If you were as big a fan of Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich’s musical horror spectacle The Devil’s Carnival as I, you can officially start rejoicing now that production has begun on The Devil’s Carnival 2. If you can remember, a teaser trailer was released way back in 2012 that suggested the hellish carnival inhabitants would be traded for – or joined by – an equally colorful cast of heavenly bodies, and this was confirmed by TechN9ne’s angelic Librarian. Since then, there hasn’t been much movement, but if you’ve been checking up on the project’s social media channels, you’d know that Bousman’s production has officially been given the green light! Alleluia!
Along with some behind-the-scenes photos featuring returning actors like Marc Senter and Briana Evigan, it’s also been announced that David Hasselhoff has joined the cast as what I’m assuming will be one of Heaven’s voices of justice. It’s also being teased that Hasselhoff won’t be the only notable name added to an already talented cast, so along with the Baywatch star and already showcased Tech N9ne, we’ll all be giddily awaiting to see what other rockstars and performers dare to dance with the Devil.
If you’re unfamiliar with The Devil’s Carnival, consider it a period-piece rock opera set in Hell (represented by a carnival) where three lost souls are given another chance. Encountering different acts along the way, like Ivan Moody’s hobo clown or Zudnich’s portrayal of the Devil himself, each character is tested for the very flaw that sent them down below, and their only chance at survival revolves around avoiding those same temptations. There’s singing, dancing, mischief, and mayhem, but it’s all beautifully scored and flamboyantly brought to life by pitch-perfect performances and a Gothic-inspired set production.
The Devil’s Carnival 2 (or The Devil’s Carnival: Alleluia! as it’s being billed as some places) will pick up immediately after, possibly depicting some kind of war between Heaven and Hell. While we’ve met all the carnival workers already, we still haven’t met any of the characters from above besides God (Paul Sorvino). Tech N9ne will play “The Librarian,” albeit with a mean streak, and again, I can’t see Hasselhoff being anything but an angel, so it’ll be a real treat to see who else falls behind Sorvino on Team Heaven.
Starring Emilie Autumn, Briana Evigan, Jessica Lowndes, Marc Senter, Terrance Zdunich, Paul Sorvino, Shawn “Clown” Crahan, Bill Moseley, Ogre, Captain Maggot and J. Larose, no release date has been announced yet, but we’ll update you as soon as we hear! The last film did a full circus-like tour around the country, maybe The Devil’s Carnival 2 will follow suit?
*UPDATE*
The full cast has been revealed as per Deadline:
In addition to Hasselhoff and Tech N9ne, Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), Ted Neeley (Jesus Christ Superstar), Adam Pascal (Rent), Chantal Claret (Morningwood) and Jimmy Urine (Mindless Self Indulgence) have joined the cast. Confirmed to return are Paul Sorvino, Terrance Zdunich, Emilie Autumn, Briana Evigan, Marc Senter, Dayton Callie, Shawn “Clown” Crahan, and Ogre. There goes the mystery!