Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee Join Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker in RED 2

While we recently learned that Galaxy Quest director Dean Parisot would be taking the helm of Red 2 (the sequel to the 2010 hit Red), we still didn’t know which original cast members would be returning for the follow-up.  Well Summit has made one big casting announcement today, confirming that Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker will be reprising their roles from the first film alongside newcomers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee.

The story for the follow-up will find the team of retired CIA operatives taking on a new set of enemies all across Europe.  The nature of Zeta-Jones’ role isn’t disclosed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she plays the film’s villain.  I have yet to see Red, but I love the hell out of Galaxy Quest and this is certainly an impressive cast so I’m definitely going to have to rectify that sooner rather than later. Hit the jump to read the full press release.  Red 2 opens on August 2nd, 2013.

Here’s the press release:

Los Angeles, CA May 10, 2012 – Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® company, has cast Oscar® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (ROCK OF AGES, CHICAGO) and Byung-Hun Lee (G.I. JOE: RETALIATION, G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA) in RED 2, the sequel to the action-comedy hit RED.  The sequel also reunites Bruce Willis (THE EXPENDABLES, DIE HARD), John Malkovich (IN THE LINE OF FIRE, BURN AFTER READING), Mary-Louise Parker (WEEDS, R.I.P.D.), and Oscar winner Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN).  Lionsgate International will sell the film at the upcoming Cannes film market.

The project is being directed by Dean Parisot from a screenplay by Erich and Jon Hoeber, who wrote the script for the studios’ first installment of the Golden Globe® nominated film.  Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Mark Vahradian will produce the film via their DiBonaventura Pictures banner.

RED 2 brings back the team of retired CIA operatives as they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe. The film is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2013.

Erik Feig, President, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Production, stated “We had so much fun making RED and seeing that amazing cast assembled together – and so did consumers: over $200m worldwide and the number one home entertainment rental of last year.  We can’t wait to bring them back together, give them some new friends, and show they ‘still got it.’”

Feig will oversee the project for the studio along with Summit Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Production, Geoff Shaevitz.

Malkovich, Parker, and Zeta-Jones are represented by WME.  Willis, Mirren, and Lee are represented by CAA.  Malkovich is represented by Principato-Young Entertainment.