Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 23, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
No sooner have “The Three Investigators” conquered German cinema screens than filming begins on the legendary detectives’ next adventure. DIE DREI ??? – DAS GESPENSTERSCHLOSS (working title) began shooting in South Africa this week. The three lead actors Chancellor Miller, Nick Price and Cameron Monaghan are once again involved, alongside British character actor James Faulkner.
The story: A mysterious video leads detectives Justus Jonas, Peter Shaw and Bob Andrews to an abandoned house apparently haunted by the ghost of an old railway tycoon. But there is far more behind this spooky story than first appears—and then an old acquaintance reappears as well …
“We have succeeded in bringing back a creative team around director Florian Baxmeyer, in front of and behind the camera. That guarantees cinema-goers and young and old fans of ‘The Three Investigators’ another outstanding film with even more suspense and pace,” said Sytze van der Laan, producer of the “The Three Investigators” films and chairman of Studio Hamburg Produktion’s management board. “Preparations are running according to plan, and we expect an eventful shoot.”
Thomas Menne, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany GmbH, added: “I am pleased that so soon after the successful opening of the first ‘The Three Investigators’ cinema film, we can now tackle the second part with the highly proven team. Visitor figures for the first part in the first two weeks after its cinema release show that we have once again struck a chord with audiences, and we are looking forward to a second successful production with Studio Hamburg.”
To date, the more than 100 novels featuring the cases of Justus, Peter and Bob have been translated into 23 languages and sold more than 30 million copies. The audio-drama series, which has delighted young listeners since 1979, has been no less successful. In Germany alone, annual circulation is three million. The books are published by Kosmos Verlag in Stuttgart, and the audio dramas by SONY BMG.
Florian Baxmeyer again directs DIE DREI ??? – DAS GESPENSTERSCHLOSS (working title); Sebastian Ballhaus is assistant director, Philip LaZebnik wrote the screenplay, Peter J. Krause is director of photography, Albrecht Conrad and Sylvain Gingras are responsible for the art department, Conrad Kuhne for sound, Andrew McCarthy for production design, Martin van Geems for props, Wolfgang Ender for costume design and Pia Cornelius for make-up.
DIE DREI ??? – DAS GESPENSTERSCHLOSS (working title) is a SHIP – Studio Hamburg International Production co-production with Two Oceans Production (Giselher Fenzke/Bertha Spieker). The producers are Sytze van der Laan and Malte Grunert; Ronald Kruschak is creative producer.
Filming was to continue in and around Cape Town, South Africa, until the end of February 2008, followed by several shooting days in Germany. Post-production and visual effects were again to be handled by tvt, postperfect Studio Funk and Optical Art.
The film is supported by Filmförderung Hamburg, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the DFFF. The South African partner is the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC).
DIE DREI ??? – DAS GESPENSTERSCHLOSS (working title) was expected to reach cinemas in spring 2009 through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany GmbH. Beta Cinema has taken on worldwide sales.
