Van Wilder 2 The Rise Of Taj Cast Apr 2026

Would you want to see Taj return for a modern-day sequel? Drop your thoughts in the comments below

Davidson has shifted her focus heavily toward stunts and action choreography. A trained martial artist, she has worked as a stunt performer in massive productions like Wonder Woman , Justice League , Game of Thrones , and The Witcher . She’s often behind the scenes making other actors look cool. Steven Rathman (Percy) Playing the lovable, heavy-set nerd Percy (who has a surprising talent for... well, let’s call it “manual stimulation”), Steven Rathman provided some of the film’s most awkwardly hilarious moments.

Checks notes. Still busy being the busiest man in Hollywood. Deadpool , Red Notice , The Adam Project , Spirited , and owning a soccer club. Doing okay for a guy who bailed on the sequel. Why the Cast Worked (Even When the Script Didn’t) Van Wilder 2 isn't a masterpiece. The jokes are uneven, the plot is a recycled Revenge of the Nerds , and the budget clearly ran out before the third act. However, the cast commits to the bit completely. van wilder 2 the rise of taj cast

In 2006, the raunchy college comedy National Lampoon’s Van Wilder got a spin-off sequel that nobody quite asked for but somehow delivered a cult following anyway. Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj followed the scene-stealing sidekick Taj Mahal Badalandabad (played by Kal Penn) from Coolidge College to the hallowed, snooty halls of England’s Camford University.

The Rise of Taj is a time capsule of 2006 comedy. But for fans of Harold & Kumar , The Walking Dead , or just weird early-2000s sequels, revisiting this cast is a fun trip down memory lane. Would you want to see Taj return for a modern-day sequel

While many remember him as Kumar in the Harold & Kumar franchise, Penn has had a fascinating post- Van Wilder career. He served as the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Barack Obama. He’s also had major TV roles in Designated Survivor , House (as Dr. Lawrence Kutner), and Clarice . Most recently, he stars in the legal dramedy The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix. Lauren Cohan (Charlotte Higginson) Playing the love interest—a cynical, pre-med student who falls for Taj’s bizarre charm—was a pre- Walking Dead Lauren Cohan. Her Charlotte provided the straight-laced anchor to Taj’s chaos.

Cohan became a global superstar as Maggie Greene on AMC’s The Walking Dead , a role she continues to reprise in spin-offs like Dead City . She’s also starred in The Boy (and its sequel), Whiskey Cavalier (opposite Scott Foley), and Mile 22 with Mark Wahlberg. She’s proof that surviving a Van Wilder sequel is great training for surviving a zombie apocalypse. Daniel Percival (Simon) The film’s primary antagonist was Simon, a smarmy, aristocratic bully who represented everything wrong with Camford’s elitist "Goths" (the secret society, not the eyeliner crowd). Daniel Percival played the villain with just the right amount of punchable smugness. She’s often behind the scenes making other actors

Percival has largely stepped away from Hollywood blockbusters, focusing instead on British television and theatre. You might have caught him in episodes of Doctors , Holby City , or Casualty . He’s also a respected voice actor for video games and audio dramas. Anthony Cozens (Pip) As Simon’s bumbling, dim-witted sidekick Pip, Anthony Cozens was the comedic punching bag of the film. From falling off horses to accidental nudity, Pip took the physical comedy lumps with glee.

While it lacked Ryan Reynolds’ original charm, the film thrived on its absurd fish-out-of-water premise and a cast of early-2000s character actors, comedians, and future stars. Let’s look back at the eclectic cast of The Rise of Taj and see what they’ve been up to since the beer bongs were put away. The heart of the movie, Kal Penn, stepped out of the “hilarious sidekick” shadow to carry the film. As the sexually voracious, oddly wise, and perpetually energetic Taj, Penn gave the role 110%.

Rathman has worked steadily in television, with guest spots on CSI: Miami , How I Met Your Mother , and Shameless . He’s also a successful commercial actor and voice artist. He largely left the “gross-out comedy” genre behind for more family-friendly and dramatic fare. The Cameo You Forgot: Ryan Reynolds Technically, the film promised a "special appearance" by Ryan Reynolds as the original Van Wilder. In reality? It’s a split-second, non-speaking shot of Reynolds in a yearbook photo and a brief voiceover. It was a marketing gimmick, but it still counts.

Cozens remains active in British film and TV, often playing comedic or period roles. He has appeared in The Crown (in a minor role), The King’s Speech , and various BBC dramas. He also co-founded a theatre company, balancing screen work with his first love: the stage. Holly Davidson (Sadie) As the brash, sexually liberated American student who helps Taj navigate Camford’s weird customs, Holly Davidson brought a slice of American Pie energy to the UK.