RED 2 (Retired, Extremely Dangerous) July 19, 2013

[rubie]

   

Retired Extremely Dangerous (2013)

RED 2
Genre: Action/Comedy/Adventure/Sequel
Directed by: Dean Parisot
Written by: Erich and Jon Hoeber
Starring: Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Byunghun Lee
Producer: Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Mark Vahradian (DiBonaventura Pictures)
Distributed by: Summit Entertainment
Movie Release: August 2, 2013

 

 

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee Join Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker in RED 2
by Adam Chitwood collider.com



While we recently learned that Galaxy Quest director Dean Parisot would be taking the helm of Red 2 (the sequel to the 2010 hit Red), we still didn’t know which original cast members would be returning for the follow-up. Well Summit has made one big casting announcement today, confirming that Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker will be reprising their roles from the first film alongside newcomers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee. The story for the follow-up will find the team of retired CIA operatives taking on a new set of enemies all across Europe. The nature of Zeta-Jones’ role isn’t disclosed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she plays the film’s villain. I have yet to see Red, but I love the hell out of Galaxy Quest and this is certainly an impressive cast so I’m definitely going to have to rectify that sooner rather than later.

Here’s the press release:

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, Ge ff 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.

May 10, 2012

Catherine Zeta-Jones And 'G.I. Joe' Star Byung Hun-Lee Join Original Cast For 'Red 2'
NEWS BY OLIVER LYTTELTON blogs.indiewire.com

2010's "Red" was, on paper, one of the least likely sleeper hits of the last few years: an actioner where the average age of the cast was over 60 (and that was even allowing for relative younglings Karl Urban and Mary-Louise Parker). And yet the film, based on Warren Ellis' comic book, directed by Robert Schwentke and starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren, took a very solid $200 million worldwide on a budget that didn't break the bank, and Summit have been moving ahead with a sequel ever since.

Original writer Jon and Erich Hoeber were brought back, "Galaxy Quest" and "Justified" director Dean Parisot was hired to replace Schwentke, and things have been moving along swimmingly, with a release date in August of 2013 announced a while back. And now Deadline have confirmed that the surviving members of the original principle cast will be returning, and they're bringing along a few new recruits.

The site says that Willis, Mirren, Parker and John Malkovich (who played an acid-casualty spy) have all signed on the dotted line to reprise their roles in the sequel, and will be joined by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Korean megastar Byung Hun-Lee ("G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra" and its upcoming sequel, and "I Saw The Devil"). There's no exact details on the plot, other than that it'll involve the aged espionage agents fighting their way across Europe.

There's no word on who the new additions will be playing, but we'd bet decent money that they're villains of some kind. It's also unclear whether some of the other actors who made it through the original alive -- namely Urban, Brian Cox and Ernest Borgnine, will be back (Freeman'a character died in the original), but we're sure it'll become clear in the coming weeks. "Red 2" will be showing you pictures of its grandkids and asking you to record "N.C.I.S" on August 2nd, 2013.

Catherine Zeta-Jones & Byung-Hun Lee Join Bruce Willis, John Malkovich & Helen Mirren In 'RED 2'
Source: flicksandbits.com


Image from celluloidandcigaretteburns.com

Summit Entertainment have today announced that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee have been cast in ‘RED 2,’ the sequel to the 2010 action-comedy ‘RED.’ Accompanying the announcement, Summit have confirmed that Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker will be reprising their roles from the the original ‘RED’ (Retired. Extremely Dangerous.). There’s currently no word on the nature of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee’s respected roles, expect details regarding their characters soon.

‘RED 2′ is being directed by Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest) from a screenplay by Erich and Jon Hoeber, who wrote the script for the first installment, based in turn on a comic book by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer. ’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 2nd, 2013. Erik Feig, President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, had the following say about the sequel: “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.’”

 

[rubie]

May 11, 2012

'Red' Cast Confirmed for 'Red 2'

Catherine Zeta-Jones & Byung-hun Lee Also Onboard

by Sandy Schaefer screenrant.com

Lionsgate has officially confirmed that the cast of 2010′s hit action-comedy Red – featuring members of the over-50 crowd like Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Dame Helen Mirren – will be returning in the sequel, simply titled Red 2.

Moreover, the next Red flick will add some (relatively) younger acting blood to the cast, with new additions like Oscar-winner Catherine-Zeta Jones and Korean actor/Tae Kwon Do specialist Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow in the G.I. Joe movie franchise).

Red 2 follows the gang of retired (and extremely dangerous) CIA black-ops agents (Willis, Malkovich, Mirren) on a new adventure where “they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe.” Taking over directorial duties from Red helmer Robert Schwentke is Oscar-winner Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest), who will work from a screenplay penned by the same duo responsible for writing the original film, Erich and Jon Hoeber. Unlike the first Red movie, which was loosely based on the comic book by Warren Ellis, the Hoebers will not be drawing inspiration from any exterior source material for the second installment in the series.

