Winter The Dolphin and the rest of 2011’s “Dolphin Tale” cast will return for Alcon Entertainment’s sequel, with shooting starting in October.
Harry Connick Jr., Morgan Freeman, Kris Kristofferson, Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff have been cast. Charles Martin Smith will return to direct from his own screenplay.
The sequel will center on Winter and a new baby dolphin named Hope, who was rescued by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2010.
Warner Bros. has already dated the sequel for Sept. 19, 2014.
Winter was rescued in 2005 after losing her tail in a crab trap. An 11-year old boy who befriended her at the aquarium rallied friends and family to save Winter and convinced a doctor to create a prosthetic attachment to restore the dolphin’s ability to swim. Winter played herself in the movie.
“Dolphin Tale” generated a solid $72 million at the U.S. box office in 2011 through Warner Bros. and another $23 million overseas. The 3D film was produced by Alcon toppers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson along with marketing president Richard Ingber.
