It was last reported back in July that Lionsgate was up for advancing a sequel to the 2013 hit action film, Mikael Håfström’s Escape Plan. That film was led in a two-hander between cinematic action movie legends Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger which grossed $137 million globally, and the update at the time also gave mention to the possibility of it being a Chinese co-production.
That detail still appears correct according to the latest update at Deadline which officially confirms the sequel now greenlit for production next year from Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films with Lionsgate Premiere handling its release. Stallone will reprise his role in a supporting capacity this time around while Escape Plan scribe Miles Chapman’s new screenplay will oversee an updated cast and story; The original film saw the legendary action star as a prison security expert fight his way out of an off-the-books prison facility headed by a courrupt warden.
Randall Emmett and George Furla will represent the film at the American Film Market this month while pre-production and shooting set respective dates for January 15 and March 15 next year with locations slated for Ohio and in China. The two are also producing as well as Mark Canton and Zack Schiller with Ted Fox, Mark Stewart, Barry Brooker, and Stan Wertlieb executive producing.
Stallone, the subject of recent updates pertaining to emphatic reports of his departure from the iconic movie hero, Rambo, was last reported to star in a new untitled revenge thriller from director Jim Mickle at STX Entertainment following updates back in April and June. The actor is also poised for a cameo in James Gunn’s Marvel sequel, Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol. 2 on May 5.