Deal Done to Film 'Dolphin Tale 2' in Harborview Center

Crews will start work to transform part of Clearwater's Harborview Center into a production facility, building sets to film "Dolphin Tale 2."

With the applause still echoing in council chambers from city leaders’ vote on terms with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to potentially reshape the downtown waterfront with a $160 million facility, a lease to film another movie in the first floor of the former department store was unanimously approved Wednesday.

The 42,000-square-foot space is leased for $1 for six months starting Aug. 21 with three, one-month extensions. The production company is responsible for maintenance and repair to the building.

"Dolphin Tale" stars including Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., and Ashley Judd signed on to reprise their roles for the sequel which tells the story of Hope, a young, injured dolphin that who was actually brought in for care during the premiere of the first movie.

Filming is expected from mid-October to January with an anticipated opening in September 2014.

This is not the first time the Harborview Center was used as a movie set. Many parts of "Dolphin Tale" were filmed there.

However, now much of that space is devoted as use as Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure, an attraction that was opened to alleviate the influx of visitors to the aquarium’s Island Estates facility.

Some of the movie sets are now part of the downtown attraction.

Related coverage:

• Cast Coming Back to Clearwater for Dolphin Tale 2
• Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure Looks to Grow
• Aquarium Deal for Harborview Center Done