taken from http://www.deesnider.com/CMS/content/view/211/1/

DEE SNIDER TO REPRISE HIS ROLE AS CAPTAIN HOWDY IN CULT HORROR CLASSIC STRANGELAND
New York, NY (January 16, 2009)
—Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider will reprise his role as Captain Howdy in the 1998 cult horror classic Strangeland when Strangeland: Disciple goes into production later this year.


Snider wrote and co-produced the original film in 1994, pre-dating the cinematic vogue for torture film franchises like Saw and Hostel. “At the time, I really wanted to re-invent the wheel of horror. Horror, traditionally, plays on people’s fears of being chased and dying. That’s totally played out. When you’re being chased, there’s the chance of escape. When you die, there’s peace. What’s much worse than being chased and dying is being helpless and suffering.”


Strangeland is the story of a schizophrenic sexual sadist who lures victims via the Internet, forcing them to submit to ancient tribal rituals. “I came up with the idea of Internet crime before anybody had ever committed Internet crime,” says Snider. “And if I am the father of torture films, I’ve got to come back like a sledgehammer to reclaim my crown!” To that end, Strangeland: Disciple will come complete with an NC-17 rating right out of the box. Obviously, Snider ain’t kidding around. Strangeland: Disciple promises to be ultra-intense, taking place in the underworld of body modification fetishists, amid the secret sado-masochistic freak societies of perverted pleasures that lurk just underneath the veneer of respectable society.



Strangeland was produced in conjunction with The Shooting Gallery, the studio for Sling Blade and Croupier. Larry Meistrich, formerly of The Shooting Gallery, now operates Nehst Pictures and says, “I am very excited to be back in business with Dee Snider again! Strangeland was a great experience and I know the sequel is going to be better than the original. In these days of various platforms merging, it is great to be able to work with someone like Dee who is so multi-faceted.”



The 1998 soundtrack included an incredible array of bands—System Of A Down, Sevendust, Soulfly, Slipknot, Kid Rock, Coal Chamber, Twisted Sister, Megadeth, Marilyn Manson and Pantera—handpicked by Snider. The success of the soundtrack led to a Strangeland tour, which Snider hopes to resurrect once again for Strangeland: Disciple, in an effort to grace the contours of his demented vision. “Music was intrinsic to me in the first one. We really tried to create the ultimate heavy soundtrack. Music will be important to me again for the sequel,” adds Snider.

Returning for revenge in the sequel is Robert Englund (Nightmare On Elm Street’s Freddie Krueger), who called Strangeland a “bona-fide cult hit.” In the original, he played Jackson Roth, one of Captain’s Howdy’s victims.

When originally released, Fangoria magazine called Captain Howdy “a horror icon for the next millennium!” Just wait ‘til you see what he has planned this time around…



http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/strangeland-1.gif

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/strangeland2-1.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/320x240_strangeland.jpg

It sounds pretty good and I wonder what Robert Englund's character has up his sleeve.

It sounds pretty good and I wonder what Robert Englund's character has up his sleeve.

I want to know too. Also what Dee Snider plans to do!!!

I've waited for this to be announced a long time. Snider had this project in "production hell" for almost a decade since Strangeland came out. Not getting enough interest, financial problems, studios going out of business.... I am glad that this film is finally going to happen.

Strangeland II: Disciple to Begin Lensing in the Next 90 Days?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
By: MrDisgusting

Although rumored to be filming on several other occasions, a report over at News Net 5 indicated that Dee Snider may finally be getting behind the camera for the long-delayed Strangeland sequel, Strangeland II: Disciple.

"The state of Ohio has approved the applications for three projects to be filmed in Northeast Ohio using the Film Tax Credit," they report adding one of the films is Strangeland 2!


How soon will they shoot?

"The films will all begin preproduction in the next 90 days."


Written by Twisted Sister frontman Dee SNider, and directed by John Pieplow, the 1998 film was about a sadomasochistic predator who surfs the internet looking for on-line female victims.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18615

Casting Call For Strangeland 2: Disciple
Source: Screen Test Biz
January 12, 2010

Earlier this month, we were the first to get wind that Dee Snider was finally prepping to shoot his long mooted sequel to Strangeland in Ohio to take advantage of the Ohio's Film Tax Credit. Now, a casting call has gone out on the Screen Test Biz website right here.