Zeta-Jones, who’s been working below most moviegoers’ radars since 2005′s Legend of Zorro, stands to make a comeback this year with her role in the musical Rock of Ages; thereafter, the Chicago alum will make appearances in both Allen Hughes’ Broken City and Steven Soderbergh’s The Bitter Pill, before joining the party for Red 2. Lee, by comparison, should continue to make a good name for himself with this summer’s G.I Joe: Retaliation – has recently added a pair of cult Korean titles to his belt (The Good, the Bad, the Weird and I Saw the Devil) – and should also be received as a welcome addition to the Red sequel, along with Jones.

Jones and Lee are onboard for 'Red 2'

It should also be mentioned that Mary-Louise Parker is confirmed to reprise her Red role as ordinary gal Sarah Ross in the followup; however, fellow fan-favorite supporting players Karl Urban and Brian Cox are not mentioned in the studio press release. While news of their return would also be greeted with open arms, it’s admittedly less apparent how their respective characters would figure into the plot of Red 2 (without coming off as contrived).

So long as the sequel can replicate the popcorn fun of its predecessor – and features at least one moment as memorable as Malkovich’s face-off with a rocket propelled grenade - it should be good.

Red 2 hits theaters around the U.S. on August 2nd, 2013.

Red 2 Cast List Adds Catherine Zeta Jones And Byung-Hun Lee

by Brendon Connelly bleedingcool.com

As Red 2 gets set to enter production, Lionsgate have announced two new additions to the cast and neither of them fits the Retired and Extremely Dangerous profile – which is to say, they’re relatively light on wrinkles and dark of mane.

Byung-Hun Lee, whose previous Western movies number the GI Joe films, in which he plays Storm Shadow, is the first new addition. Yet another example of East-West collaboration in an action film, more specifically one where a star appeals to add some Eastern appeal.

And then we have Catherine Zeta Jones. A daughter for Helen Mirren‘s character? A rival for the affections of Bruce Willis? An evil femme fatale?

Actor Lee Byung Hun confirmed for a role in upcoming Hollywood film, 'Red 2'

Source: CookieNews via Nate by leesa86 allkpop.com

After Bruce Willis sang the praises of Lee Byung Hun for his work on G.I. Joe 2, it seems they will be working together once again.

Actor Lee Byung Hun who plays the role of Storm Shadow in the Hollywood blockbuster G.I. Joe series has also been cast in ‘Red 2‘.

American Film Studio Summit Entertainment officially reported on May 10th, “Lee Byung Hun will be featured in ‘Red 2′, the sequel to the successful 2010 movie, ‘Red’.”

Lee Byung Hun along with actress Catherine Zeta-Jones will be joining the original cast of Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Marie Louise Parker.

Oscar winner Dean Parisot will be directing Red 2 which follows the retired (and extremely dangerous) CIA black-ops agents (Willis, Malkovich, Mirren) on a new adventure where “they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe.” Red 2 is scheduled to hits theaters on August 2nd, 2013.

Red 2 Enlists Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee

NIX beyondhollywood.com

It wouldn’t be a “Red” sequel without Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich back for the second time around. Apparently Summit feels the same way, because the trio are officially onboard “Red 2″, and this time around they’ll be joined by Catherine Zeta-Jones and “G.I. Joe’s” Byung-hun Lee (aka Storm Shadow).

Dean Parisot (“Galaxy Quest”) will take over directing duties for Robert Schwentke. He will direct from a script by the brothers Hoeber, who also wrote the first movie (along with the upcoming “Battleship” for Peter Berg).

The first “Red” was based on a limited series comic book by Warren Ellis about one pissed off ex-CIA agent. That was a nihilistic piece of action that didn’t exactly have the happy ending of the happy-go-lucky movie adaptation. For the sequel, the heroes will head overseas to Europe, where they’ll engage in all manner of action with people way, way younger then them.

Also expected back is Mary-Louise Parker as the girlfriend of Willis’ character, though honestly, she was always a bit of an odd duck among the cast.

The first “Red” was a surprise hit, making just under $200 million worldwide. The sequel is set for August 2, 2013.

RED 2 Lands Catherine Zeta-Jones And Storm Shadow

Posted By: John Campea AMCtheatres.com

One of the most "pleasant surprise" films for me of 2010 was the Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Karl Urban film "Red" (standing for Retired Extremely Dangerous). I thought the wit and humor were completely on mark, the performances and action were great and John Malkovich was wonderful.

By the end of the film I found myself dying to see more of this rag tag group. Wish granted! Not long ago we heard that Lionsgate studio was brining the gang back together again for "Red 2", and this time they'd be directed by "Galaxy Quest" director Dean Parisot.

Plans for the sequel seem to be moving full steam ahead and it was just announced two new cast members would be joining the fray. Oscar award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-hun Lee (best known to most of you as Storm Shadow in the "G.I. Joe" movies) have officially joined the cast. Almost nothing is known at this point about their characters or the role those characters will play.

'Red 2' Adds Catherine Zeta-Jones, Byung-Hun Lee

by Terri Schwartz splashpage.mtv.com

Some new faces are joining the cast of "Red 2." Summit Entertainment has revealed that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee have signed on board to the upcoming comic book flick sequel.

