Popeye The Slayer Man 2 Begins Filming With More Gore and New Cast Additions

Jason Stephens returns as the murderous sailor in the bloodier sequel Popeye The Slayer Man 2.

‘Popeye The Slayer Man 2’ Begins Filming as Daniel Baldwin Joins Bloodier Sequel

The public domain horror train keeps rolling, and this time Popeye The Slayer Man 2 is promising to go even harder on the gore.

Per Deadline, production is officially underway in upstate New York on the sequel to last year’s brutal reimagining of the classic sailor character, with new cast additions including Daniel Baldwin and Avaryana Rose.

And honestly, based on the first-look image and the comments coming from the production team, this sequel looks fully committed to escalating the madness.

The film once again centers on Popeye, the mutated killer sailor whose contaminated spinach addiction transformed him into a violent rampaging monster in the first movie. This time, the story reportedly follows Popeye after the destruction of his home as authorities begin closing in while estranged family members attempt to reconnect with whatever humanity he still has left.

Of course, this being a slasher exploitation film, reconnecting with humanity probably won’t stop the body count.

Producer Jeff Miller made it very clear the sequel intends to increase the scale from the first installment.

“This movie is bigger and bloodier than the first. More kills and gore and more Popeye backstory,” Miller said while discussing the production.

That emphasis on expanding the mythology may actually help separate Popeye The Slayer Man 2 from the growing flood of public domain horror adaptations currently hitting the market. One of the biggest problems many of these films face is relying entirely on shock value or recognizable IP imagery without building an actual world around the character.

At least on paper, this sequel appears interested in fleshing out its version of Popeye beyond simply turning him into a meme slasher.

Returning cast members include Sean Michael Conway, Elena Juliano, Sarah Nicklin, Nathan Todaro, and Jason Stephens, who reprises the role of the murderous sailor himself.

Baldwin will reportedly play the mayor of the town, while Rose takes on the role of his daughter. Additional newcomers joining the sequel include Chelsea Gilson, Mia Rose, Derek Poole, and Jesse Wakeman.

Behind the camera, Robert Michael Ryan returns to direct from a screenplay by John Doolan. Practical gore effects will once again play a major role, with R.J. Young supervising special makeup FX.

And honestly, that practical gore emphasis is probably exactly what audiences for this type of movie want.

Whether people love or hate the public domain horror boom, there’s no denying audiences continue showing up for these chaotic low-budget reinterpretations of iconic characters. Some disappear immediately. Others build genuine cult followings through sheer absurdity and commitment to practical carnage.

Based on early details, Popeye The Slayer Man 2 clearly wants to land in that second category.

No release date has been announced yet, but filming is currently underway.