Have you seen Kung Fury, the half-hour martial arts action comedy throwback film currently available on YouTube? If not, do yourself a favor and carve out a chunk of your lunch break to check it out. That way, you can be properly hyped for the news that its sequel starts shooting this summer, with Michael Fassbender and Arnold Schwarzenegger joining the cast.
This update comes on the heels of star and director David Sandberg securing financing for the movie from Creasun Entertainment USA, a production company in Los Angeles that released the following statement:
“Kung Fury 2 is the very exciting vision of David Sandberg, and it contains all the elements of a magical and fun ride for all ages. We are thrilled to be part of this great project and can’t wait to share it with the whole world, where it will no doubt create excitement across the globe!”
Crowdfunded through Kickstarter, the original Kung Fury was released online in 2015 and has since become an Internet sensation, racking up over 30 million views on YouTube alone. Featuring time travel, Nazis, Vikings, David Hasselhoff, and a dinosaur police officer named Triceracop, of course, the short film was designed to feel like a cheesy ‘80s action flick, including a visual filter that gives it the appearance of a worn-out VHS.
Sandberg is expected to return to star in and direct the sequel, which he’s also co-writing with Child’s Play’s Tyler Burton Smith. It’s unclear what parts Fassbender and Schwarzenegger are playing, but if the original short is any indication, the larger stars wind up in the smaller roles.
The sequel will find Kung Fury’s titular character, described as “greatest damn cop of all time,” in 1985 Miami, though he’s not expected to stay there long. After the death of a fellow colleague that results in the disbandment of his Thundercop team, Kung Fury must travel through time and space to rescue his friend and ultimately save the prestigious Miami Kung Fu Academy from the villainous Kung Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler.
There’s no word yet on when Kung Fury 2 will actually be released, nor if it’ll see a theatrical distribution or go straight to streaming. Be sure to check back in as more details are announced, though.
