Imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger riding a giant dinosaur, armed with a massive gun, blasting away at Nazis. This isn’t just a wild daydream; it’s a leak from the highly anticipated film Kung Fury 2. Shot back in 2019 and featuring Michael Fassbender as an outrageous supercop, the movie has yet to hit theaters. The reason for the delay? It boils down to one thing: money.
In a recent interview with Variety, David Sandberg, the film’s star, writer, and director, revealed the prolonged legal struggles that have kept Kung Fury 2 from seeing the light of day. The film’s funding was partly managed by Creasun Entertainment USA, the American arm of a Chinese film company. Originally, Creasun agreed to finance about two-thirds of the film, including a substantial $10 million (roughly €9.5 million) dedicated to visual effects work from Double Negative. Everything was running smoothly until they entered the VFX phase.
“Once we started getting to VFX, things started to really slow down, and things became a bit weird,” Sandberg explained. The Chinese financier’s payments suddenly stopped, leading to a flurry of lawsuits. After a lengthy legal battle, a settlement was initially reached, but Creasun failed to pay. The cycle of lawsuits only continued from there, as they filed countersuits claiming the producers were misappropriating funds.
“They just kind of stonewalled every single attempt to solve the issue,” Sandberg lamented. “It was really heartbreaking for me as an artist who’s worked on this for years.” He added that many talented individuals have invested their passion into this film, making the situation all the more disheartening.
As the legal issues drag on, even with principal photography completed and a rough edit ready, between $5 million and $10 million (€4.75 million – €9.5 million) worth of visual effects remain incomplete. Shockingly, the leaked footage featured temporary effects that were never intended for public viewing. “It’s a fantastic movie, and I’m so bummed that I can’t show it,” Sandberg expressed. “But I haven’t given up. One day, for sure, it will get released.” He emphasized that both Fassbender and Schwarzenegger bring remarkable performances and that the crew shared a collective love for the project, making the ongoing situation even more frustrating.
Why is Kung Fury 2 so important to fans?
This sequel has generated a buzz thanks to its blend of nostalgia and action-packed absurdity, making it a highly anticipated follow-up to the original cult classic.
Will Kung Fury 2 ever be released?
While the legal battles continue, Sandberg remains optimistic that the film will eventually see the light of day.
What challenges have arisen in the making of Kung Fury 2?
The primary challenges have been funding and ongoing legal disputes with the film’s financier.
Who else is involved in Kung Fury 2 besides Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Michael Fassbender plays a pivotal role, complemented by a cast filled with talent bringing the film’s unique vision to life.
As we wait for the eventual release of Kung Fury 2, it’s a reminder of the complexities involved in filmmaking, especially when financial backing goes awry. Despite these hurdles, the passion from the cast and crew shines through, making us hopeful for the future. Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds, and don’t forget to explore related content on Moyens I/O.