Spud 2: The Madness Continues premiere

On Sunday evening, the first of three national premieres took place for eagerly anticipated sequel Spud 2: The Madness Continues. Members of the cast and crew walked the red carpet at the first Nu Metro-organised event, held at Cinecentre Suncoast in Durban.

Released in December 2010, the first Spud film – starring “young Wolverine” Troye Sivan, John Cleese and a host of South African acting talent – was a massive success. The sequel to this bittersweet coming of age tale was therefore inevitable, and writer-director Donovan Marsh along with the entire cast happily returned for Round 2, feeling like no time had passed at all. Sivan himself stated on the red carpet that he  “would happily make Spud 100 if the series ran that long.”

Like its predecessor, Spud 2 is based on a hit autobiographical novel by playwright and performer John van de Ruit. This time young John “Spud” Milton is in his second year at the exclusive Michaelhouse boarding school in the KZN Midlands. He has also finally entered puberty, and found acceptance with his housemates and friends, the Crazy Eight. In the sequel, the band of boys rebel against their vindictive housemaster “Sparerib” (Jason Cope), who is intent on having the lot of them expelled.

For the record, Spud 2 saw its shoot relocated from the isolated Michaelhouse to South African College High School (SACS) in Cape Town for budget reasons… much to the delight of the film’s young stars.

Spud 2: The Madness Continues opens in South African cinemas on 21 June.

Last Updated: June 12, 2013