The movie has already nabbed "Galaxy Quest" director Dean Parisot to helm the project, so it stands to reason that "Red 2" will be light-hearted fare like its 2010 predecessor. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman have all expressed interest in returning for the flick. "Red 2" will reunite the team of retired CIA operatives with some new friends as they use their "old-school style" to take on new enemies in Europe.

"Red 2" is slated to hit theaters on August 2, 2013. Though the first movie came out at the beginning of awards season in October, it went on to make $90 million domestically and $75 million overseas. With the flick only costing $21 million to make, it's no wonder why Summit was happy to pull together a sequel. "Red" even earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical. "Red 2's" August release date should bode well for its box office income, as it will be coming out at the tail end of summer blockbuster season.

Loosely based on Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner's three-issue miniseries of the same name, "Red" starred Willis, Freeman, Mirren and John Malkovich. The first movie's screenwriters, Erich and Jon Hoeber, were hired to write this one as well.

When we caught up with Mirren last year, she said she was "absolutely" on board for "Red 2."

"It was fabulous," she said of her experience on the first movie. "And it was great because when they asked me, I always imagined I was maybe the fourth or fifth person they'd asked. They said, 'No no NO! The minute we got the script we kind of wrote it for you, you were the only person we ever thought of to play this role,' it was great."

Are you intrigued by Zeta-Jones and Lee's addition to the "Red 2" cast?

[Guest itrayya]

the first one was good. i enjoyed watching it. i hope the second one will be as enjoyable. it isn't a blockbuster hit but it is something good to watch on a day off from work. i'm actually excited to see this.

[rubie]

May 23, 2012

RED 2 Poster at the 2012 Cannes Film Market

Source: Nate

May 22, 2012

RED 2: Lee Byung Hun's influence in the 2012 Cannes Film Market

Source: Nate, translation by Barbara at EverythingLBH.com. Chinese text courtesy LBH-Baidu.com

Owing to the economic crisis in Greece and the weather conditions, this year’s Cannes Film Market is lethargic. However, there is an excitement over Lee Byung Hun. While the movie “Red” only attracted an audience of 800,000 and generated a profit of USD500,000, the movie “ Red 2 “ sold for an astonishing USD1.8 Million. The buyer from Korea believed that with Lee Byung Hun’s participation, the Korean box office for this movie is guaranteed.

The producer of Red 2 chose to announce the participation of Lee Byung Hun in Red 2 ten days prior to the opening of the Cannes film festival to target buyers in the Cannes film market.

[rubie]

May 24, 2012

Anthony Hopkins in Negotiations to Join 'Red 2'

Source: THR

UPDATED: Hopkins joins a cast that includes Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones and John Malkovich.

Dean Parisot is behind the camera this time around, with Bruce Willis leading a cast that included Helen Mirren and John Malkovich, among others, as over-the-hill special ops agents forced out of retirement.

If a deal makes, Hopkins will play a genius scientist who was locked up in an insane asylum.

Hopkins joins Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee as new members of the cast.

Jon and Erich Hober, who worked on the first movie, wrote the script. Lorenzo Di Bonaventura is producing.

Red 2 will once again pair Hopkins with Mirren, with whom he’s worked with numerous times. The duo are currently shooting Fox Searchlight’s Hitchcock in Los Angeles.

He is repped by UTA, Stone Meyer and UK’s Independent Talent Group.

[rubie]

May 24, 2012

Anthony Hopkins May Play the Villain in RED 2

by Adam Chitwood collider.com

Earlier this month a major casting announcement for Red 2 was made. We learned that Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Mary-Louise Parker will all be returning for the follow-up to the 2010 hit, joined by newcomers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee. Now it appears that director Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest) has found his villain. Heat Vision reports that Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to join the cast as the film’s baddie, but he has a few scheduling issues to work out first. He’s set to return as Odin in Thor 2, which is also shooting later this year, but the actor is apparently keen on taking the Red 2 role as well. Hit the jump for more.

In the sequel, Heat Vision reports that Hopkins would play a “genius scientist who was locked up in an insane asylum.” When the initial casting announcement was made I speculated that Zeta-Jones would be playing the villain, but it appears I was mistaken. Hopkins and Mirren are currently filming Hitchcock, in which the former plays legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. Mirren plays the filmmaker’s wife in the film, which takes place during the production of Psycho.

There’s no official word on when Red 2 would start filming, but Marvel’s Kevin Feige told Steve in April that Thor 2 would start shooting “in three months”, which would put the production start-date for the superhero pic in July. Thor 2 is chasing a November 2013 release date, but if Hopkins’ Odin role is relatively small in the follow-up he could conceivably fit both Thor 2 and Red 2 in his schedule.

Anthony Hopkins Being Courted For A Bad Guy Role In RED 2

WaylonJones comicbookmovie.com

Summit Entertainment is looking to cast the new bad guy in their upcoming comic book movie sequel Red 2 and according to sources they are looking at Anthony Hopkins to fill the role.

