CLEARWATER, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced that Dolphin Tale 2, a film produced by Alcon Entertainment, will be filmed at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium this fall. The project will create more economic activity in the Clearwater area and will create jobs for more Florida families.

Governor Scott said, “It’s exciting that Dolphin Tale 2 will be filmed here in Florida.  Today’s announcement will create more economic activity and opportunities for families living in Pinellas County.  This exciting news builds on the economic momentum that Florida is currently experiencing. Since Dec. 2010, our state has created over 333,000 private-sector jobs and our unemployment rate remains below the national average.”

The first Dolphin Tale movie had over 55 production days in 2010 and added $17 million in revenue to the state, including paychecks totaling slightly more than $7.5 million for nearly 1,300 Floridians working as crew members, actors and extras. Other expenses that benefitted the local economy included equipment rentals, hotel accommodations, catering and other production expenses.

As a result of this film, attendance at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium quadrupled to about 750,000 annual visitors last year, with 300,000 of those visitors traveling from out of state. Because of increased visitors to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, earlier this year the aquarium announced plans to build a new facility in downtown Clearwater. A study from the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg College of Business estimates these films will have a $2 billion economic impact on the area for the next 5 years.

Senator Jack Latvala said, “It’s great news that Dolphin Tale 2 will be filmed in Clearwater, creating an economic benefit to the entire area. I would like to thank Governor Scott for making today’s announcement and for focusing on creating jobs in Florida.”
Representative Ed Hooper said “Dolphin Tale has made a major economic impact not only on the Clearwater community, but on the entire state of Florida. Today’s announcement that the sequel to Dolphin Tale will be filmed at the aquarium is a major win for our state and I thank the Governor and everyone involved for making this a reality.”

Representative Kathleen Peters said, “What an exciting day for the Tampa Bay Community. I am thrilled to be here today with Governor Scott to officially announce the Dolphin Tale team will be returning to Florida to film the sequel. Families across the state will benefit from this, and I thank Alcon Entertainment, the Clearwater Aquarium, and Governor Scott for allowing Florida to be home to such a great project.”

The 2013-2014 Florida Families First budget includes $5 million in general revenue funds to be allocated to the production of the film.

Dolphin Tale 2 is scheduled to be released in theatres September 19, 2014, and will star Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will be the primary filming location.

‘Dolphin Tale 2′ Gets Official Greenlight

Alcon Entertainment has solidified plans for a sequel to their 2011 hit A Dolphin Tale. Stars Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr, Ashley Judd, and Kris Kristofferson will return along with helmer Charles Martin Smith, who wrote and directed the first based-on-a-true-story pic. Real life rescued dolphin Hope will play herself in the film:

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 26, 2013 – Alcon Entertainment has green lit Dolphin Tale 2, a follow up to its successful 2011 Warner Bros release, it was announced by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. The entire cast of Dolphin Tale will reunite for the sequel, including Harry Connick Jr., Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, Academy Award nominee Kris Kristofferson, Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, among others. Charles Martin Smith (“Dolphin Tale,” “Air Bud”) has written the screenplay and will again direct.

The fact-based adaptation Dolphin Tale was originally brought to Alcon by the Company’s President Of Worldwide Marketing, Richard Ingber, who also produced, and will serve as a producer on the sequel. Dolphin Tale 2 tells another true story inspired by the life of the rescued bottle nose dolphin, Winter, this time involving a new baby dolphin named Hope who was also saved and rehabilitated by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2010.

Filming for Dolphin Tale 2 will begin in Clearwater, Florida in October of this year. Distributor Warner Bros is setting September 19, 2014 release date. Winter, who still resides at the Aquarium, played herself in the original film and returns in DT2. Hope will play herself in the sequel.