Producer Says Sequel to ‘Bull Durham’ in the Works

The producer of the 1988 movie “Bull Durham” hopes to start filming a sequel in Durham in summer 2009.

“Bull Durham” was shot on location at the Durham Athletic Park and released in 1988.

Producer and Durham native Thom Mount told WRAL that a script is in development with the original film’s writer and director Ron Shelton. Mount said he would like to start shooting next summer. The film is expected to be distributed in the United States by MGM.

He said he plans to shoot in Durham and use the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in 1995, and not in the older Durham Athletic Park that was part of the original movie.

The sequel has been talked about for at least a year. It was mentioned when Mount and Shelton came to Durham in July to celebrate the revitalization of the Durham Athletic Park and the 20th anniversary of the popular film.

Because the script is still in development, Mount said he has not contacted the stars of the original movie – Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins – but he is hopeful they will be part of the project.

The New York Post, which reported the possibility of a sequel Monday, Oct 6th, on its Page Six gossip column, said that in the follow-up, LaLoosh and Savoy are the married owners of a Major League baseball team that Davis manages.

Mount wouldn’t comment to the Associated Press on the particulars of the new script other than to say “we have a very clear idea of where we’re going.”

“The movie was very, very popular in its time, but the 20th anniversary just brought it back to light even more,” said Shelly Green, of the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau has been working with Mount on the project. The bureau said the project means big money for Durham. Projections show crews would spend about a $250,000 each day of shooting.
State Film Office Director Aaron Syrett said his office has not been contacted about the project.

“It’s great if they will make a ‘Bull Durham 2’ and we hope they will. They certainly have the right people behind it,” Syrett said.

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Erin Hartness for this capcom story & to WRAL-TV’s Pete James for the video photography.