SHARKNADO 3 Gets Title & Release Date In Spite of Strike
Syfy and production company The Asylum announced yesterday that the official title of the latest installment in the global pop culture sensation is Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! The two-hour original movie, directed by Anthony C. Ferrante and penned by Thunder Levin, will devour the planet on Wednesday, July 22 at 9/8c.
The above is reassuring news, considering that forty members of the Sharknado 3 crew stepped away from production activities at the beginning of the month in search of a union contract. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a union representing technicians, artisans and craftpersons in the entertainment industry, has gotten involved, picketing The Asylum’s offices as well as filming locations. Whichever side of the picket line you stand on, I think we can all agree that it’s a major bummer when the chances of additional sharky goodness via a third installment look bleak. Fingers crossed that the title announcement and release date indicate the production company remains confident that they can creatively solve any production issue still in front of them.
But what of that title? Said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Program Strategy, Syfy: “We wanted this third title to boldly go where no shark movie has gone before. Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! embraces the larger-than-life irreverence that has made these movies so popular and entertaining.” Irreverance? What irreverance?
Said David Michael Latt, Producer, The Asylum: “The sharks and tornadoes get all the glory, but we would like to thank our long-time marketing guru Mike DiGrazia who first suggested ‘Oh hell no!’ A dedicated fan of the genre, Mike created the tag lines for 1 and 2 – ‘Enough Said!’ and ‘Shark Happens’ – as well as the Sharknado posters, including the original, which was a viral sensation on its own.” Not sure that I have ever said this about anyone in marketing before, but Mike DiGrazia…Ian Ziering’s got nothing on you. You’re the real hero of this movie.
Sharknado 3 will cause mass destruction in Washington, D.C. before roaring down the Eastern Seaboard and into Florida. The movie stars Ian Ziering as Fin, Tara Reid as April and Cassie Scerbo as Nova. Joining them will be…wait for it…David Hasselhoff as Fin’s father, Gil; now, something for the gentlemen…Bo Derek will play April’s mother, May; Ryan Newman will play April and Fin’s daughter, Claudia Shepard, and Jack Griffo will portray Claudia’s friend, Billy.
Additional cameo roles include good-at-negotiating Mark Cuban as the President of the United States; Ann Coulter (all commentary suspended) as the Vice President; Michele Bachmann as herself; Jerry Springer as Mr. White, a manic tourist; Washington Redskins tackle Tom Compton as a reporter; *NSYNC singer Chris Kirkpatrick as a pool lifeguard, and Chris Jericho, who will portray Bruce the roller coaster ride operator.
B-list actors, former talk show hosts, pundits, and politicians are lining up for the kill; what’s not to love!?
