16 Oct 2018

“Backdraft 2”, which Moviehole first wrote about about in March, has been confirmed by Universal Studios. Filming work for the movie is now underway in Romania, with locations also in Toronto and Chicago. The film is expected to be released in 2020.

The movie "Backdraft" from 1991 put the dangers of firefighting on the map for members of the public around the world when it first came out. Firefighters, and others with knowledge of Fire Behavior, were however sadly disappointed in the way the fire effects were rendered, and there was very little in the movie that even remotely reminded firefighters of their working environment, or of any actual backdrafts.

One can only hope that the producers of the follow-up sequel have engaged better experts within the firefighting community when designing their effects of what it is like to operate within a burning building.

A quick glance at the official trailer for Backdraft 2 shows some promise when it comes to the fire effects, but scenes are short and it is impossible to know if Fire Behavior related scenes will be rendered correctly.

The original Backdraft did indeed leave a few things to be desired when it came to the rendition of Fire Behavior. However, like already stated, the trailer leaves a desire for more (perhaps not so much in the acting department, but still:-)

The director for the sequel is Spanish director Gonzalo López-Gallego, best known for 2011 sci-fi thriller “Apollo 18”.

The studio has engaged the filmmaker for its “Backdraft” sequel, tentatively titled “Backdraft II”, with filming beginning in Romania, Chicago and Toronto.

William Baldwin is expected to reprise his role from the original 1991 blockbuster.

The film’s central character will be Sean McCaffrey, the grown son of Kurt Russell’s character from the first film an investigator with the Chicago F.D who still holds his uncle (Baldwin) responsible for the death of his father.

The villains in this film are a group of agents sneaking a missile out of the country, using a series of deadly fires as a distraction.

Joe Anderson - who played Mason Verger on “Hannibal” - is playing Brian’s nephew Sean McCaffrey. William Baldwin reprises his role from the original.

Alisha Bailey, Ross O’Hennessy, Sal Longbardo and Sia Alipour also among cast. Aside from Baldwin, Donald Sutherland is making an appearance as Ronald, the arsonist from the 1991 original.

Raffaella De Laurentiis will be the producer.



Exciting news for fans of the original film, particularly with the character of Brian McCaffrey back, and a capable director in the helmer’s spot. Looking forward.

“Backdraft”, directed by Ron Howard and screen written by Gregory Widen, starred Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Donald Sutherland, Robert De Niro, Jason Gedrick and J. T. Walsh.

The film, made for 75 mill, wasn´t much appreciated by most critics but most audiences loved it for its special effects and action sequences , with many of the actors performing their own stunts.

The film received three Academy Award nominations for Sound Effects Editing, Visual Effects and Best Sound.

Photo: (Above) Screenshot from the original 1991 "Backdraft".

Video: (Below) A teaser for the movie Backdraft 2 shows some promise of featuring more realistic fire effects than the original.

The 1991 blockbusters movie Backdraft, whose biggest claim to fame was getting a sweaty, soot-covered Kurt Russell to put on firefighter turnout gear , is getting a sequel, almost three decades later, reports Slashfilm.com.

The movie "Backdraft" from 1991 put the dangers of firefighting on the map for members of the public around the world when it first came out. Firefighters, and others with knowledge of Fire Behavior, were however sadly disappointed in the way the fire effects were rendered, and there was very little in the movie that even remotely reminded firefighters of their working environment, or of any backdrafts.

One can only hope that the producers of the follow-up sequel have engaged better experts within the firefighting community when designing their effects of what it is like to operate within a burning building.

A quick glance at the official trailer for Backdraft 2 shows some promise when it comes to the fire effects, but scenes are short and it is impossible to know if Fire Behavior related scenes will be rendered correctly.

However, like already stated, the trailer leaves a desire for more (perhaps not so much in the acting department, but still:-)

Published by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF NEWS

The original Backdraft left a few things to be desired when it came to the rendition of Fire Behavior.

Spanish director Gonzalo López-Gallego, best known for 2011 sci-fi thriller “Apollo 18”, has been charged with the mission of reigniting one of the biggest titles in the Universal library.

The studio has tapped the filmmaker for its “Backdraft” sequel, tentatively titled “Backdraft II”, with filming set to begin in Romania and Toronto next month. William Baldwin is expected to reprise his role from the original 1991 blockbuster.

Backdraft 2 is now officially in the works at Universal with a director attached and co-star William Baldwin set to return.

Universal has engaged Spanish director Gonzalo López-Gallego, best known for the 2011 science-fiction thriller Apollo 18, to helm Backdraft 2, according to MovieHole.

The central character will be Sean McCaffrey, the grown son of Kurt Russell’s character from the first film responsible for the death of his dad.

The film is tentatively titled Backdraft II and will reportedly follow the grown son of Kurt Russell’s character, an investigator with the Chicago F.D. who still holds his uncle (Baldwin) responsible for the death of his father. The villains this time around are a group of agents who are attempting to sneak a missile out of the country, using a series of deadly fires as a distraction.

Production is set to begin in Romania and Toronto next month.

It sounds like the plot of the sequel — which will take place a daunting 27 years after the original — is formed in the vein of the “legasequel,” a relatively modern creation. Creed, Star Wars, even Pacific Rim follow a next-generation character who has to live up the legacy of the heroes before them — those heroes often being their own father.

The original 1991 film boasted a star-studded ensemble, including Donald Sutherland, Robert De Niro, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and was an early hit for director Ron Howard. However, the only familiar face confirmed to return for the sequel is Baldwin.

Backdraft is a 1991 American drama thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. The film stars Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Donald Sutherland, Robert De Niro, Jason Gedrick and J. T. Walsh. It is about Chicago firefighters on the trail of a serial arsonist.

The film grossed $77.9 million domestically and $74.5 million in foreign markets, for a total gross of $152.4 million, making it the highest-grossing film about firefighters until I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry in 2007.[2][3] The film received three Academy Award nominations.

The first Backdraft followed a team of firefighters in Chicago on the tail of a serial arsonist. Here’s the synopsis to refresh your memory:

Chicago firefighting brothers Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian (William Baldwin) have been rivals since childhood. Brian, struggling to prove himself, transfers to the arson unit. There he aids Don (Robert De Niro) in his investigation into a spate of fires involving oxygen-induced infernos called backdrafts. But when a conspiracy implicating a crooked politician and an arsonist leads Brian back to Stephen, he is forced to overcome his brotherly competitiveness in order to crack the case.

The movie received mixed critical reviews, but had a fairly successful box office run, apparently becoming the highest-grossing movie about firefighters until I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry took that crown in 2007 (seriously). It also received lavish praise for its state-of-the-art fire effects.

Backdraft II is set to be released in 2020.