WINTER'S FIGHT IS NOT YET OVER IN “DOLPHIN TALE 2”

Movie release material

Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment’s “Dolphin Tale 2” continues the story of the brave dolphin Winter, whose miraculous rescue and rehabilitation—thanks to the invention of a groundbreaking prosthetic tail—made her a symbol of perseverance to people around the world and inspired the 2011 family hit movie “Dolphin Tale.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros

The film reunites the entire main cast, including Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Stowell, Austin Highsmith and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman. The remarkable dolphin Winter returns as herself, joined by a new dolphin named Hope. Charles Martin Smith, who directed “Dolphin Tale,” wrote and directed the sequel.

Several years have passed since young Sawyer Nelson and the dedicated team at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), headed by Dr. Clay Haskett, rescued Winter, a young dolphin who lost her tail after being entangled in a crab trap. With the help of Dr. Cameron McCarthy, who developed a unique prosthetic tail for Winter, they saved her life against all odds. In turn, she helped save the Aquarium—as people came from far and wide to see the courageous dolphin firsthand, enabling CMA to expand their mission to Rescue, Rehabilitate and, when possible, Release injured animals.

Yet their fight is not over. Winter’s surrogate mother, the elderly dolphin Panama, passes away, leaving Winter alone and grieving, unwilling to engage with anyone, even her best friend, Sawyer. However, the loss of Panama may have even greater repercussions for CMA. The USDA warns Clay they will have to move Winter from the Aquarium because regulations require these social creatures to be paired. If they don’t find a female companion for her—one that she accepts—CMA will lose their beloved Winter.

But as time runs out, there may still be Hope…

“Dolphin Tale 2” stars Harry Connick, Jr. as Dr. Clay Haskett; Ashley Judd as Sawyer’s mom, Lorraine; Nathan Gamble as Sawyer Nelson; Kris Kristofferson as Clay’s father, Reed Haskett; Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Clay’s daughter, Hazel; Austin Stowell as Sawyer’s cousin, Kyle; Austin Highsmith as Winter’s lead trainer, Phoebe; and Morgan Freeman as Dr. Cameron McCarthy. Champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who herself has been an example of courage, joins the ensemble, playing herself in the film.

Oscar nominees Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson (“The Blind Side”) produced the film, together with Richard Ingber, who brought the original project to the Company, and Steven P. Wegner. David Yates and Robert Engelman served as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography Daryn Okada, production designer David J. Bomba, editor Harvey Rosenstock, and costume designer Hope Hanafin. The score was composed by Oscar winner Rachel Portman (“Emma”).

“Dolphin Tale 2” was filmed at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the non-profit rescue and rehabilitation facility that Winter and now Hope call home, as well as the surrounding areas of Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida.

“Dolphin Tale 2” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

DOLPHIN-RESCUING BOY GROWS UP IN “DOLPHIN TALE 2”

Movie release material

Teen actor Nathan Gamble first played the role of Sawyer Nelson in 2011's “Dolphin Tale,” for which he received a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Feature Film.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

In Warner Bros. Pictures' highly anticipated sequel, “Dolphin Tale 2,” Sawyer is facing another difficult decision. Returning in the role, Gamble explains, “Sawyer has learned a lot over the years, thanks to his work at Clearwater. He has been offered the chance of a lifetime—to spend a semester at sea in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean, studying and swimming with wild dolphins. Everyone is telling him what a fantastic opportunity it is, but it will mean leaving dolphin Winter when she needs him most. He’s conflicted about what to do.”

No longer the shy, withdrawn boy he was when he found Winter on the beach, Sawyer is a teenager now and “has definitely grown up,” says Gamble. “The last three years at the Aquarium have been so great for him; it’s given him a purpose and many friends, so he struggles with whether or not he should go.”

“Nathan Gamble is an extraordinary young man,” director Charles Martin Smith states. “He brought a natural sensitivity to the character of Sawyer. You can also feel the strength of his bond with Winter, and it is a genuine bond. I’m convinced of it. When Nathan, as Sawyer, is talking to Winter and she responds directly to him, that’s absolute gold.”

“People always ask if she remembered me,” Gamble relates, “and I admit I wasn’t sure. But then I had this amazing moment where I was just playing around with her, and I did this little head tilt and she immediately submarined to the bottom. I asked one of her trainers, Abby, why she did that, and she said, ‘Don’t you remember that signal? We did it on the other film, but she hasn’t done it in a really long time.’ I honestly didn’t recall, but it meant that she remembered me doing that from three years earlier. It gave me chills,” he smiles.