Yesterday brought us a preview poster for the upcoming Red sequel that will see Bruce Willis reuniting with John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Helen Mirren. We have also had news that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee will join the cast as well. According to new reports from Deadline Summit is looking to cast Anthony Hopkins as a bad guy named Edward Bailey for the movie. The report also goes on to say that Hopkins is indeed interested with the only sticking point seeming to be whether he can get is schedule for Thor 2 to cooperate.

Red 2 will star Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Byung-Hun Lee, and possibly Anthony Hopkins. the film is being direct by Dean Parisot with a release date of August 2nd 2013.

'RED 2' Looks to Add More Star Power With Anthony Hopkins

by Jason Marrero screenrant.com

If we look back at the extraordinary career of Anthony Hopkins it is plain to see that he has never been afraid to tackle any type of role. Whether it’s been a cannibalistic psychiatrist serial killer, or an Asgardian ruler, Hopkins has always seemed to excel under any circumstances that the script calls for. At 75 years young, Hopkins has shown no signs of slowing down.

Recently it was announced that the Oscar-winning actor would return to reprise his role as Odin in Marvel’s Thor 2, and one thing that’s for certain is Hopkins does not plan on getting out of the game while he still has so much to give us. It would be too easy for him to call it a career and join Sean Connery on Hollywood’s R.E.D. (Retired and Extremely Dangerous) list.

Speaking of RED - THR is reporting that Anthony Hopkins has entered negotiations to join the cast of the already star-studded crew of Summit’s RED 2. The first Red film was released in 2010 and told the story of Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), a retired black-ops agent who re-assembles his old (literally old) team in order to stay alive and fight back against the agency who wants them dead.

RED 2, which will star the returning cast of Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich, will reportedly be set in and around Europe - a place Hopkins is very familiar with (he was born in Wales, UK) - and assuming a deal is struck, and Hopkins takes the role, he will reportedly play a genius scientist who has been locked away in an insane asylum – a place Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter is familar with.

Not only would Hopkins be reuniting with Mirren (the two have worked on previous projects together and are currently off filming Hitchcock (yes, Hopkins will be playing Alfred Hitchcock) for a 2013 release), he will also be joining the other newcomers to the cast, Catherine Zetta-Jones and Byung-hun Lee (G.I. Joe 2).

Another fresh face to the RED team will be director Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest), who will be taking over the duties from Robert Schwentke. Jon and Erich Hoeber have returned to pen the latest chapter of Red, as has producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura.

As films continue to evolve, Sir Anthony Hopkins has remained the constant. His versatility in the art of acting is a rarity in this day and age, and if he joins the cast of RED 2 he will be joining a cast who has more than a few miles on their careers. Here’s to longevity.

There is currently no release date for RED 2 but continue to check back with Screen Rant for further details.

Source: THR

May 25, 2012

Avengers in Chaos? Could Thor 2 Be Down a Star Thanks to Anthony Hopkins?

by JOSH GROSSBERG E! Online

Anthony Hopkins is looking to get back into some bad company.

The Oscar winner is being courted to play the villain in Summit Entertainment's Red 2—that is, as long as it doesn't interfere with his commitment to reprise his role as Odin in Marvel's Thor 2.

Per Deadline, the deal hinges on when the latter blockbuster starts shooting later this year so it can make its targeted release date of Nov. 15, 2013. As the hammer-wielding hero's father, Hopkins is a key part of the series.

If Marvel execs do sign off on his participation in Red 2, the 74-year-old thesp would join Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich in the sequel to the surprise 2010 action hit, in which the latter three play former black-ops CIA agents who come out of retirement to dismantle a hit squad.

The new flick will find the gang getting back together with some new friends, including franchise newcomers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lee Byung-hun, deploying their old-school skills to take out new enemies in Europe. No word yet on the specifics of Hopkins' part.

The British actor has been busy filming Fox Searchlight's Hitchcock, in which he dons makeup to play legendary director Alfred Hitchcock during the making of a little something called Psycho.

Red 2, which will be helmed by Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest), is slated to hit theaters three months before Thor 2 on Aug. 2, 2013.

In the meantime, Thor 2 looks to be up a villain—Casino Royale evildoer Mads Mikkelson is in talks to add to the baddie count, per Variety.

[Guest Riicky]

Byunghun Lee and Catherine Zeta Jones? I can't even... However I really hate finding out about movies a year in advance because of the long wait..this is over a year wait!

[Guest HERMIT]

A sequel movie about old retired people who can manage to still kick richard simmons.

Finally, Hollywood is starting to cater towards my demographic.

