The Mask seems like one of those movies that could only exist in the 1990s. While Chuck Russell's beloved 1994 comedy is known mostly for being one of Jim Carrey's seminal classics that launched him to superstardom, it also has a strange kind of '90s darkness and a strangely inappropriate adult sensibility about it.

Maybe that has something to do with the fact The Mask was originally conceived as a horror filmor because it was directed by the guy who made A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and the 1988 remake of The Blob, but there was always something a little dark about the movie that, on its surface, seemed like a good excuse for Carrey to chew scenery in his typical fashion. When, for example, Peter Green's Dorian Tyrell donned the titular artifact at the end of the film, it was actually a bit scary to see his demonic form emerge. Stanley Ipkiss of Kerry, meanwhile, lived a palpably dark life, working as a bank teller and spending his nights watching classic cartoons alone in his flat. Plus, Tina Carlyle's introduction to Cameron Diaz was about as manly and sexualized as a film clearly made with a younger audience in mind could get.

It all made for a truly strange mix that, today, feels like it could only exist in its own decade. But in Hollywood, nothing really lives up to its time, as there's always the threat of a legacy sequel, a tortured multiverse-induced cameo, or an unnecessary remake on the horizon. However, with The Mask holding such a special place in the hearts of many '90s kids, the prospect of seeing an actual sequel (and not the 2005 sequel that never should have happened"Son of the Mask") is sure to cause a pang of excitement. For that to happen, however, both 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 actress, who previously only modeled, suddenly found herself starring in a number of indie dramas after The Mask, eventually becoming one of Hollywood's biggest stars by the end of the 90s. That decade culminated in what according to Rotten Tomatoes, it remains Diaz's best filmBeing John Malkovich, but the actress had a lot to offer after that, starring in some of her biggest films in the early 2000s and 2010s.

However, after appearing in a series of three poorly received films in 2014, Diaz disappeared from Hollywood for 11 years, revealing in 2018 that she had officially retired from acting. Then, in 2025, she suddenly returned. Not as part of some career-defining drama in which she played opposite type in a Matthew McConaughey-esque revival, but in a Netflix action comedy that critics summarily dismissed as even more streaming. Sure, this wasn't the triumphant return fans were waiting for, but perhaps Tina Carlisle's return to the role could help fix that.

An interview with Access Hollywood (via CNN) about a possible sequel to The Mask , Diaz revealed that she would be open to the idea "if Jim is on board." She added: "I mean, I've been riding those coats since day one." So if a proper sequel to The Mask was on the table, bringing Diaz and Jim Carrey back together seems as simple as Carrey agreeing to return — which, judging by his recent remarks, isn't out of the realm of possibility.

After 2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Jim Carrey claims he is seriously considering retirement. At the time, he said that "if the angels bring some script that's written in gold ink," he might reconsider. Then, just two years later, Carrey said no to retirement and returned for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It's hard to imagine that the "Sonic" triple was written in gold ink, suggesting that Carey's thoughts on retirement aren't all that serious. Which, in turn, means that there is real potential for a proper sequel to The Mask.

Asked by ComicBook.com about returning for such a film, Carrey was somewhat noncommittal, but at least seemed open to the idea:

“If someone had the right idea, I guess... It's not really about the money. I joke about the money... But I never know. You can't be definitive about these things. I said I'd like to retire, but I think I was talking more about resting the power because once a good idea comes along or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with and something else, it just - things change.

To see the return of Stanley Ipkiss and Tina Carlyle, then, someone would have to give Carrey a great script, and he would have to agree to do it, which should therefore warrant Cameron Diaz's involvement. Judging by the fact that "Sonic 3" made Carrey retire, I'm not sure that the idea of ​​"The Mask 2" should be that fantastic. Let's just hope that if a sequel ever comes to fruition, it retains that quirky mix of styles that made the original so great.