Venice Biennale: 'Upgraded 2' Sequel Shoots New Chapter

Principal photography for 'Upgraded 2' began in Venice on October 21. The production is the sequel to the 2024 romantic comedy 'Upgraded,' released by Amazon MGM Studios. The new film is currently being shot in the Italian city where the Venice Biennale is taking place.

The story follows Ana Santos, a character played by Camila Mendes. In the first film, Santos was a New York City auction house intern who pretended to hold a higher position after being upgraded to first class on a flight to London. She met William, a wealthy Englishman connected to the art world, during that journey. In this sequel, Santos is now focused on making her mark at the Venice Biennale, described as the world's oldest contemporary art fair.

Becca Gleason is directing the sequel. She takes over the helm from Carlson Young, who directed the original movie. The crew has filmed on the terrace of Ca’ Giustinian, the Biennale headquarters located near the Grand Canal. They also shot inside the neo-Gothic Palazzo Franchetti, which functions as a Biennale exhibition space near the Accademia bridge. Additional scenes were captured at the Moro Venice restaurant. Leslie Bibb is starring in the film, though her specific role has not been detailed in initial reports.

The screenplay was written by Luke Roberts and Justin Matthews, who also wrote the first installment. The production aims for a strong Italian presence beyond the Venice locations. After completing 12 days of shooting on the lagoon, the crew will relocate to Rome. According to Italy for Movies, the national portal for film and TV production, 33 more days of shooting are planned in the capital.

Luca Tranchino serves as the production designer. He is an Italian professional known for work on 'Prison Break' and 'Domina.' The Italian company Colorado Film is acting as the executive producer for the local production. The project involves several key producers, including Mike Karz and Bill Bindley for Gulfstream Pictures. Mendes and Rachel Matthews are producing through Honor Role, while Lena Roklin represents Luber Roklin Entertainment and Piers Tempest is attached via Tempo Production.

The film is scheduled to wrap its Venice segment before the team travels to Rome. The total shoot duration in Italy is expected to be 45 days, combining the initial Venice period with the subsequent Roman schedule. No further release dates were announced alongside the start of filming.