[rubie]

June 7, 2012
Catherine Zeta-Jones Reveals Her 'Red 2' CharacterBy Amy Wilkinson 
Catherine Zeta-Jones dances into theaters next week in the Tom Cruise-starring movie musical "Rock of Ages," but once she exits stage left she'll find herself surrounded by retired and extremely dangerous assassins.
Summit Entertainment announced last month that the Welsh actress would join the cast of "Red 2," the sequel to the 2010 action flick starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich. And now Zeta-Jones' role is no longer top secret.
"I play a Russian double agent in 'Red 2,'" she revealed to MTV News. "I'm very excited to work with such a great ensemble cast like in 'Rock of Ages.' What a cast for me to join. I'm really excited, and the script is so much fun."
With filming beginning in September, Zeta-Jones said she is already priming her body for what could be a rough-and-tumble role. "I do have some physical stuff in it," she said. "I do like to train. It keeps my body occupied and my mind sane."
Loosely based on a three-issue miniseries by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, "Red 2" will "reunite our team of retired CIA operatives as they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe." Byung-Hun Lee is also set to join the cast. The film is due out August 2, 2013.
What do you think about Catherine Zeta-Jones playing a Russian double agent? 

[rubie]

July 2, 2012
This Just In! Anthony Hopkins to Star in Red 2BY CATHERINA GIOINO theyoungfolks.com

After negotiations, Anthony Hopkins is to star as the villain Edward Bailey in Red 2. While the film is still untitled, we know it will star the previous actors Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Mary-Louise Parker. We also know that Byung-hun Lee (G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) will star in it, as well as Catherine Zeta-Jones, who told MTV that she will star as a Russian double agent.
While it has been rumored that Morgan Freeman will join the cast, it seems doubtful since (SPOILER) he was shot in the first movie. Anthony Hopkins was in previous talks about becoming the villain in the film, but he had to shoot Thor 2, but since filming starts in September, Hopkins agreed to the film. Hopkins’ role was stated to be a, “genius scientist who was locked up in an insane asylum.” (Sounds a bit like Hannibal Lecter to me).
Dean Parisot is set to direct the sequel, beating out many directors for the job. Although very little is known, more will be updated, and for now, watch these interviews about Red 2.
http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/669133/is-there-a-red-2-in-the-works.jhtml
http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/636523/helen-mirren-says-she-really-enjoyed-working-on-red.jhtml

[rubie]

July 21, 2012
Neal McDonough is Set for RED 2Source: Variety via ComingSoon.net

Neal McDonough (Captain America: The First Avenger) is in talks to play a role in Summit Entertainment's RED 2, reports Variety.
He would be joining Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Byung-Hun Lee and Karl Urban in the Dean Parisot-directed sequel, scheduled to hit theaters on August 2, 2013.
The trade says: "In this installment, Willis and company are searching for a weapon of mass destruction but must first break out the man who created the weapon from an insane asylum."
RED writers Jon and Erich Hoeber penned the script, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce.
(Photo Credit: Brian To/WENN.com)

[Guest lien]

a must watch movie. its like watching the oceans series with all the b ig stars in it..LBH? awesome.. go go hollywood!

[rubie]

July 23, 2012
Neal McDonough Spying RED 2by TJ Dietsch spinoff.comicbookresources.com
 Fresh from roles in Captain America: The First Avenger and on FX’s Justified, Neal McDonough is poised to join the impressive cast of RED 2, the sequel to Summit Entertainment’s 2010 sleeper hit loosely based on the DC Comics miniseries by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner.
According to Variety, it’s unknown what role McDonough has been offered in director Dean Parisot’s film, which stars returning cast members Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker and Helen Mirren, joined by new additions Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-hun Lee, and possibly Anthony Hopkins.
The first film centered on former CIA agents — RED is an acronym for “retired, extremely dangerous” — targeted for assassination because of the secrets they know. The $60 million movie exceeded box-office expectations, grossing nearly $200 million worldwide. The follow-up, penned by RED screenwriters by Erich and Jon Hoeber, reunites the retired CIA operatives “as they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe.”
RED 2 is scheduled for release on Aug. 2, 2013.

[rubie]

August 22, 2012
First Hi-Res Teaser Poster for RED 2By Kenji Lloyd heyuguys.co.uk

Robert Schwentke’s RED was one of the biggest blockbusters of 2010, with an all-star cast headed up by Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Karl Urban.
Having done so well first time around, only gaining popularity in the years since, the sequel is something we’ve all been looking forward to, and after a bit of a grainy first teaser poster surfaced at Cannes a few months back, we’ve now got a hi-res version to enjoy.
The plot is currently being kept under wraps, but this great teaser shows that Willis, Parker, Malkovich, and Mirren will be back for more, with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lee Byung-hun boarding to complete the sequel’s leading line-up.
With Schwentke busy on his next project, R.I.P.D. (one of my most anticipated films of 2013), Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest, Fun with richard simmons and Jane) is behind the camera, with brother Erich and Jon Hoeber returning to pen the script.
RED 2 is already set for release on 2nd August, 2013 in the UK and US, and is expected to be one of the biggest blockbusters we have to look forward to next summer.

