'Sharknado' Coming to the Big Screen; Tara Reid Cut From Sequel
"Sharknado," the SyFy original movie, is coming to the big screen for a limited engagement. The film, which features tornados carrying tons of sharks, caused quite a stir on Twitter but essentially flopped in the ratings department.
The low-budget film will screen eat midnight on Aug. 2 at 200 Regal movie theaters across the country, thanks to Twitter requests from fans. "Sharknado" starred Ian Ziering and Tara Reid as a separated couple forced to be together during the shark-infested tornadoes. Ziering plays the hero, ironically named Fin, who is able to stop the tornadoes and slaughter several sharks along the way.
According to reports, Ziering and Reid each made $50,000 for their parts in the film, which drew so much Internet buzz that the SyFy network announced a sequel was in the works almost the same night the original aired.
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"What we can guarantee is that 'Sharknado 2' will be lots of fun," Thomas Vitale, executive vice president for programming told New York's Daily News. "We didn't want our fans to worry they wouldn't get their fill of more shark fin, I mean, fun next year."
"Every one in a while, there is a perfect storm – on television," Vitale added. "The fans are clamoring for a sequel. Or perhaps it will be a prequel."
While much is still up in the air, "Sharknado 2" will be set in New York City and be released in 2014. Ziering is reportedly the only original character coming back. Reid was apparently released from her role, TMZ stated, even though she had said she would definitely be up for doing the sequel.
Producers and members of the SyFy network hope that the big-screen release will lead to even more success for the film and make it a classic.
"You know how the audiences have had fun with 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' over the years. If the Internet reactions to this film are any indication, then our moviegoers are primed and ready to enjoy 'Sharknado' larger than life in cinemas," Regal theaters' director of digital marketing Chris Sylvia told Fox News.
