Steve Lemme Reflects on Broken Lizard’s Journey and Reveals What’s Next
For more than three decades, the members of Broken Lizard have built their careers around friendship, creative freedom, and an ability to make each other laugh. That remarkable journey now leads to Super Troopers 3, arriving in theaters nationwide on August 7, 2026.
The new Searchlight comedy celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original Super Troopers by reuniting Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske for another outrageous adventure.
This time, Farva’s wildly over-the-top engagement to Thorny’s sister spirals into chaos. While Thorny schemes to break up the relationship, the Super Troopers must investigate a dangerous new drug ring. Saving the day may also require saving the wedding itself.
The returning Broken Lizard members are joined by Hannah Simone, Nat Faxon, Chace Crawford, Andrew Dismukes, Marisa Coughlan, Iqbal Theba, Sakina Jaffrey, and Brian Cox.
During an exclusive interview with Nerdtropolis, Lemme reflected on Broken Lizard’s past, explained what the group learned while making Super Troopers 3, and offered an exciting look at its future. That future could include more Super Troopers movies, Potfest, a Tacoma FD film, and several unexpected projects.
Broken Lizard’s Journey Began Before Super Troopers
Broken Lizard’s history began at Colgate University in 1989. Before becoming a filmmaking team, its members were friends creating live comedy together.
The group’s first performance attracted approximately 30 people. However, word quickly spread across campus.
“The first show itself, that first night was like 30 people out there in the crowd,” Lemme told Nerdtropolis. “Then the second night, it was basically sold out. The third night, they had to bring in all these extra chairs. On the fourth night, they were turning people away.”
The group initially performed under the name Charred Goosebeak. After college, its members moved to New York City and became Broken Lizard.
They spent their early years writing sketches, performing live, and developing their unmistakable comedic voice. More importantly, they were having fun together.
“We were always having a good time doing it,” Lemme said. “We would sit down for our writing meetings and start to write sketches, and we would just be laughing our asses off.”
Their friendship continued through the transition from sketches to independent filmmaking. That journey began with Puddle Cruiser, then led to the movie that would change everything.
Super Troopers Became a Comedy Classic
Fox Searchlight acquired Super Troopers after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie opened in theaters in 2001 before winning an Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival.
Its popularity continued to grow through VHS and DVD, turning the relatively small comedy into an enduring cult classic. Its dialogue became endlessly quotable, while its characters became like old friends to generations of viewers.
The original movie’s following remained so strong that fans helped fund Super Troopers 2. Its 2015 crowdfunding campaign raised more than $4.4 million, allowing Broken Lizard to reunite the Vermont state troopers on the big screen in 2018.
Now, the franchise is becoming a trilogy as the first installment celebrates its 25th anniversary. “It is a trilogy, and hopefully it’s a trilogy on its way to a quadrology and a quintology,” Lemme said.
Lemme has watched the audience expand as longtime fans introduce Broken Lizard’s movies to younger relatives, friends, and partners. “People are like, ‘My Uncle Joey turned me onto your stuff,’” he said. “And you’re like, ‘Uncle Joey? Sounds like a cool guy.’”
The movie has even become an unusual compatibility test for some fans.
“If I meet somebody and ask them if they’ve seen Super Troopers and they loved it, it was like, ‘Okay, we’re in. We’re good to go,” Lemme explained. “If they didn’t like it, it was like, ‘I already know we’re incompatible.’ If they hadn’t seen it, it was, ‘Well, we’re going to watch it together, and then I’m going to watch you and watch your reaction.’”
Super Troopers 3 remains connected to that established audience. However, it is also welcoming enough for viewers who have never seen the first two films.
Newcomers can enjoy its ridiculous characters and nonstop comedy without understanding every piece of the franchise’s history. Meanwhile, returning fans will find deeper meaning in seeing these characters and performers together again.
Friendship Has Kept Broken Lizard Together
Broken Lizard has survived for more than 35 years, an extraordinary accomplishment for any comedy troupe.
Its members have experienced disagreements while writing, filming, and editing their movies. However, those creative differences never became more important than the friendship underneath them.
“At some point, you become a family,” Lemme said. “I could insult one of the Broken Lizard guys, and that’s fine. But if somebody else did it, I’d be like, ‘I’ll kill you. Don’t you do it.’”
The members continue to challenge one another because everyone wants to make the funniest possible movie. However, even the most heated conversations are surrounded by laughter.
“You work on a script, you have your creative differences, and you shoot the movies,” Lemme said. “But you have a lot of laughs.”
That dynamic continues during the promotional tour. Instead of sitting in separate rooms or traveling alone, the group gets to return to the road together.