[rubie]

August 22, 2012
'Red 2' Teaser Poster: Willis, Mirren & Malkovich Head to Europeby Anthony Taormina ScreenRant.com
Red 2 doesn’t begin filming until next spring, but that’s not stopping DC Entertainment and Summit from teasing the returning cast of all-stars along with franchise newcomers entering the fold. A teaser poster for the sequel has been released, showcasing the names and shadows of some of those familiar stars, along with a little hint of the sequel’s story.
Key members from the first film’s cast – Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Mary Louise Parker, and John Malkovich – are rightfully situated on the one-sheet, along with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee (G.I. Joe 2). The backdrop of the poster, while extraordinarily drab, teases the plot of Red 2 following Willis’ gang of retired CIA operatives taking on a new set of enemies across Europe.
Among those new enemies may be Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, but he has yet to officially sign on for a role – hence his absence from the poster. As a counterpoint to Karl Urban – one of the “villains” in the first film – Anthony Hopkins would provide a much more worthy adversary in terms of the series’ proclivity for geriatric humor. Still, it was exciting to see Willis outmatched, but still successful, against a younger and more virile opponent in Red. Perhaps that’s the role martial arts expert Byung-Hun Lee is set to play.
With original Red director Robert Schwentke busy putting the finishing touches on R.I.P.D. whilst this sequel will be shooting, Dean Perisot will be giving his best effort to replicate his past success with the film Galaxy Quest. Like that comedic space adventure, Red 2 puts Perisot at the helm of a film that blends action with comedy, and stars iconic stars of yesteryear – albeit Bruce Willis is a major upgrade from Tim ‘The Toolman’ Taylor.
Given that Summit wants to kick off the promotional tour for Red 2 early, not even waiting until a single shot of film is “in the can,” expect plenty of character posters to be released closer to next summer when the film releases. For now, we can only hope that Bruce Willis is heading for a showdown with Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Red 2 releases August 2, 2013.
Source: Kinopoisk (via Collider)
'Red 2' Teaser Poster is A Real TeaseBy Michael Arcand MySpace.com
We liked the movie Red well enough. We know there is a Red 2 coming. But the cast and crew don’t even start filming until the spring. So what can we do? Well, we can marvel at the new teaser poster than has just come out and wish for more. We’re sure there will be a lot more in the months to come, but this poster gives us a place to start.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t really give us much to go on. We know that the primary cast will be involved in the sequel, and the poster let’s us know that Catherine Zeta-Jones is also on board. It doesn’t confirm other additions, however we know that Byung-Hun Lee is involved and it’s also possible we’ll see additional talent added soon (Anthony Hopkins and Neal McDonough come to mind)..Check out the new poster, which is full of flames (presumably from something they just blew up) in what appears to be a European district, with our heroes walking away from the scene. What a tease..Red 2 opens on August 2, 2013.
'RED 2' TEASER POSTER: CHECK OUT SOME FAMOUS BEHINDSby: Britt Hayes screencrush.com
It may not begin shooting until next spring, but you can check out a teaser poster for the upcoming sequel ‘Red 2‘ right now. Yes, right this second, you, avid reader of the internet, can look at some famous people from behind and existentially ponder what all of it means.
While ‘Red’ helmer Robert Schwentke is out, the addition of Dean Parisot (‘Galaxy Quest’) definitely has us interested in the action-packed screwball shenanigans the sequel might offer. ‘Red 2′ features returning stars Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren, along with newcomers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee (‘I Saw the Devil,’ ‘G.I. Joe’). Original writers Jon and Erich Hoeber are back on board with a new script.
The first film followed former black-ops agent Frank, working a banal job until some baddies tear after him and he must reassemble his old (literally) team of bad-asses to figure out who’s after him and what they want.
This teaser poster doesn’t give us much, unless you’re just really into looking at the shadowy backsides of people — in which case, you probably hang around dark alleys and corners a lot like an underfed gutter weirdo.
‘Red 2′ will hit theaters August 2, 2013. That’s a long wait if you keep track of things like time and calendars and stuff.
The Whole Gang is Back in Shadows on a Teaser Poster for 'RED 2'by Ethan Anderton FirstShowing.netSource: Kinopoisk

Despite the fact that the sequel doesn't begin filming until next spring, that hasn't stopped Summit from releasing a teaser poster for RED 2. An image of this poster started circulating a little while back, but it was low quality, so we held off. Now we finally have a high-resolution version of the poster. Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Helen Mirren are back and featured on the poster along with new cast members Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee (Storm Shadow from G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra). It's a simple tease, but considering how well the first film went over, fans should be like it. 
Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest, Fun with richard simmons and Jane) will be taking over for director Robert Schwentke on RED 2, and the story follows our veteran team of retired spies (Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker and Helen Mirren) as they use their old school methods to face new enemies across Europe. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee join the mix this time and Anthony Hopkins was in talks to take a villain role. The film starts shooting next spring and is looking to hit theaters on August 2nd, 2013.

