully, we get to do it,” he said. This wasn’t just casual chatter, either. Day added that he’s “had some conversations about it with some people involved in front and behind the camera.” That leaves room for speculation, particularly since another major ‘Horrible Bosses’ alum has already gone on record about wanting a third movie.

Jennifer Aniston has also planted her flag on Team Save Comedy Movies. Reflecting on ‘Horrible Bosses,’ she said, “The characters are hilarious, and we need comedy. I personally think comedy is a necessity.” Aniston credits the series with helping her shed her “girl next door” image and made it clear she’s eager to return to that world. On the prospect of a third film, she added, “Jason Bateman and I were talking about that, and Charlie Day has been talking about it a lot too.”

That’s notable because Bateman hasn’t always been bullish on the franchise. In the past, he’s been frank about his feelings on ‘Horrible Bosses 2.’ He wasn’t taking shots at his castmates, but he did say the final product simply didn’t click with audiences. The sequel made over $100 million less than the first film despite having a slightly bigger budget. On Marc Maron’s podcast, Bateman bluntly summed it up: “‘Horrible Bosses 2’ was garbage, as far as box office goes. People just weren’t interested in seeing another one.”

Bateman gave that interview back in 2015, when the sting of ‘Horrible Bosses 2’ underperforming was still fresh. To be fair, the sequel wasn’t a total flop — it still more than doubled its budget — but compared to the first film’s runaway success, it felt like a letdown. Nearly a decade later, though, the outlook may be different. Comedy is suddenly a hot topic again, and with Charlie Day and Jennifer Aniston openly campaigning for it, Bateman might be more willing to revisit the franchise. If the stars align, ‘Horrible Bosses 3’ may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.

(h/t The Hollywood Reporter)