Need for Speed 2 film in the works with EA, Chinese production company

By Stephany Nunneley

A sequel to the Need for Speed film is being hashed out between Electronic Arts and Transformers: Age of Extinction co-production company, China Movie Channel.

Production will start later this year providing EA and China Movie Channel can secure the rights to the film franchise from DreamWorks.

According to Variety, much of the Need for Speed 2 film would be shot in China and feature actors in the region taking on significant roles, according to China Movie Channel Program Center, Jiaflix Enterprises and 1905 Pictures.

The first Need for Speed film had a budget of $66 million and was released in 2013 and starred Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul. While not a hit with critics, it made $43.5 million at the box office in North America and a worldwide total of $203 million.

It’s release in China provided the largest box office draw, raking in $21 million its opening weekend and $66 million overall.