[rubie]

September 8, 2012
Bruce Willis, Lee Byung Hun 'RED 2' crank-in in Montreal mid-SeptemberSource: Nate

Also.. another awesome actor joining the cast of RED 2. I've been watching this actor quite a lot.. playing all sorts of roles.. remarkably well.
David Thewlis Joins RED 2Source: The Hollywood Reporter via Coming Soon.net

David Thewlis, best known for playing Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise, has signed on for Summit Entertainment's RED 2, says a story at The Hollywood Reporter. He joins Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Byung-Hun Lee, Karl Urban and Neal McDonough in the ensemble action comedy, set to hit theaters on August 2, 2013.
The project is being directed by Dean Parisot from a screenplay by Erich and Jon Hoeber, who wrote the script for the original RED, based in turn on a comic book by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer.
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.
Thewlis' role is said to be that of an information dealer nicknamed The Frog.
Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Mark Vahradian will produce the film via their DiBonaventura Pictures banner. Feig will oversee the project for the studio along with Summit Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Production, Geoff Shaevitz. 
(Photo Credit: PNP / WENN.com)

[rubie]

September 7, 2012
'Harry Potter' Actor Joining 'Red 2' (Exclusive)David Thewlis joins a cast that includes Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovichby Borys Kit The Hollywood Reporter
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
David Thewlis, best known to American audiences for playing Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter movies, has joined the cast of Red 2, Summit/Lionsgate’s sequel to the hit 2012 action movie.
Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich are back as over-the-hill special agents forced out of retirement, and the movie has added extra wattage in the form of Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as Byung-Hun Lee. 
Thewlis is playing a character called The Frog, an information dealer who got his name by poisoning the water supply at the Kremlin using a poisonous Amazonian frog.
Dean Parisot is directing the movie, due to start shooting later this fall in Montreal.
Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Mark Vahradian will produce the film via their DiBonaventura Pictures banner. The film is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2013.
Thewlis’ recent credits include Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and Luc Besson’s The Lady. He is repped by CAA and Ken McReddie Associates.

[rubie]

August 15, 2012
Show Biz Chez Nous: Financial breaks helped Montreal see RED 2BY BRENDAN KELLY, THE GAZETTE  via Canada.com MONTREAL - Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker and Catherine Zeta-Jones are all heading to Montreal in September to work on RED 2, the sequel to the 2010 action-comedy hit RED. (The title stands for Retired, Extremely Dangerous.) It once again focuses on a gang of heavily armed former espionage operatives.
In a talk at the annual general assembly of the Quebec Film and Television Council last week, RED 2 executive producer Jake Myers was refreshingly honest in his explanation for why this pricey Hollywood flick was shooting in Montreal.
As moderator of the talk, I kicked things off by asking Myers what it was about our town that convinced him and the executives at the studio Summit Entertainment to bring the production here.
“There’s the creative component and then there’s the financial component,” said Myers. “The incentives that you see here and in other areas are the driving force for bringing feature films to various areas around the world. When you’re setting up a movie, obviously you read the script and that (is part of deciding) where you’ll go. But studios are now expecting to have a financial incentive wherever a movie goes. That’s the driving force.”
I thought it was all about art, I said, in mock horror.
Quebec has a very generous film tax credit, providing foreign producers with a 25-per-cent credit on all spending done in the province. In addition, if the filmmakers do their visual effects with high-tech companies here, they can save 20 per cent of the labour expenses on that part of the work. In short, there are big savings to be had here.
The first RED was shot in Toronto, but Myers and his colleagues did scout locations in Montreal at the time, with Quebec film commissioner Hans Fraikin and his staff at the Quebec Film and Television Council office showing them various sites in and around the city. That trip was one of the reasons they brought the movie here this time.
In the first case, it was a toss-up between Montreal and Toronto, and with similar incentive packages in the two provinces, the producers chose Toronto because they found more appropriate locations.
That film was mostly set in the U.S., and Toronto had plenty of locations that could sub for places south of the border. But RED 2 is more of a globe-trotting flick, with action in London, Paris, Moscow and Virginia, and Montreal’s Euro feel tipped the balance in our city’s favour for the sequel. The production will shoot in London after the Montreal leg, though, oddly enough, they will shoot some of the London-set scenes here.
“We needed a city that could be many different places,” said Myers, who recently finished producing the Pittsburgh-shot Tom Cruise film Jack Reacher. “The sequel starts in a U.S. location, just like the first one did, but the swath of places that it goes is a bit broader. So while in RED 1 Toronto had a lot going for it in terms of (standing in for) American cities, Montreal has a better international feel. You could play Europe, you could play the U.S. There’s a Parisian section and a British section, and this is really the only place in North America where you’ll find that European influence. So Montreal fit that bill and was also able to do standard North American architecture.”
The other advantage, says Myers, is that Canadian cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have substantial film-shoot infrastructure in place, including studios and seasoned crews. This is in contrast to some places in the U.S. that have tremendous tax credits but not much infrastructure.
“You’re dealing with a fully fleshed-out industry (in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver), give or take a few positions,” said Myers. “It’s better for a film. You don’t have to travel everybody in. I think that’s a big benefit. (When) bigger shows come into Montreal, you see that they can use that talent.”

