The sequel to the highest-grossing local film of 2010, Tomorrow, When the War Began, remains in development, according to Omnilab Media managing director Christopher Mapp.
The teen action-thriller was a huge hit in Australia – grossing more than $13.5 million – but underperformed in the United Kingdom and other territories, which dented the sequel’s prospects. It will finally be released in the US from February 24 via a multi-platform release strategy which includes a limited theatrical run.
Omnilab boss Christopher Mapp told IF magazine late last year that the company remains committed to the project, which is back in development after writer-director Stuart Beattie signed on to helm I, Frankenstein. The official Tomorrow, When the War Began Facebook page later confirmed that filmmaker Kieran Darcy-Smith is developing the script.
“We’re still spending good money in development – we’ve got another version of the script that’s well and truly on foot and we obviously lost some time when we lost Stuart to I, Frankenstein. We’re really congratulatory and wish him well that he’s gone to I, Frankenstein but the reality is that that put a bit of a hole in our development and we had to go back to the drawing board.
“At the same time we’re also looking at our TV options after the film, so a lot of energy and expense and time goes into developing these properties to make sure they’re right because if you green-light them too early you’re only going to leave some money on the table.”
Darcy-Smith's debut feature, Wish You Were Here, was recently shown at the Sundance Film Festival. It will be released in Australia in April.
Tomorrow 2 was originally scheduled to shoot in September, 2011 around New South Wales' Hunter Valley and Blue Mountains. More than 300 cast and crew were set to be employed during principal photography, as well as hundreds of extras and about 150 post production and VFX crew, according to the NSW government.
However, Beattie then accepted the writer-director role on I, Frankenstein, which is now due to begin filming in Melbourne around March-April.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.