Editor

Abba Gold TV SpotKorda Studios is proud to announce a significant milestone in Hungarian film with the wrap of the first week of filming on Universal’s HELLBOY 2, which began shooting last Friday morning, June 8th at the new state-of-the-art facilities. Its first major production, HELLBOY 2 shot in the new Twin Stages 2 and 3 on the Korda Studios lot just outside of Budapest. Sets constructed in Stages 1 and 4 also await cameras in the coming days.

HELLBOY 2, the eagerly-anticipated sequel to 2004’s HELLBOY is directed by Academy Award® nominee Guillermo Del Toro (multiple Oscar®-winning Pan’s Labyrinth), with Academy Award® winning director Director of Photography Guillermo Navarro. The sequel to the popular original stars Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Golden Globe winner Beauty and the Beast) as Hellboy, Doug Jones (Hellboy, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Pan’s Labyrinth) as Abe Sapien, and Selma Blair (Hellboy, Legally Blonde) as Liz Sherman. Bradley James Allan, known for his work with Jackie Chan, is on board as stunts coordinator.

Universal Studios' HELLBOY 2 is the largest ever production to film in Hungary. The huge international crew of over 350 will be at Korda Studios and on location in Hungary for six months. Over 60% of the film will be shot on Korda's four new sound stages, just completed and handed over to the production in April. HELLBOY 2 is also utilizing Korda's three completed production support buildings and large workshop and storage building, as well as using the backlot.

"Today is not only a proud day for the owners, management, and staff of Korda Studios after much hard work, but also an important day for the Hungarian film industry. We hope today marks the start of a new era in Hungarian filmmaking, and that in the future local professionals will be able to showcase their talents in more and more international and European productions " said Managing Director and CEO László Krisán about Friday's historic day.

According to Krisán, there is already interest for the stages when HELLBOY 2 moves out in the fall, as well as the two further stages to be completed by early 2008 - one of which, at 63.000 sq. feet, will be the world's largest superstage with an indoor watertank. The tank will feature depths up to 20 feet, and an impressive clear height of 65 feet from ground level. The complex’s main building – called the Korda Center - will house tenant offices, a post-production center, and an orchestral scoring stage, and will be completed by the end of the year.