Following on from the phenomenal success of this year’s The Krays – Dean Man Walking, Hereford Films has announced a follow-up – The Krays 2 – Marked For Death.
Credit: Hereford Films
According to an official press release, received from Hereford this morning, the film will focus on another untold chapter of the notorious twins’ lives: their run-in with former boxer Freddie Mills, who was suspected of being the serial killer known as ‘Jack The Stripper’ and who some say paid the Krays to murder him and make it look like suicide. Hereford will cast a ‘guest star’ as Mills, similar to Rita Simons’ starring role in the first film and casting is underway.
Producer Adam Stephen Kelly commented, “the formula for the first film – picking a previously untold story from the Krays’ lives and casting a significant guest star to anchor it – worked incredibly well and so we are repeating it. So long as we keep the story fresh and within the realm of plausibility this is something that could run and run.”
The majority of the first film’s ensemble cast is expected to return, with new additions to be announced shortly. Steve Wraith once again acts as consultant on the film as well as reprising his role as Hartnell Harris.
The Krays – Dead Man Walking was a significant success in the DVD market – it had the biggest first week of any non-theatrical British film of 2018 and peaked at number 8 in the national chart, ahead of the likes of Black Panther and Ready Player One.
Other films on Hereford’s British crime slate include gangland home invasion movie Reckoning Day starring Chris Ellison and Red Madrell, casino heist caper Swipe and bare-knuckle fighting biopic Pretty Boy, based on the best selling autobiography of Roy Shaw, who will be played by Mark Harris. There is also a third instalment of the company’s ‘We Still Kill The Old Way’ franchise on the way entitled We Still Die The Old Way.
Commenting on the company’s busy domestic slate, CEO Jonathan Sothcott said, “the success of our Krays picture is testament to the fact that there is still a voracious consumer appetite for proper, quality British gangster films in the home entertainment space. We are more than happy to fill that space. The Krays sequel will be bigger and better and the Mills story is even more compelling than the Mad Axeman. The fans are going to love this.”
