Ian Ziering & Tara Reid On Board for Sharknado Sequel

NEW YORK: Ian Ziering and Tara Reid, the stars of the surprise summer hit Sharknado, have signed up to reprise their roles in the TV movie’s upcoming sequel, which will start filming in New York next month.

Filming for Sharknado 2: The Second One is scheduled to start in February in New York. The Asylum will return as producer, with Syfy airing the film in July.

Ziering and Reid once again play heroes Fin and April, who are this time trapped in the Big Apple when a freak weather system unleashes the titular sharknado.

The first film premiered last July on Syfy to 1.4 million viewers. A subsequent social media frenzy drove the telefilm to success, with 2.1 million viewers tuning in to its record-setting third showing. The sequel was announced soon after, and its name chosen through a major social media contest.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring back the talent that made Sharknado a hit,” said Paul Bales, the COO of The Asylum. “Can lightning strike twice? I don’t know, but it’s a scientific fact that you’re more likely to be killed by lightning than by a shark. This film will have lightning and sharks, so that’s got to count for something.”