Piranha 3D Sequel Announced, Might Be Set In Thailand

Piranha 3D didn't make a huge splash at the box office this weekend — $10 million and the #6 place. But the money that was made is enough to ensure the film will recoup the film's estimated $24 million budget. The film is likely to make at least $30 million theatrically, and a bunch more on DVD/Blu-ray/tv deals. That's more than enough to have the Weinsteins talking about a sequel.

Dimension Films have issued a press release announcing that they are already developing a follow-up with with director Alexandre Aja and producer Mark Canton returning. Canton gave the following quote:

"We are thrilled that audiences are not just loving PIRANHA 3D, but cheering for it. And it's fantastic that so many critics are really getting the movie and recommending it. We can't wait to get to work on the sequel."

I don't believe any storyline has been figured out yet, and no screenwriter has been announced. However, Aja has said in past interviews that they have many ideas for possible sequels in the film were to launch a franchise:

"We had many ideas. There is the Full Moon Party in Thailand, a huge event with like 200,000 young people from all around the world taking mushrooms and partying on the beach."

Sounds like a great location for a follow-up, eh?

According to Wikipedia, the Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party that takes place in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand on the night before or after every full moon.

"The first Full Moon Party was improvised at a wooden disco not far from the beach in 1985 for giving thanks to about 20-30 travelers. The Full Moon Party gained fame quickly through word of mouth, and the event now draws a crowd about 20,000-30,000 every full moon evening. The party carries on until the sun rises the next day. All the bars on the sunrise beach of Haad Rin town stay open and play music such as R&B, drum and bass, house, dance and reggae. The modern event has become a part of the itinerary of many travelers to Asia. It is characterized by unruly and potentially dangerous attractions such as fire skipping ropes, wildly variable alcohol strength 'buckets', and a drug culture. It is indeed seen by many as the "ultimate party experience", although drug laws are still strict, and police enforcement is stepped up during the parties. "

The Full Moon Party has been featured on screen before in Last Stop for Paul and the Thai film Hormones and the first episode of the Comedy Central tv show Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust. Read the press release below:

DIMENSION FILMS ANNOUNCES THAT PIRANHA 3D – THE SEQUEL IS IN THE WORKS PIRANHA 3D WINS SUCCESS WITH AUDIENCES, CRITICS AND AT THE BOXOFFICE

New York, NY – August 23, 2010 – After earning rave reviews from top critics, wild cheers from audiences around the country, and $10 million in its opening weekend boxoffice, Dimension Films is pleased to announce that PIRANHA 3D – THE SEQUEL is in the works.

PIRANHA 3D producer Mark Canton stated, "We are thrilled that audiences are not just loving PIRANHA 3D, but cheering for it. And it's fantastic that so many critics are really getting the movie and recommending it. We can't wait to get to work on the sequel."

PIRANHA 3D opened with fantastic reviews from top critics like the ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTERS, enjoying a very FRESH rating of 80-82% favorable reviews on the popular movie review site ROTTEN TOMATOES throughout it's opening weekend. The movie has captured the attention of movie fans as well as elite media outlets like The Wall St. Journal, The Daily Beast and The Huffington Post. And taking Hollywood by surprise, PIRANHA 3D – via a partnership with Funny Or Die – is the subject of a much-talked about campaign to be named Best Picture of the year. Funny Or Die's "For Your Consideration" video for PIRANHA 3D took the nation by storm last week. And, as announced over the weekend, Academy Award ® nominee and Piranha 3D heroine Elisabeth Shue will debut a brand new video in the coming days on Funny Or Die.

Run, don't walk: 'Piranha 3D' is hilariously, cleverly gory. Mere words cannot describe how awesomely gnarly "Piranha 3D" is, how hugely entertaining, and how urgently you must get yourself to the theatre to see it. Like, now. – Christy Lemire, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A bloody entertaining blast of a flesh-eating fish-out-of-water story..."Piranha 3D," a pitch-perfect, guilty-pleasure... – Michael Rechtshaffen, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER & REUTERS

It's Jaws gone wild! – Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

'Piranha 3D' Is A Campy Masterpiece Of A Movie! My prediction: If you have an ounce of fun in your body, you will love this movie about killer piranhas that overtake a town of hotties — in 3D! – Russ Weakland, HOLLYWOOD LIFE

A selection of rave reviews from top media outlets can be viewed at the following links:

ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, VARIETY, HOLLYWOOD LIFE, MTV, THE HUFFINGTON POST.

Earlier this week, buzz about PIRANHA 3D reached a fever pitched when the year's first "For Your Consideration" ad hit the internet, touting Dimension Films' Piranha 3D as a top candidate for Best Picture of the year. The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films partnered with Funny Or Die, a wildly popular comedy website founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay and viewed by 35 million people each month, in making the star-studded video advertisement promoting Piranha 3D for Best Picture.

Directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors), produced by Mark Canton (300, upcoming Immortals) and starring Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl), Steven R. McQueen (Vampire Diaries and grandson of the legendary actor), Eli Roth, Adam Scott, Kelly Brook (current cover of Playboy), Riley Steele, Paul Scheer, Ving Rhames, Ricardo Chavira, Richard Dreyfuss and Christopher Lloyd, PIRANHA 3D opened to rave reviews from the Associated Press and other top critics.

Every year the population of sleepy Lake Victoria explodes from 5,000 to 50,000 for Spring Break — a riot of sun and drunken fun. But this year, there's something more to worry about than hangovers and complaints from local old timers. A new type of terror is about to be cut loose on Lake Victoria. After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating piranhas, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the area's new razor-toothed residents.

PIRANHA 3D is a Dimension Films release and presentation of a Mark Canton / IPW production in association with Aja/Levasseur Prods; produced by Mark Canton, Marc Toberoff, Alexandre Aja, Gregory Levasseur. Executive producers are Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Alix Taylor, Louis G. Friedman, J. Todd Harris, Chako van Leeuwen. Screenplay is by Peter Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg.

PIRANHA 3D was released nationwide on August 20, 2010.

The PIRANHA 3D Best Picture For Your Consideration video can be viewed at FunnyOrDie.com