“We’re riding on airplanes together, driving in vans together, hanging out in different cities together, and we’re just laughing again,” Lemme explained. “I think the key is laughter. When we stop laughing, I suppose that’ll be the end of Broken Lizard, but that doesn’t seem to be happening.”
The comedy may be ridiculous, but the genuine history shared by its stars gives the reunion an emotional weight that cannot be manufactured.
Super Troopers 3 Benefited From Tacoma FD
The process of making Tacoma FD changed the way Lemme and Heffernan approached creative disagreements.
During the show’s later seasons, they had approximately 14 weeks to write 13 episodes. Lemme estimated that the workload equaled four or four-and-a-half feature-length screenplays.
“We were like, ‘We can’t argue about all this stuff. We’ll murder each other,’” Lemme recalled.
Instead of endlessly debating every joke, they started writing and filming multiple options. They could then decide which version worked best while editing the episode.
“I can’t dig my heels in for every single thing because it’s just going to be impossible,” Lemme said. “On the day, we’ll shoot it both ways. One might be obviously better than the other, and then when we’re in the editing room, we’ll just check it out and see which is better.”
Broken Lizard did not have that freedom while making its earliest movies. Limited budgets and expensive 35mm film forced the group to make difficult choices before the cameras rolled.
“We’re a little bit traumatized from those days,” Lemme joked.
Digital filmmaking has given the performers more opportunities to experiment, improvise, and discover unexpected jokes during production.
“Now, you’re like, ‘Just keep the thing rolling,’” Lemme said. “In those moments, you’ll actually start to riff about stuff and start to come up with even more jokes.”
That looser approach helped the group embrace the possibilities within Super Troopers 3 without losing the care that has defined its previous work.
Brian Cox Returns With Logan Roy Energy
Brian Cox has been part of the Super Troopers family since the original movie. Before his Emmy-winning role as Logan Roy in Succession, Cox wanted an opportunity to explore broader comedy.
“He had always sort of dreamed of being like a Jerry Lewis type,” Lemme said. “He felt he had some of this bigger, broader comedy in him, and he proved that to be true. He was incredible.”
Lemme specifically remembered Cox filming Captain O’Hagan’s destruction of a local police captain’s lawn. The approximately 15-minute take allowed Cox to scream, move hoses, turn on water, and take the scene in several unexpected directions.
“He got a standing ovation at the end of that,” Lemme recalled. “We were like, ‘Wow, he’s really gung-ho.’”
Cox returned for Super Troopers 2 after filming the Succession pilot. By the time the third movie entered production, his performance as Logan Roy had made him one of television’s most recognizable stars.
However, Cox initially questioned whether a man approaching 80 would still be working as a state trooper. Chandrasekhar reportedly warned him that the movie would need to explain O’Hagan’s absence, potentially by killing the character.
“No one wants to hear that their character has died,” Lemme said. “He came back and was fantastic.”
The new story recognizes O’Hagan’s age by presenting him as a retired captain who refuses to leave the station.
“He was Logan Roy, and he came in with Logan Roy energy,” Lemme joked. “We like to rag on each other, and he’s picked up on that. He doesn’t really understand how to rag on people, so he comes in hot and starts insulting you.”
Broken Lizard also considered a supernatural alternative if Cox decided not to return. “What if we write in that he’s died and his ghost is haunting the station?”
Lemme recalled. “Sometimes you’ll see a coffee mug float by in the background or something like that.”
Fortunately, fans will get to see Cox reunited with the troopers once again.
Marisa Coughlan Brings Back the Franchise’s Heart
Marisa Coughlan also returns as Ursula, whose relationship with Foster gave the first Super Troopers an important emotional center.
Broken Lizard’s first feature, Puddle Cruiser, was primarily a romantic comedy. The group learned from that experience while developing Super Troopers.
Although the pranks, traffic stops, and drug investigation provided the comedy, the filmmakers realized the story also needed personal stakes. That led to Foster and Ursula’s Romeo and Juliet-style relationship between members of competing police departments.
“Ursula, to me, is one of the beating hearts of Super Troopers,” Lemme said.
The romance received less attention in the Canadian-focused sequel. However, Super Troopers 3 brings the relationship back into focus while examining what happens after years of living together. “We’re all in our late 50s here, and none of our characters are married or even have girlfriends,”
Lemme recalled the group realizing. “Let’s bring Ursula back in, and let’s address that.”
Coughlan’s willingness to embrace the group’s wild humor made her essential to that story. “She’s a good sport, and she’s game for anything,”
Lemme said. “She and Soter have a wonderful chemistry onscreen. They always have, and it’s certainly on display in Super Troopers 3.”
Hannah Simone Joins the Super Troopers Family
The third installment introduces Thorny’s extended family through characters played by Hannah Simone, Iqbal Theba, and Sakina Jaffrey.
