It's official. The sequel to the 2011 film Dolphin Tale, based off the story of Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Winter the dolphin, will once again film in Clearwater the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Florida Governor Rick Scott joined Clearwater Marine Aquarium CEO David Yates at the aquarium on Friday to formally announce the sequel and the filmmakers plans to film in and around the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater.
Scott recently approved the spending of $5 million in state funds toward production costs for the Dolphin Tale sequel, which will feature much of the original film's cast. Harry Connick Jr., Morgan Freeman, and Ashley Judd are all set to return under the the direction of Charles Martin Smith, who also directed the original Dolphin Tale.
But, the $5 million spent is hardly a donation. Economic estimates predict that tourism and jobs resulting from the original Dolphin Tale will spur $2 billion in economic impact over five years.
Scott and state officials view this as an investment, hoping for a similarly "great return" with the filming and release of the Dolphin Tale sequel in Clearwater the Times reports.
The Filming of the sequel is expected to begin in mid-October and end in mid-January with the primary location, once again, set to be the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
The original Dolphin Tale was inspired by the rescue and rehabilitation of Winter, a dolphin equipped with a prosthetic tail living at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
The sequel is set to be released in theaters nationwide on September 9, 2014 according to Warner Bros.
We'll keep you updated as more news arises.
