The Stakelander: The unknown movie sequel

5 years ago, I was introduced to the talents of Jim Mickle and Nick Damici through the excellent Stake Land. It was a gut wrenching journey though a vampire infested apocalyptic landscape where people were just as dangerous as the zombie like vampires. For viewers of the TV show, The Walking Dead, this is now familiar territory. But 5 years ago, it wasn't so well used a concept. There were strong scenes of infantcide, and implied rape, in which we saw an 80s favourite; Kelly McGillis in a very different role from her most famous, as that of Charlie in Top Gun. The film had a noir aspect to it with the narration from Connor Paolo' character Martin. It felt a fresh movie big budgeted than the estimated $650K that it reportedly cost.
So, inexplicably, we find that a secret sequel has been made with no fanfare until now. Similarly to Phantasm Ravager, the fifth in the Phantasm series, no prior announcement was made until production was completed. In the age of the internet, this is unusual and welcome. You couldn't do with this with just any movie, of course, but Stake Land, like Phantasm, has it's fair share of fans.

The characters of "Mister" and Martin were well written and well acted by the leads. The supporting cast were also memorable. It was great to see vampires true to their origins and not anaemic types that we saw (or avoided) in the Twilight saga.

The name Stakelander conjures up memories of Highlander, which celebrates it's 30th anniversary soon. Highlander spawned a TV show and I understood that a treatment for a Stake Land TV show was circulating. This treatment may well have been the beginning of a continuation that has now been released as a TV movie premiere. SyFy have co-financed it as a "SyFy Original".  As little is known about it (It hasn't got an entry on imdb, as I write) it's difficult to guess at what format it will be released in first; TV, disc or VOD.

The Press:

Dark Sky Films, Glass Eye Pix and Syfy today announced the completion of production on THE STAKELANDER, the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed action horror hit Stake Land. The film, based on an original screenplay by Nick Damici, wrapped shooting in Saskatchewan this past week. Damici and co-star Connor Paolo reprise their Stake Land roles in the new film, which was directed by the team of Dan Berk and Robert Olsen of Last Pictures, creators of the 2015 thriller Body.

Damici, co-writer and star of We Are What We Are and Cold in July, returns in the role of Mister and Connor Paolo (Mystic River, TV's Revenge) is back as Martin in a new adventure set a few years after the events in Stake Land, in which mankind must struggle to survive in the wake of a vampire apocalypse. Also starring are Laura Abramsen (Basic Human Needs), AC Peterson (Shooter), Bonnie Dennison (Beneath), Kristina Hughes (Green River) and Steven Williams (TV's Supernatural).

Dark Sky Films, Glass Eye Pix and Syfy today announced the completion of production on THE STAKELANDER, the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed action horror hit Stake Land. The film, based on an original screenplay by Nick Damici, wrapped shooting in Saskatchewan this past week. Damici and co-star Connor Paolo reprise their Stake Land roles in the new film, which was directed by the team of Dan Berk and Robert Olsen of Last Pictures, creators of the 2015 thriller Body.

Damici, co-writer and star of We Are What We Are and Cold in July, returns in the role of Mister and Connor Paolo (Mystic River, TV's Revenge) is back as Martin in a new adventure set a few years after the events in Stake Land, in which mankind must struggle to survive in the wake of a vampire apocalypse. Also starring are Laura Abramsen (Basic Human Needs), AC Peterson (Shooter), Bonnie Dennison (Beneath), Kristina Hughes (Green River) and Steven Williams (TV's Supernatural).

THE STAKELANDER was produced by Peter Phok and Larry Fessenden of Glass Eye Pix, Greg Newman of Dark Sky Films and co-produced by the Syfy Channel, where the film will premiere as a Syfy Original, as well as Mark Montague of Berkserker Entertainment. Chadd Harbold of Last Pictures supported as Associate Producer. The film marks the latest collaboration between Dark Sky Films and Glass Eye Pix, the production teams that have brought audiences countless successful elevated genre films, including Stake Land, The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers and Late Phases, among others. 

When his home of New Eden is destroyed by a revitalized Brotherhood and its new Vamp leader, Martin finds himself alone in the badlands of America with only the distant memory of his mentor and legendary vampire hunter, Mister, to guide him. Roaming the wilderness of a steadily decaying country, Martin goes in search of the one man who can help him get revenge. Once reunited, Mister and Martin prepare to battle a now-ravenous Brotherhood and its monstrous overlord. But it'll take more than the two of them to take down this terrifying new threat, and with more than just their lives now at risk, the stakes are higher than ever before. 

Producer Greg Newman said: "Jim Mickle's Stake Land has long been an audience favorite.  The film was embraced by fans across the world and we are thrilled to see Nick Damici reprise his role of Mister, the master Vamp hunter."

Producer Peter Phok said: "It has been so rewarding to bring such energetic and intelligent talents in Dan and Robert to further the story of Martin and Mister in the world of Stake Land. Filming this world in Saskatchewan, offered a multitude of breathtaking vast landscapes along with tremendous resources provided through Creative Saskatchewan and the providences' local union crew who were affable, professional, and incredibly hard working. We also found a number of strong local performers, who we are proud to have cast into The Stakelander."