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Is Van Helsing 2: Redemption a Real Movie?

Many fans of the 2004 action-horror film Van Helsing, starring Hugh Jackman as the legendary monster hunter, have been wondering if there is a sequel to the movie. A trailer for Van Helsing 2: Redemption has been circulating on YouTube for over a decade, but is it a real movie or a fan-made hoax?

The answer is that Van Helsing 2: Redemption is not a real movie, but a fan-made trailer created by Riccardo Esposito in 2008. Esposito used clips from various movies and TV shows, such as Underworld, Blade, Supernatural, and The Mummy, to create a convincing trailer that features Van Helsing facing off against Dracula, werewolves, vampires, and mummies. The trailer has over 10 million views on YouTube and has fooled many viewers into thinking that it is a genuine sequel to Van Helsing.

However, there is no official confirmation or evidence that Van Helsing 2: Redemption was ever in production or development. The original Van Helsing was directed by Stephen Sommers and produced by Universal Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics and audiences and grossed $300 million worldwide on a $160 million budget. It was not a huge success for Universal and did not spawn any sequels or spin-offs.

There have been some attempts to revive the Van Helsing franchise in other media, such as a video game, an animated prequel, a comic book series, and a TV show. However, none of these projects have involved Hugh Jackman or Stephen Sommers. The most recent iteration of Van Helsing is a Syfy series that follows Vanessa Helsing, the daughter of Abraham Van Helsing, who awakens in a post-apocalyptic world where vampires have taken over.

Therefore, fans of Van Helsing who are looking for a sequel to the movie will have to settle for the fan-made trailer of Van Helsing 2: Redemption or explore other adaptations of the character in different media. As of now, there is no official plan or announcement for a Van Helsing 2 movie.

While Van Helsing 2: Redemption is not a real movie, it is still an impressive example of fan creativity and passion. Riccardo Esposito, the creator of the trailer, has also made other fan-made trailers for movies such as The Mummy 4, The Mask 2, and The Crow 5. He has stated that he makes these trailers for fun and as a tribute to his favorite movies and actors. He has also expressed his admiration for Hugh Jackman and his hope that he will reprise his role as Van Helsing someday.

Esposito is not the only fan who has shown interest in a Van Helsing sequel. In 2016, a petition was launched on Change.org to urge Universal Pictures to make Van Helsing 2 with Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. The petition claimed that Van Helsing was a “masterpiece” and that it deserved a sequel that would explore the characters’ backgrounds and relationships. The petition has over 13,000 signatures as of April 2023.

However, it is unlikely that Universal Pictures will listen to the petition or make a Van Helsing 2 movie anytime soon. The studio has been focusing on its Dark Universe project, which aims to reboot its classic monster movies with a shared cinematic universe. The first movie in the Dark Universe was The Mummy (2017), starring Tom Cruise, which was a critical and commercial flop. The second movie was supposed to be Bride of Frankenstein (2019), starring Angelina Jolie, but it was postponed indefinitely due to creative differences. Other planned movies in the Dark Universe include The Invisible Man, The Wolf Man, Dracula Untold, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Therefore, fans of Van Helsing who are looking for a sequel to the movie will have to settle for the fan-made trailer of Van Helsing 2: Redemption or explore other adaptations of the character in different media. As of now, there is no official plan or announcement for a Van Helsing 2 movie.