Simone plays Farva’s love interest, a relationship specifically designed to make Thorny uncomfortable. According to Lemme, the New Girl star completely committed to the physical and over-the-top nature of the role.
“You need an actress who’s game,” Lemme said. “He’s an animal. He’s a disgusting beast of a human being.”
Theba and Jaffrey also explored unexpected comedic territory. Lemme avoided revealing their characters’ biggest moments, but he teased that both actors pushed themselves further than they expected.
“Sakina is having the time of her life,” he said. “She’s wicked and mischievous. You find out a lot about her and Iqbal. They went to places that I don’t think they ever dreamed they would go.”
Their commitment helped create some of the movie’s funniest scenes.
“They really brought it hard,” Lemme said. “It was fantastic because they provide some of the biggest laughs in the movie.” Audiences should also remain through the credits for bloopers and additional footage from the production.
A Tacoma FD Movie Could Continue the Story
Broken Lizard’s future may extend beyond Super Troopers. Lemme confirmed that early work has begun on a possible Tacoma FD movie.
The television comedy ended after four seasons, despite continued success. Lemme believes it became a victim of larger corporate decisions to move away from scripted programming.
The series later reached an even larger audience through streaming. It also remains close to the cast and creators.
“We have been discussing the film version,” Lemme revealed. “We have an idea for what the movie would be. I don’t want to give it away, but we are in the outlining process.”
The project remains in its earliest stages, but the cast is interested in returning.
“Everybody’s game,” Lemme said. “For all of us, it was kind of the greatest job of all time. From a creative standpoint, an acting standpoint, a writing standpoint, and a producing standpoint, we had a blast doing it.”
Lemme also praised Hassie Harrison’s growth as an improvisational performer during the show’s four seasons. “She became a master at it,” he said. “In seasons three and four, I was like, ‘This is a completely different person. She’s lost her mind here.’ She’s wonderful.”
Harrison may now be helping build momentum for the possible movie. “I actually think she might be driving the Tacoma FD movie bus right now,” Lemme added.
Potfest Remains Part of Broken Lizard’s Future
For nearly 20 years, audiences have asked Broken Lizard to deliver Potfest, the sequel teased at the end of Beerfest.
“It was a joke that we wrote at the end of Beerfest, and it has taken on a life of its own,” Lemme said. “People angrily approach us: ‘Where’s Potfest?’”
Some fans have even told the group they would rather see Potfest than another Super Troopers installment. “You realize stoners are surprisingly aggro sometimes when they really care,” Lemme joked.
Complications with studio ownership have slowed the project, but Broken Lizard has not abandoned it.
The group also hopes to involve Willie Nelson if the film moves forward.
“We have started working on it,” Lemme confirmed. “That part has definitely happened. There are a lot of moving parts.
While a production date has not been announced, Lemme offered fans a reason to remain hopeful. “The fans of that movie can rest easy tonight knowing that it’s not just forgotten by us,” he said. “It’s on our minds.”
Broken Lizard Has More Movies in Development
Broken Lizard’s future may also take the group into unexpected genres.
Lemme revealed that several scripts and outlines are currently in development. At least three would challenge what audiences expect from the troupe. “I can think of three right now that are completely different than what people would expect from us,” he said.
One project is based on a sketch Broken Lizard has wanted to adapt throughout its career. Another untitled idea has returned to the pitching stage, with Lemme acting as its point person. “It’s a wild one,” Lemme teased. “It is a great, wild movie.”
The group is also considering an animated movie based on a concept that could cost approximately $125 million if produced live-action. “Maybe somebody will give us that for a live-action version of it,” Lemme said. “But it could be a great animated movie, which I think would also be a really cool thing for us.”
Broken Lizard has explored different genres before, most notably with the slasher comedy Club Dread and medieval comedy Quasi. However, Lemme understands why audiences repeatedly return to Super Troopers and Beerfest.
“The thing they like about those characters is that it’s just about a group of friends,” he said. “Beerfest was about a group of friends, too. I think that’s something that resonates with people.”
Super Troopers 3 Marks 25 Years of Laughter
Super Troopers 3 represents far more than another sequel. The film brings Broken Lizard’s journey full circle 25 years after audiences first met its lovable group of Vermont state troopers.
The original became a cult classic. Fans made the second movie possible. Now, the third installment allows longtime viewers to reunite with old friends while introducing Broken Lizard to a new generation.
Behind every prank, argument, romance, and ridiculous investigation is a real friendship that began at Colgate University more than 35 years ago. “When we stop laughing, I suppose that’ll be the end of Broken Lizard,” Lemme said. “But that doesn’t seem to be happening.”
Based on everything the group has planned, Broken Lizard’s story is nowhere near finished.
Super Troopers 3 opens in theaters nationwide on August 7, 2026.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