Of note, instead of the title Strangeland 2, it's currently listed as Strangeland: Disciple. Dee Snider and Larry Meistrich are listed as producers with a May 21st, 2010 shooting start date also listed.



In the below synopsis, both Dee Snider and Robert Englund are credited as reprising their roles as Captain Howdy and Jackson Roth, respectively. We'll keep you posted on when we hear more concrete info.


In the meantime, check out the synopsis below:

One year after Carleton Hendricks aka Captain Howdy's (Dee Snider) sadistic rampage, much more than the physical scars the schizophrenic, sexual sadist gave his victims are left behind.

Their lives, destroyed by emotional torment and the media frenzy surrounding the crimes, Detective Mike Gage, his daughter Geneveve and vigilante Jackson Roth (Robert Englund) each have their crosses to bear.

But when the badly burned and mentally broken Carlton Hendricks is taken from a state run mental hospital and off his medication by billionaire, media mogul, Morgan LaForce, leader of the body modification/fetish haven called "The Torture Garden", the door swings wide open for each of Captain Howdy's victims to find closure... and retribution.

https://screentest.biz/projects/20168?right_nav=feature+film
http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=13621

Strangeland is a wild ride and one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. I'll be steering clear of a sequel, but I'm sure my husband will love it.

Strangeland is a wild ride and one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. I'll be steering clear of a sequel, but I'm sure my husband will love it.


Yeah, the movie is not for everyone. I've been waiting for the sequel for a long time. I can't wait.

Dee Snider’s Big STRANGELAND: DISCIPLE Update
Monday, February 8, 2010
By Samuel Zimmerman


The long-in-development sequel to STRANGELAND, the 1998 fright film penned by rocker and FANGORIA RADIO host Dee Snider, who also starred as the evil Captain Howdy, is finally headed before the cameras.

Encouraged by tax breaks for film production in the state of Ohio, STRANGELAND: DISCIPLE, whose story Snider began writing shortly after the original was released, has been picking up speed and will lens soon in Cleveland and Youngstown, OH.

Snider spoke exclusively to Fango and let us in on a wealth of new info about what to expect from the follow-up.







First, there’s the issue of the title change from STRANGELAND 2.

“I tried to create a script that if you didn’t see "STRANGELAND", you wouldn’t feel lost,” he explains. “You know, it’s a little presumptuous to think that everybody has seen "STRANGELAND", and we hope to go considerably wider with this picture.

I used "MAD MAX" as sort of a prototype, in the sense that the first "MAD MAX" came out, and then "THE ROAD WARRIOR" came out and went to a much broader audience , a lot of whom hadn’t seen the original but could still watch "ROAD WARRIOR" and play along at home, so to speak.

But "DISCIPLE" is definitely a continuation of the original story, without a doubt.”







Most likely, if you’ve kept up with any of the recently posted news, you’ve read this synopsis of DISCIPLE:

“One year after Carleton Hendricks’, a.k.a. Captain Howdy’s, sadistic rampage, much more than the physical scars the schizophrenic, sexual sadist gave his victims are left behind. Their lives destroyed by emotional torment and the media frenzy surrounding the crimes, Detective Mike Gage, his daughter Genevieve and vigilante Jackson Roth each have their crosses to bear.

But when the badly burned and mentally broken Carleton Hendricks is taken from a state-run mental hospital and off his medication by billionaire media mogul Morgan LaForce, leader of the body modification/fetish haven called ‘The Torture Garden,’ the door swings wide open for each of Captain Howdy’s victims to find closure…and retribution.”




As Snider tells Fango, while that synopsis and much of the script were written years ago, it’s pretty accurate except for “one glaring thing,” he laughs.

“It says, ‘One year later.’ Somebody on-line mentioned, ‘One year later—what, are you gonna have old [Internet] technology?’ But the emphasis is not so much on that.

Back when I wrote the first "STRANGELAND", the technology was brand new, but now it’s sort of an accepted part of the fabric of society; there’s no real revelation in it.


“We’re in the process of going out to directors,” Snider continues, “and when we bring one on board, I know whoever it is will have thoughts and input as to how the script should be changed or modified.

At that point, we’ll figure out how many years will be an acceptable time to have passed, and how that affects the storyline. I don’t think that will greatly affect the script.”







