EXCLUSIVE: Never, ever think of holding a Z-grade movie franchise down.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is alive again in a fifth movie, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, from filmmaker David Ferino.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence is billed as “pitting the eternal power of nature against A.I.’s best and brightest.”
The original movie was released in 1978, made for $100K, produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello, and directed by John DeBello based upon an original idea by Costa Dillon in a story about mutated killer tomatoes which torment the globe as a group of scientists try to fend them off.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence stars a string of comedy stars and thespians including David Koechner as the President’s Press Secretary (Anchorman franchise), John Astin (Gomez from the original Addams Family and European Vacation) reprising his role from previous AOTKT movies as well as the Fox animated series, as Professor Nicholas Mortimer Gangreen. There’s also Veep‘s Dan Bakkedahl as the ubiquitous Wilbur Finletter, Daniel Roebuck (The Munsters, The Fugitive) as the Admiral burdened by 50 years of burying the truth, Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier, Return to Nuke ’Em High) as the rampage’s first victim, Paul Bates (Coming to America) a loopy “disguise expert”, and Vernee Watson (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as a tech specialist whose down-home instincts anchor the team of “Tomato Guardians”.
Everett Collection
There’s also Runaway Train Oscar nominee Eric Roberts joining in, Myrna Velasca (Star Wars:Resistence), Noor Razooky (The Old Man), Zachary Roozen (Romeo and Juliet Killers, Bring the Law) stars as “Chad”, first portrayed by Anthony Starke who played opposite George Clooney in Return of the Killer Tomatoes.
Also starring is Samantha Bailey (The Listening) as Kate Patel, “genius” CEO of VegIntel and
inventor of “MyTomato” – the “O.I.” solution to all the fears that “A.I.” can’t fix, as well as Joshua Poon (Bad Boys, Your Place or Mine) who ensures that the world experiences every slimy moment as “The Influencer”.
Ferino (Wardcliffe, Nocturnally Yours) was tapped to direct by EPs and scribes Dillon and Peace.
The Attack of the Tomatoes franchise spawned three sequels (Return of the Killer Tomatoes, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back and Killer Tomatoes Eat France) and the Fox Network’s Attack of the Killer Tomatoes animated TV series.
W. Finletter Films and Killer Tomatoes Entertainment partnered with Atomic Toybox Ent. (Michael Polis) and IVC/Olas Media (Chad Peace, Juan Hernandez and Anthony Aslofi) to oversee production with Michael Polis and Roger M. Mayer producing.
Anchor Bay Entertainment is handling distribution, building on its cult and genre cinema buzz off
Abruptio, the all-puppet horror feature starring Jordan Peele and Sid Haig. There are plans for a limited theatrical release timed to this Halloween.
“This time, they’re not just back. They’re organically intelligent”, said Dillon.
“We are just going to keep trying until we get it right”, added Peace.
“This is nuts”, quipped Ferino. “I have to work with these guys.”
“We’re proud to be bringing back a franchise with this much cultural DNA,” said Thomas Zambeck, CEO of Anchor Bay. “Organic Intelligence is fresh, funny, weird, and self-aware — just the kind of beautifully chaotic project that fits our mission. Killer Tomatoes are ripe for reinvention.”
Talk about a commitment to shoot movies in California: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence was shot in Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego.
Editor’s Note: David Ferino is a Deadline Hollywood alum.
