Derek and Hansel are lured into modelling again, in Rome, where they find themselves the target of a sinister conspiracy.
After many years of being separated from modeling and each other, Derek and Hansel are dragged back into the fashion world in Rome. After being humiliated on the runway by the people behind the scenes, Derek and Hansel decide to quit the business . . . until retired swimsuit model, Valentina, drags them back in with questions about recent celebrity deaths. Soon after, Derek also realizes out that the son who was taken from him is in Rome, and is much dismayed to find that Derek, Jr. is fat. And smart. Regardless, Derek, Sr. continues his mission with Hansel, which leads them to the fashion-model legends of "Adam, Eve, and Steve", and the "Chosen One". Who is that person? Why do the models drink the Chosen One's blood? Will Derek's and Hansel's careers resume?—Bossy Bessie
It is 15 years since we last caught up with male model Derek Zoolander and his friend and fellow-model Hansel. Since then both their lives have taken turns for the worst. Zoolander's School for Kids Who Can't Read Good literally collapsed, killing his wife and injuring Hansel. Zoolander's son was then taken away from him by Social Services. Both Zoolander and Hansel are now has-beens, living lives of recluses. However, several pop stars have recently been murdered. Interpol are investigating and discover that they all had a Zoolander-invented look on their face when they died. Zoolander and Hansel are called in to help solve the murders.—grantss
It's been fifteen long years since gifted male model Derek took the fashion world by storm with his inimitable style and the 'Blue Steel' signature look. Now, after the events of Zoolander (2001), reclusive Derek has no other choice but to confront his inner demons and get back in the game when his patented look triggers a spate of mysterious assassinations. As Fashion Interpol takes an immediate interest in the knotty case, Derek reunites with former rival Hansel to shed light on the mystery. Is a new menace threatening the fashion world? Under those circumstances, has evil fashion mogul Mugatu something to do with the ingenious conspiracy?—Nick Riganas
At Fashion Interpol, Valentina Valencia (Penélope Cruz) examines the expressions of recently assassinated pop singers' last images and discovers they match Derek Zoolander's (Ben Stiller) trademark look, "Blue Steel". The latest death being of Justin Beiber, who dies saying "You cant kill us all, we will protect the chosen one". A flashback reveals that the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good collapsed, killing Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor) and injuring Hansel McDonald (Owen Wilson). Derek later lost custody of his son, Derek Zoolander Jr. (Cyrus Arnold), and announced his retirement from modeling and subsequent seclusion. Jacobim Mugatu was sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences for the attempted assassination of Malaysian Prime Minister (in the first movie)Derek now lives alone in "extreme northern" New Jersey. Billy Zane visits and gives him an invitation to the House of Atoz fashion show by Alexanya Atoz (Kristen Wiig) who runs the largest fashion empire in the world, and persuades him to return to a regular lifestyle in order to regain custody of his son.
In the "uncharted Malibu territories", Hansel returns to his home after dinner and is informed by his orgy that they are all pregnant and that he is the father. He is later given the same invitation by Zane. After reuniting, Derek and Hansel are tracked down by Valentina, who asks them to help Interpol uncover who is behind the systematic assassinations. Derek tells Valentina that the look on all dead pop stars is not "Blue Steel", but "Aqua Vitae", from a campaign that he did in the 90's, with the tagline "Young Forever".At the fashion show, Derek and Hansel are surprised to find that the ever-changing fashion world is now dominated by the likes of designer Don Atari (Kyle Mooney) and the androgynous All. They are put on the runway in "Old" and "Lame" outfits and are doused by a large bucket of prunes. Afterwards, Alexanya congratulates them on their performance.
With Valentina's help, Derek discovers his son is residing at a local orphanage. They find him, but Derek is distraught by his son's obesity. After Matilda's ghost asks him to protect their son, Hansel convinces Derek to accept Derek Jr. After meeting the Headmaster, Derek takes his son around Rome. However, Derek Jr. becomes disgruntled with his father and returns to the orphanage. Hansel receives an anonymous call, requesting that he travel to St. Peter's Basilica at midnight. He, Derek, and Valentina go to the church and meet with Sting, who tells them the tale of Adam and Eve and the little-known Steve, who many rock-stars have died to protect. It is said that Steve is the common ancestor of all models and that he and his closest descendant (Derek Jr.) hold the bloodline of the Fountain of Youth.
Derek returns to the orphanage, only to find it in disrepair and his son and the Headmaster (Justin Theroux) gone. Valentina runs some facial scans & finds that the Headmaster matches the facial scans of a known accomplice of Jacobim Mugatu. He travels to Jacobim Mugatu's (Will Ferrell) isolated prison, but is captured, while Mugatu escapes. Mugatu leaves on a helicopter while Hansel stows away by hiding on top of the propeller.
Derek and Valentina swim back to Rome while Hansel infiltrates the House of Atoz. He witnesses Mugatu reuniting with Alexanya and killing Don Atari. Hansel finds Derek Jr. imprisoned and reunites with Derek and Valentina at the IncrediBALL. They enter a bathhouse through a rear entrance and witness Derek Jr. strapped to a table.
Mugatu and many of the world's fashion designers prepare to cut out Derek Jr.'s heart and consume his blood, believing it to grant them eternal youth as it contains the blood of Steve. Derek, Hansel, and Valentina stop Mugatu from proceeding and he reveals that he brought together the world's fashion designers to kill them as revenge for leaving him imprisoned. Alexanya, who is actually Katinka Ingabogovinanana, attacks Valentina, while Mugatu tells Derek that he was behind the destruction of his Center by hiring the construction crew to build a faulty base.
He then throws an explosive towards the lava. Derek manages to stop it with "Magnum", but he struggles to keep it suspended in mid-air. Sting arrives and reveals that he is Hansel's father, and they, along with Derek Jr., successfully hurl the explosive back at Mugatu, killing him. Derek Jr. forgives his father for his mother's death and Derek and Valentina confess their love for each other. Matilda's ghost gives them her blessing and says that Mugatu live-streamed the event.
Six months later, Derek and Hansel have returned to modeling. Derek and Valentina have a daughter named Darlene, while Derek Jr. is now in a relationship with Malala Yousafzai. Hansel returns to living with his orgy and is now the father of 10 children.