In 1998, STRANGELAND had a pioneering attitude about it—not only regarding the increasing popularity of the Internet and its ability to make human connection (for better or, in this case, for worse) much easier, but also in its emphasis on the kind of torture that horror fans would see a good deal of in the early 21st century.

“It was the first movie to ever have the phrase ‘and scenes of torture’ with its MPAA rating,” Snider says. “The R was given with the stipulation that that be in the description. No film had ever had that, and I was very proud. I was trying to reinvent the wheel, or do something different. To me, that was a significant designation.


“One of the things that "DISCIPLE" focuses on still continues in reality-based form, something that could happen,” he continues.

“It focuses more on society and the cult of personality. These villains become sensationalized in the press and almost become antiheroes and have followings.

The media also glamorizes and blows these things up. Again, it makes them something like heroes to certain people, because they’re so oppressed—‘Oh, the poor sick man.’ The movie looks a lot at that, which is a big theme today. Then, it goes much further into the world of body modification and tribal ritual.

Since I did the first one, people have become much more aware of what’s going on in the subculture, but I believe there’s even more depravity to explore.”







Snider is in the midst of assembling a team to go exploring with him, and it sounds quite promising. As far as a director goes, he’s tight-lipped, revealing only that the short list has been narrowed down to 10, each of whom he’d be equally excited about if they were to helm.

“We’re focusing on young, talented filmmakers, and there are some great ones out there. The difference between the last time I looked for a director and this time is that I’m really invested in the horror community on the next level, through Fango Radio and through making "STRANGELAND" and becoming a fixture or a semi-fixture in the horror community, so my awareness of the talent pool and what’s out there is much greater.

We have to lock in a director in the next 30 days; we’re going out to representatives right now and making offers.”





Thankfully, the Twisted Sister frontman doesn’t shy away from naming names when it comes to the rest of the production.

“As soon as we [sign a director], we start rolling in earnest. It’s looking like Robert Kurtzman is going to be doing the special effects; that’s not signed, sealed, delivered, but we’ve had significant conversations, he’s around that area, he wants to do the project, we want him to do the project. So now it’s just about putting together the deal.”


With Kurtzman just about on board, it can only be assumed that Snider and his director will be keeping things practical and tangible when it comes to the FX. “Absolutely,” he says.

“A number of things dictate that. I also want to add that I’m hoping to put together a situation where Kurtzman will bring Michael Burnett, who did the effects last time, in on his team, specifically for some of the Captain Howdy stuff.

Sitting in a G-string in a chair for 12 hours at a shot, I’m much more comfortable with Michael than with a lot of people; you really get to know somebody when you’re lying on a table for 12 hours in a G-string.

Burnett is working at Universal Studios now, so his ability to just pick up and leave and go do a film for several months is not as great.


“We’re working with roughly a $5-million budget,” Snider adds. “The first movie was made for $1.1 million. It’s definitely more to work with, but still, it’s a limited budget, computer effects just aren’t a reality in independent filmmaking and in this kind of movie, I just don’t believe it’s needed.

There’s a lot of body modification, a lot of rituals and some intense stuff, and I think they’re even more effective with practical rather than digital.”







Obviously, Snider will be reprising his role as Captain Howdy, but he reveals he’d like to see a lot of the supporting cast carry over from the original as well. “Robert Englund is attached, period,” he reveals.

“He is all set to reprise his role as Jackson Roth. He was significant in the last one, but he comes back in a much more powerful way.

This is definitely a movie about revenge, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to get that Jackson Roth is none too happy about having been made Captain Howdy’s bit*h in the first movie.


“I would love to bring back some of the other people from the first one,” he continues, “but mind you, some of them have gone on to become quite big stars.

Amy Smart is a much bigger name now, as is Linda Cardellini. I’m actually going to reach out to Linda; coming off "ER" as a single mom and, before that, the "SCOOBY-DOO" movies, she may be ready for something darker. Linda’s very cool, even though she’s out of my price range these days, but you never know.

I hope to reach out to Kevin Gage, who played Mike Gage, the father and detective, in the original. He’s a much greater actor than he was allowed to be by that movie’s director, and I’ve seen "HEAT" and all these other films he’s done since. He’s very talented, he’s a great guy to work with, and having some connection back to the original is a cool thing to do.”