Another moment that gave Gamble the chills was his one-on-one scene with Freeman—in which the latter's character, Dr. McCarthy, imparts to Sawyer an important life lesson. “It’s not only my favorite scene in the movie, it’s my favorite scene I’ve ever done,” he attests. “It was an amazing privilege to work alongside a legendary actor like Morgan Freeman. I kept saying to myself, ‘Remember this scene; remember this moment,’ because it was definitely a highlight of not only this movie but of my life.”

Gamble made his feature film debut as the young son of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s characters in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s acclaimed 2006 drama “Babel,” winning the role over thousands of other young actors in a nationwide talent search. Gamble earned his first Young Artist Award nomination for his performance in the film. He has also received Young Artist Award nominations for his work in the thriller “The Mist,” for director Frank Darabont, and “Marley & Me,” in which he co-starred with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, under the direction of David Frankel.

In 2008, Gamble appeared as Commissioner Gordon’s son in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster “The Dark Knight,” with Gary Oldman and Christian Bale. His other film credits include starring roles in Joe Dante’s adventure thriller “The Hole” and the independent film “25 Hill.”

 “Dolphin Tale 2” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

ASHLEY JUDD IN “DOLPHIN TALE 2”

Movie release material

She most recently co-starred in Neil Burger’s sci-fi hit “Divergent,” with Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet, and Antoine Fuqua’s actioner “Olympus Has Fallen,” with Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart. Now, Ashley Judd returns to her role of the big-hearted mother, Lorraine, for Warner Bros. Pictures' eagerly anticipated sequel, “Dolphin Tale 2.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Ashley Judd says of the premise of the new film, “It’s always wonderful when young people find their voice and their autonomy, and it’s great to watch the kids in this film begin to act on the courage of their convictions. In the first ‘Dolphin Tale,’ Lorraine was mostly concerned about her son, Sawyer, and then was relieved that he was going to be okay. Now, maybe he’s gonna be too okay because he’s getting ready to leave for several months. Of course, as a mom she wants him to go out and do big things.”

The actress, who is an outspoken animal advocate, adds, “I was so pleased to discover that so much of this film focuses on the animals. To be on set with Winter and see the range of her emotions—from the unbelievable gentleness with which she interacts with both children and adults with disabilities to her mischievousness and humor—is one of the most profound experiences of my career. As Dr. McCarthy likes to joke, with intentional inaccuracy, ‘She’s a hell of a fish,’” Judd laughs.

Morgan Freeman returns as Dr. Cameron McCarthy, the ingenious prosthetics doctor who devised the artificial tail that saved Winter’s life in the first film. “Dolphin Tale 2” also marks his fourth collaboration with Judd, whom he says is “one of the women I love most in the world. “She is super smart, she is gorgeous and she has a beautiful soul. What’s not to love?”

He and Judd also share an admiration for their aquatic co-stars. “Dolphins are extremely bright creatures; the fact that they don’t make computers or cars doesn’t diminish that fact,” he observes. “I think their intelligence is part of what draws us to them and them to us. And that’s also part of what makes the ‘Dolphin Tale’ movies such terrific family affairs. We have to remember, as filmmakers and storytellers, that children do not listen to what we say; they’re watching what we do. So if we make movies about caring for the environment and its animals, that’s what they learn. We should be joyous when something good comes along that will resonate with people who are concerned about taking their children to the movies.”

In “Dolphin Tale 2,” it has been several years since young Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) and the dedicated team at the Clearwater Marine Hospital, headed by Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick, Jr.), rescued Winter. With the help of Dr. Cameron McCarthy (Morgan Freeman), who developed a unique prosthetic tail for the injured dolphin, they were able to save her life. Yet their fight is not over. Winter's surrogate mother, the very elderly dolphin Panama, has passed away, leaving Winter without the only poolmate she has ever known. However, the loss of Panama may have even greater repercussions for Winter, who, according to USDA regulations, cannot be housed alone, as dolphins' social behavior requires them to be paired with other dolphins. Time is running out to find a companion for her before the team at Clearwater loses their beloved Winter to another aquarium.

Opening across the Philippines on Oct. 08, 2014, “Dolphin Tale 2” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.