[Guest ladyhotary]

this movie will be great, I would see Byung-Hun Lee

[rubie]

September 29, 2012
South Korean movie star shines in L.A.
Byung-hun Lee leaves his mark in cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre earlier this year and recently was in L.A. to attend the premiere of his latest film, 'Masquerade,' which is a big success back home.
South Korean film star Byung-Hun Lee in Beverly Hills. (Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times / September 30, 2012)
By Jessica Gelt LA Times 
It's a typical weekday at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons. Clint Eastwood is signing autographs just outside the hotel's front window for a cluster of near-frantic fans. A parade of the wealthy and connected pass through the lobby on their way to lunch at the hotel, ground zero for industry deal-making. Inside the bar, however, no one gives even a sideways glance at the handsome, tousle-haired actor Byung-hun Lee, who at first appears somewhat unsure of himself as he speaks quietly in halting English.
Then Lee turns toward his translator and as he talks to her in his native Korean, his demeanor changes entirely. His voice grows deep and strong, he sits up straight and his eyes take on a commanding glow.
Suddenly it makes sense that Lee is called South Korea's Brad Pitt. It's a comparison invited by his smoldering good looks, easygoing charm and mega-star status at home. In Seoul, he would be the one surrounded by frantic fans.
His latest film, "Masquerade," is a smash hit in South Korea. It's his most ambitious and far-reaching film to date and one that just might push him to a new level of notoriety in America.
Already this summer, Lee, 42, who has been acting for 22 years but didn't break into U.S. movies until 2009 as super ninja Storm Shadow in "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra," has had his handprints and footprints immortalized in cement at a ceremony in the court of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. (He and longtime star Ahn Sung-ki are the only Koreans to have done so.)
"I didn't allow myself to even dream about Hollywood until a few years ago," Lee says. "I didn't expect it. It just happened all of a sudden. This is like a dream."
This month, he starts work on his next project, "Red 2," which begins filming this month in Montreal and stars Bruce Willis, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Lee is overwhelmed at the thought of working with these heavy hitters. He is also concerned about his age.
"These are all actors I admire and want to be like, they're expert," says Lee. "I'm really nervous to be the youngest."
When it is pointed out that in America being the youngest is usually considered an advantage, Lee smiles. It's different in South Korea, he says, where age and experience are prized.
A few hours after he leaves the Four Seasons, Lee is walking the red carpet for the North American premiere of "Masquerade" at Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Bing Theater. An excitable group of wailing Korean and American fans hint at the mania Lee regularly experiences on the streets back home.
It takes Lee more than a half-hour to walk about 20 feet to the theater's doors. Wearing a smart black suit, a crisp white shirt and no tie, Lee looks poised and relaxed as he makes his way through the crowd. With a ready, honest smile, dark and intense eyes, chiseled cheekbones and perfect hair, Lee betrays none of the exhaustion he admits he feels after conducting back-to-back interviews in English for more than five hours earlier in the day (a task that he says left him feeling "stupid").
"Masquerade" is Lee's first period film and marks his first crack at playing two characters in one movie. The sweeping historical drama (which also contains some seriously funny scenes) is set in AD 1600 in the royal palace of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. Lee plays both King Gwanghae and Ha-seon, a low-brow peasant performer who is recruited to pose as the king during a period that the king fears someone is trying to assassinate him.
Gwanghae is a deeply controversial figure in Korean history. He is believed to have been a harsh, even cruel ruler, but it is also thought that he was responsible for enacting humanitarian and visionary policies. The film imagines a scenario where the good policies were the work of a sympathetic body double. Lee plays both characters to great effect. The Times' Robert Abele praised Lee's "commanding central performances."
"The most important thing is that [the double] has to be loved by the audience," says Lee, who imbues Ha-seon with a palpable warmth and brings him to life with skilled physical comedy that borders on slapstick. "I was worried about the comic scenes," Lee says. "They were risky. Too much physical comedy could be considered a farce and not sophisticated. Getting it just right, controlling it, was really hard."
That's because at heart "Masquerade" is an earnest film about the inherent goodness in humans, with Ha-seon emerging as a hero of the people. It's a tear-jerker that's not afraid of the occasional fart joke.
After the screening, Lee's smooth edges begin to fray just a bit as he sits onstage being peppered with fast-paced, in-depth questions about his roles and career. Coming off the stage, Lee's exhaustion shows. Earlier, he revealed that while he is excited to be in America, he wishes he were in Seoul to soak up the success of "Masquerade."
"They're breaking records over there," he said. "I feel so bad that I'm here. Whenever I open a movie I go secretly to the theater and stand in the back and enjoy the moment. I laugh when people laugh and when people cry, I laugh."
Still, he acknowledges that bigger dreams are coming true for him.
Lee's father, a businessman who was a huge fan of American westerns, particularly those starring Clint Eastwood, died when the actor was 29. Now Lee lives in a suburb of Seoul with his mother in a house with a wine cellar and a home theater. When he put his hands in cement for Grauman's he took his mother with him.
"She said, 'I'm so proud of you,'" says Lee, his eyes warm and distant. "'And if your dad were here, he'd be so proud, too.'"
jessica.gelt@latimes.com