Hollywood actor Liam Neeson is set to reprise his role as a fearless truck driver turned rescue worker from the 2021 indie hit “The Ice Road.”
With director Jonathan Hensleigh, “The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky” relocates its story from Canada in the original to Nepal in the sequel.
Joining Neeson in the cast are Australians Bernard Curry, Geoff Morrell, and Grace O’Sullivan.
For the sequel’s production, a small Victorian town has been converted into a Nepalese village to be used as the backdrop for some of the action scenes. Walhalla’s Star Hotel, the Walhalla Rotunda and the Fire Station Museum are among the buildings which have been given “cosmetic changes” to resemble a marketplace.
It is reported that filming has begun in Walhalla as the backdrop for some of the picture’s action scenes. Servo Productions wrote a letter to Walhalla residents and businesses to inform them of filming:
“During preparations, you will notice cosmetic changes to Walhalla’s Star Hotel and other landmarks on Main Rd. Most notably at the Walhalla Rotunda, the Fire Station Museum and carpark off Right Hand Branch Rd. These changes will be temporary for the purpose filming and utmost care will be taken to protect heritage structures. The buildings will be returned to their original heritage colours shortly after filming has completed.”
The letter also advised there would be “stunts involving large vehicles, special effects and prop gun use” during filming.
While the film’s production budget was not disclosed, both the Australian federal and Victorian state governments have confirmed that they will be providing some financial assistance to the film through their Location Incentive scheme and the Victorian Screen Incentive and Regional Location Assistance Fund.
Victoria’s acting minister for creative industries Natalie Hutchins said that the production will inject over A$30 million into the state economy and will create nearly 600 employment opportunities.
It is further reported that the film will also make use of virtual production, volume screens, and technology at NantStudios and Docklands Studios Melbourne.
“The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky” is a Code Entertainment, Shivhans, EMA production. Its producers are Code’s Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso, along with Shivani Rawat of ShivHans and Hensleigh, as well as Lee Nelson and David Tish of Envision Media Arts (EMA).
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