The almost human son of “The Fly” searches for a cure to his mutated genes while being monitored by a nefarious corporation that wish to continue his father’s experiments.
After the huge success of “The Fly” remake a sequel was inevitable, we got it three years later.
On a couple of occasions “Martin Brundle” (Eric Stoltz) is referred to as “Marty”. Eric Stoltz had started filming “Back to the Future” as Marty McFly before being replaced by Michael J. Fox. Josh Brolin, Keanu Reeves & Vincent D’Onofrio were all attached to the role of ‘Martin Brundle’ as-well.
David Cronenberg was not available to direct “The Fly II”, instead we got newcomer Chris Walas, now I’m not in anyway going to criticise Walas as I feel he was dealt an unfair hand. Any Director taking over from Cronenberg was always going to have a hard time, it’s even tougher when it’s your first time in the chair.
An early treatment for a sequel involved Veronica Quaife dealing with the evils of the Bartok company. Brundle’s consciousness had somehow survived within the Telepod computer, and the Bartok scientists had enslaved him and were using him to develop the system for cloning purposes. Brundle becomes able to communicate with Veronica through the computer, and he eventually takes control of the Bartok complex’s security systems to gruesomely attack the villains. Eventually, Veronica frees Brundle by conspiring with him to reintegrate a non-contaminated version of his original body.
Cronenberg endorsed the concept at the time. Geena Davis was open to doing a sequel (and only pulled out of “The Fly II” because her character was to be killed off in the opening scene), while Goldblum was not (although he was okay with the cameo), and this treatment reflects that. However, a later treatment written by Jim and Ken Wheat was used as the basis for the final script, written by Frank Darabont. Mick Garris also wrote a treatment, with elements incorporated into the final film.
“The Fly II” gets a rough ride, it’s a decent enough feature but it just doesn’t come close to Cronenberg’s classic.
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
Chris Walas wanted Geena Davis to reprise her role as Veronica Quaife for the birth scene at the beginning of the film. Genna Davis declined, because she had found the maggot-baby dream sequence in the original film emotionally upsetting and was replaced by Saffron Henderson.
Vincent D’Onofrio was the first choice for the role of Martin Brundle and was nearly cast for the part but his screen tests didn’t go well.
In some US states, theaters playing “The Fly II” had a nurse on hand for the audiences’ reactions to its content.
The Telepod props from the The Fly (1986) were destroyed after filming was completed and were rebuilt.
In at least one draft of the script, Martin was going to see yet another videotape of Seth Brundle (this time nearing the end of his transformation), in which Seth talks about his “cure”. This would have required brand-new footage of Jeff Goldblum in makeup from the previous film, and the concept was subsequently dropped from the script.
The first videotape of Seth Brundle (where he theorizes that the teleporter improved him) is actually part of a deleted scene from The Fly (1986). The scene was slightly edited for this film, and Veronica’s (Geena Davis’s) voice was dubbed over by Saffron Henderson (who plays Veronica at the beginning of The Fly II).
The green flashes of light between each credit in the title sequence were actually borrowed from an alternate, unused title sequence for The Fly (1986).
An unusual trailer was made for the film that consisted of no footage, just an audio clip and the readout of a heart monitor with a woman, presumably Veronica Quaife, screaming about an unseen, painful birth.
Mel Brooks suggested to Chris Walas that Daphne Zuniga play Beth Logan, after Daphne Zuniga starred as Princess Vespa in Mel Brook’s 1987 “Star Wars” spoof “Spaceballs”.
John Getz (as Stathis Borans) is the only actor reprising a role from the original The Fly (1986).
Stuart Cornfeld, the producer of “The Fly”, didn’t return to produce the sequel, due to commitment on another production and Steven-Charles Jaffe took over as producer, after receiving a phone-call from Cornfield, asking if he would be interested in producing the sequel and Jaffe agreed, after being asked if he liked “The Fly” and said he loved it.
John Getz agreed to return as Stathis Borans, but wanted to go somewhere with the character and came up with the idea of Stathis telling Martin not to sit in a chair.
Stathis saying “Don’t sit there!” to Martin, when Martin and Beth pay a visit to Stathis, to confront him about the truth behind the death of his father and the cure, was John Getz’s idea.
Chris Walas found the production on the film, one of the most enjoyable productions he worked on.
Eric Stoltz very much got into character and wanted to be called by his character’s name and and had his character’s name written on the back of his chair.
Gary Chalk (Scorby) was a comedian and people who knew Gary Chalk was concerned about Chalk playing a serious role.
Like “Return of the Fly”, “The Fly II” was given a happy ending.
The role of Martin Brundle was written for Eric Stoltz to play. He originally declined the role because he didn’t like the script. When the script was rewritten, he accepted the part.
Chris Walas filmed a different ending, which he didn’t want to use, which saw Beth asking Martin how he felt and Martin replying that he is feeling much better. The ending was shown in a test screening, but the executives decided to not use it and the ending with the Bartok Beast was used.
“The Fly II” was originally going to be filmed in Toronto, where “The Fly” was filmed. But they had no stage big enough for the sets and the only set big enough was Bridge Studios in Vancouver.
A 2nd sequel was never made.
The book next to the sleeping technician in the control room at the beginning of the film is “The Shape of Rage”, an anthology of writings about the films of David Cronenberg, who directed this film’s predecessor.
When it came to casting the lead character Martin Brundle. Chris Walas wanted to find an actor who had an physical resemblance to Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. Vincent D’Onforio was screen tested, but didn’t work out. But, Eric Stotlz was cast, as the character had been written for him to play.
A rubber head replica of Hargis, filled with fake red blood, was used for the graphic scene where Hargis’s head is crushed underneath an elevator.
Steven-Charles Jaffe and Chris Walas were unsure about Daphne Zuniga in the role of Beth Logan, because they had not seen any of her work. But, when the actress came in and read the part, Jaffe and Walas thought she was fantastic and she was cast.
Production designer Michael Bolton made a cameo in a scene that was cut from the film.
When Martin breaks into the security office and finds the video recording of Beth and himself having sex. He discovers footage of Seth Brundle telling Veronica Quaife about his disfigurement, caused by a fly being trapped inside the Telepod with him, which they were fused together. In that scene in the original film, it was not recorded on videotape.
At 105 minutes, this is the longest Fly movie in the series.
The only film which Eric Stoltz and Daphne Zuniga have worked together in.
Martin Brundle is born seven months after Vernoica Quaife killed Seth Brundle.
Chris Walas was impressed with Eric Stoltz and Daphne Zuniga working together professionally on the film.
When young Martin has his headpiece on in the beginning, he looks very much like an insect. This was done on purpose.
The movie was originally given an X rating by the MPAA because of the graphic scene where Hargis’ head is crushed underneath an elevator. Director Chris Walas appealed the decision, and the MPAA gave the film an R rating without any edits to the scene.
The mutated Bartok monster was played by Mark Walas, brother of director Chris Walas.
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