A sequel to the hit film The Purge was seemingly inevitable due to the $86 million gross the movie pulled in worldwide with only a $3 million production budget. Producers Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions, Platinum Dunes, and Sebastien Lemercier will all return for The Purge 2 that is scheduled to start shooting before the end of the year. Read on for more info.
According to Variety, James DeMonaco is returning to write and direct the sequel to his hit film “The Purge” for Universal and Blumhouse.
Jason Blum of Blumhouse will produce through his first-look deal with Universal. Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Sebastien Lemercier are also returning to produce.
“The Purge” was Blumhouse’s first production under its first-look deal with Universal. The sci-fi thriller, starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headley, was a major success with $87 million this year in global box office after being produced on a budget of $3 million.
Universal came on to “Purge 2″ following the opening weekend success of “The Purge,” which dominated the box office with a stunning $34 million.
Blumhouse is also in line to receive a $2.25 million tax credit from the state of California for “The Purge 2,″ which was one of 31 projects that received a conditional approval on June 3 for California’s Film and Television Tax Credit program.
If it’s cleared by the state, “Purge 2″ will receive the credit covering up to 25% of the budget once production is completed and an audit has established that the production funds were spent in California. The sequel would have to begin shooting by the end of the year and meet several other requirements if it’s to receive the credit.
