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FILM 1277: ZOOLANDER

TRIVIA: Derek's repetition of the line "But why male models?" for the second time in the cemetery scene was an ad-lib by the actors; Ben Stiller forgot his line and simply repeated the earlier line again, and David Duchovny ran with it and gave him a straight answer.

Ben Stiller wrote the part of Hansel specifically for Owen Wilson and said that no one else was even considered for the role.

Ben Stiller wrote David Bowie's scene as judge of the walk-off into the script without knowing for sure whether he would agree to it.

Ben Stiller had several family members in this film: His wife Christine Taylor (Matilda), father Jerry Stiller (Maury Ballstein), mother Anne Meara (protestor who hits Mugatu with an egg), sister Amy Stiller (one of Hansel's friends in his loft), and brother-in-law Mitch Winston (Director of the infomercial).

Derek Zoolander's "Blue Steel" look evolved from Christine Taylor ribbing her husband Ben Stiller about the way he combs his hair in front of a mirror in real life.

Bret Easton Ellis, author of the 1998 book Glamorama, about a dimwitted male model who finds himself embroiled in a terrorist ring with roots in the fashion industry, sued Ben Stiller following the release of Zoolander (2001), citing copyright infringement. The case was later settled out of court.

Owen Wilson says "Who you tryin' to get crazy with 'ese? Don't you know I'm loco?" These are the opening lines to the Cypress Hill song "Insane in the Brain".

When Derek and Hansel disguise themselves and sneak into Maury's office, Hansel's jumpsuit has a name tag on which is printed the name "Kumar". This refers to Kumar Pallana, who has appeared in all of Wes Anderson's films (Bottle Rocket (1996), Rushmore (1998), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)).