In the realm of new faces, Snider plans to cast a good friend who should be quite familiar to Fango fiends—and he also has info on how you can score a bit role.

“I’ve got a role for [FANGO RADIO’s] Debbie Rochon in the movie. It’s a speaking role in an opening sequence. It’s a pretty cool part, she’s a good friend and a talented actress and I told her I’d love to bring her onto the movie.

Beyond that, we’re going to go wide with the casting. What we are doing is a national call; now that we’re rolling, we’re going to go through screentest.biz. Specifically, there’s a big club scene, with a lot of body modification elements and some really cool things we’ll need extras for, and we’re definitely going to be casting those off of screentest.biz.

It’s a publicity thing, absolutely, but as an independent film, you’ve got to do everything you possibly can, so the open casting call is definitely a way of getting more attention for the picture.”







With the decade-plus road to a STRANGELAND sequel about to reach its end, Snider is excited thanks to the original film’s fans and the idea of making a worthy and better successor.

“I’m very pleased by the on-line chatter and enthusiasm for it within the horror community,” he says. “There are people out there who sh*t-talk the original "STRANGELAND", and the things they say about it are all absolutely true.

I say, ‘Was it shocking?’ Yes.
Did it seem rushed at times? Yes.
Was it all it could be? No.

I had a little over a million dollars to work with, and we actually went to litigation with the director because we didn’t want him to be paid; he was pulled from the post work and the edit was taken out of his hands. I hope to correct all the wrongs with the new one.


“Just recognize that independent filmmaking is not the easiest thing in the world,” he notes. “You can solve any problem if you throw money at it. If you can’t do that, you have to do the best you can, and sometimes the best isn’t good enough.

I often say on FANGO RADIO that I think they should put the price tags of movies at the beginning, so people would say, ‘Oh, this was made for a million bucks, let’s see what they did… Oh, this was made for $80 million, it sucks!’ That’s something that people should be aware of sometimes.

People can look at "STRANGELAND" and look at "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" and go, ‘Oh, "SILENCE" is way better.’ Yeah, of course it is. It’s one of the greatest movies of all time, and they had Oscar-winning actors and a major director and millions of dollars to make it.

I’m not saying I’m comparing myself, but the point is, you’ve got to put things in perspective when you’re judging movies, based on what the resources are.”


[I]Look for more news and updates on "STRANGELAND: DISCIPLE" as production gets underway.

http://fangorianews.blogspot.com/2010/02/dee-sniders-big-strangeland-disciple.html

Dee Snider's Strangeland ll: Disciple is the long awaited, much anticipated sequel to the cult horror film Dee Snider's Strangeland.

Starring Dee Snider and Robert Englund, Strangeland is the movie that launched the entire Torture Film Genre.

http://www.facebook.com/StrangelandII?

R.I.P. Captain Howdy, Strangeland 2 is Dead
Thursday, August 4, 2011
By: MrDisgusting


It comes as a great disappointment to me that I have to report to you that Strangeland II: Disciple is official DEAD.

In response to a fan's question on Twitter as to "whatever happened to Strangeland 2??", Snider stated, "Dead in the water. #soeffingfrustrated."





Casting was underway back in January of 2010 for a supposed shoot in Cleveland, which apparently has since gone awry.

R.I.P. Captain Howdy (aka Carleton Hendricks).

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/25700

Dee Snider Says Strangeland II Still a Possibility
by Jonathan Barkan
May 21, 2012


In August of last year, Dee Snider broke the news via his Twitter that Strangeland ll: Disciple, the sequel to the 1998 cult classic Strangeland, was officially “Dead in the water”.

Now, a little under a year later, BD is happy to bring you the exclusive news that Strangeland ll has officially risen from the dead! When we asked Mr. Snider to give us a final confirmation of the sequel’s demise, we were shocked and excited to find out that the film is in fact alive and well, and that Mr. Snider and his manager are currently “working on getting it financed.”

Now, keep in mind that a movie securing financing is not an easy prospect, so nothing is 100% as of yet. However, this gives hope that there is still great interest in seeing what further horrors are in the future of Captain Howdy.

http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3144241/dee-snider-says-strangeland-ii-still-a-possibility/