When the action-comedy RED came along in 2010, nobody knew what to expect, but a worldwide gross of almost $200 million ensured its success. Not too long ago, Summit Entertainment announced that the action-comedy would get a sequel, and now two new cast members join the already impressive ensemble.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee will join RED 2. At the moment, their roles are unknown, but the Oscar-winning Chicago actress and the “G.I. Joe” star are in good company alongside returning cast members John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker and Bruce Willis.
Dean Parisot, whose last feature was the comedy remake Fun with Dick and Jane, agreed to direct the sequel back in February, filling in for Robert Schwentke, who sat in the director’s chair for Golden Globe-nominated first feature. The writing duo of Erich and Jon Hoeber, who wrote the original RED have also written the sequel.
The sequel sees the CIA operatives taking on enemies in various European locations. Set for a late-summer release of August 2, 2013, Lionsgate International plans to sell RED 2 to distributors at the film market at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Check out more information about RED 2 in the press release below.
Los Angeles, CA May 10, 2012 – Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® company, has cast Oscar® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (ROCK OF AGES, CHICAGO) and Byung-Hun Lee (G.I. JOE: RETALIATION, G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA) in RED 2, the sequel to the action-comedy hit RED. The sequel also reunites Bruce Willis (THE EXPENDABLES, DIE HARD), John Malkovich (IN THE LINE OF FIRE, BURN AFTER READING), Mary-Louise Parker (WEEDS, R.I.P.D.), and Oscar winner Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN). Lionsgate International will sell the film at the upcoming Cannes film market.
The project is being directed by Dean Parisot from a screenplay by Erich and Jon Hoeber, who wrote the script for the studios’ first installment of the Golden Globe® nominated film. Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Mark Vahradian will produce the film via their DiBonaventura Pictures banner.
RED 2 brings back the team of retired CIA operatives as they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe. The film is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2013.
Erik Feig, President, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Production, stated “We had so much fun making RED and seeing that amazing cast assembled together – and so did consumers: over $200m worldwide and the number one home entertainment rental of last year. We can’t wait to bring them back together, give them some new friends, and show they ‘still got it.’”
Feig will oversee the project for the studio along with Summit Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Production, Geoff Shaevitz.
Malkovich, Parker, and Zeta-Jones are represented by WME. Willis, Mirren, and Lee are represented by CAA. Malkovich is represented by Principato-Young Entertainment.
