Inspirational professional surfer Bethany Hamilton (the subject of the feature “Soul Surfer”) will join the cast of Alcon Entertainment’s family feature “Dolphin Tale 2,” it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove.
“Dolphin Tale 2” is the sequel to the successful 2011 family film “Dolphin Tale,” released by Warner Bros. Pictures. Hamilton will join the original film’s returning cast, including Harry Connick, Jr., Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman, Academy Award® nominee Kris Kristofferson, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, among others. Charles Martin Smith, who wrote “Dolphin Tale,” has written the screenplay for the sequel and is again directing.
Alcon President of Worldwide Marketing, Richard Ingber, who brought the first project to the Company, will produce with Kosove and Johnson.
“Dolphin Tale 2” tells another true story inspired by the life of the rescued bottle nose dolphin, Winter – the star of “Dolphin Tale” – this time involving the real-life, new baby dolphin Hope, who was also saved and rehabilitated by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Hamilton, who will play herself in “Dolphin Tale 2,” has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination and hope. At age 13, Hamilton was bitten by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore, leaving her with a severed left arm. Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Hamilton returned to the water. She went on to win a national title, and eventually realized her dream of becoming a professional surfer.
Hamilton’s autobiography, Soul Surfer, was made into a major motion picture for TriStar Pictures, starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid. She has written eight additional books (with another coming soon) and continues to surf professionally today.
“Dolphin Tale 2” is currently filming in Clearwater, Florida. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film and has slated the film for a September 19, 2014 release.
