Rendel 2 Shoots in September; Supporting Cast Announced

Finland’s first superhero film is getting a sequel, and the filmmakers have revealed the supporting cast as cameras prepare to roll.

When Rendel arrived in 2017, it was billed as the first Finnish superhero movie, and its violent, moody take on the genre made it a standout from the Nordic region. Now the sequel is moving forward. Production company Frozen Flame Pictures has announced that Rendel 2 will begin shooting in September, and several members of the supporting cast have been revealed.

Back to the Beginning

The first film was written, produced and directed by Jesse Haaja, who also created the character. Rendel began as a drawing when Haaja was a teenager, and years later it grew into a feature film. The story follows a masked vigilante who battles VALA, a powerful criminal organization, in a dark and dystopian vision of Finland.

The movie was made in the Kainuu region on a modest budget of about 1.5 million euros, with a large industrial space in Kajaani serving as the main location. Haaja gathered nearly 500 sponsors to help fund the production, offering them visibility in the film and online. The rock band The Rasmus even performed the theme song, “Wonderman.” After its Finnish release, Raven Banner Entertainment helped bring the film to audiences in dozens of countries.

A Sequel Takes Shape

Plans for a sequel were announced at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018 by Raven Banner, and the project was initially titled Rendel: Cycle of Revenge. Jesse Haaja will return as director. Because the first film attracted an international following, the sequel will be shot entirely in English, a significant step for a Finnish production.

Filming will begin in early September and continue until the end of October. Locations include the Kainuu region, where the first film was made, and the area around Jyväskylä.

The Returning Cast

Kris Gummerus will return in the title role as Rendel, the masked avenger at the center of the story. Tero Selinius also comes back as Kurrikka, and other original cast members are expected to return. Their presence helps keep a connection to the first movie, which is important for fans who followed the character from the beginning.

New Faces

The announcement also brought several new names. British actor Sean Cronin will play the main villain, a character named Smiley. Haaja said the character had been developed for a long time, and that casting Cronin helped everything fall into place. A good superhero story needs a strong antagonist, and Smiley appears to be a major part of the plan.

Australian actress Kaitlyn Boyé joins the cast, and English child actor Jonah Paull will also appear. These additions give the film an international flavor that matches the decision to shoot in English.

Why the Sequel Matters

For Finnish cinema, Rendel was an experiment. Superhero films are usually associated with Hollywood, and few smaller countries have attempted them. The first film proved that a local team could create a stylish, gritty action movie with limited resources, and the sequel is a chance to build on that success.

The decision to move into English may also expand the audience. International viewers who found the original through streaming or home video can now follow the story without subtitles, which could help the series grow beyond its niche.

What to Expect

Based on the announcement, the sequel will continue the dark tone of the original. Rendel’s fight against criminal organizations will intensify, and a charismatic new villain is on the way. The film remains rooted in the comic character created by Haaja, and the same creative team is behind it.

The Production Team

Behind the scenes, the sequel is being developed by many of the same partners who supported the original. Frozen Flame Pictures is producing, Raven Banner Entertainment is handling international sales, and Black Lion Pictures was a key partner on the first film. This continuity suggests that the team found a working formula and wants to build on it.

Haaja has said that he hopes to deliver a bigger, stronger and badder Rendel for fans, a sentence that sums up the spirit of the project. Sequels often face the challenge of raising the stakes without losing what made the first film special, and the early signs point to a team that understands that balance.

The shoot will also give a boost to the regions where it takes place. Kainuu, in particular, has been promoting itself as a filming location, and a second production strengthens the case for the area as a home for action cinema.

Final Thoughts

Rendel 2 is shaping up to be a bigger and more ambitious project than its predecessor. With the original star returning, a new villain in place and an international supporting cast, the filmmakers are clearly aiming higher. Fans of independent superhero movies will want to keep an eye on this one as production begins in September.