Touted as both a sequel and a reboot - "refried," as the filmmakers put it - Organic Intelligence pits nature against technology in a plotline that brings the Killer Tomatoes into the age of artificial intelligence. The film is helmed by director David Ferino, with original series creators Costa Dillon and Steve Peace returning as executive producers and screenwriters. Peace is a former California legislator and longtime San Diego figure who also starred as the sword-wielding Wilbur Finletter in the original films.
Anchor Bay Entertainment will distribute the film, which is expected to hit theaters later this year. The new film features an eclectic cast including Eric Roberts (brother of Julia), Paul Bates, Vernee Watson, and other cult-favorite actors - perfectly in line with the franchise’s long history of offbeat performances and irreverent satire.
The original Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, filmed on a shoestring budget of around $100,000 and released in 1978, parodied Cold War-era monster movies and government overreach. Though widely panned by critics at the time, the film became a cult sensation and spawned three live-action sequels and a short-lived animated television series. It also launched the early film career of George Clooney in Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988).
The original Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, filmed on a shoestring budget of around $100,000 and released in 1978, parodied Cold War-era monster movies and government overreach. Though widely panned by critics at the time, the film became a cult sensation and spawned three live-action sequels and a short-lived animated television series. It also launched the early film career of George Clooney in Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988).
This newest entry leans into current cultural anxieties around artificial intelligence and environmental collapse, according to a release from the filmmakers, describing the movie as "the eternal power of nature vs. AI’s best." Scenes filmed in San Diego this week are said to include a tech lab overtaken by sentient tomatoes, a parade gone awry in Mission Beach, and a chase through Chula Vista that pays homage to the series' iconic "slow car chase" scene.
As with the previous films, San Diego plays a starring role, not just in scenery but in spirit. Local landmarks have long featured prominently in the franchise - from UC San Diego and Balboa Park to Oceanside and Pacific Beach in the earlier films. This year’s installment also coincides with the 100th anniversary of Belmont Park, just blocks from one of the filming locations.
On Thursday and Friday, cast and crew will be shooting on location in Chula Vista, with some of the main day of filming including several outdoor chase scenes along Third Avenue between Davidson and E streets and outside Don Pedro’s Taco Shop (where Clooney was filmed for the 1988 version of the cult classic), as well as Vogue Tavern. On Wednesday, filming occurred at Ski Beach in Mission Bay.
The surge in commercial and film productions aligns with San Diego's broader aspirations to become a major player in the entertainment industry. A key component of that vision is the upcoming Chula Vista Entertainment Complex, an $85 million virtual production studio set to break ground by the end of 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will offer Hollywood-level production capabilities, educational programs, and co-working spaces, positioning Chula Vista as a hub for future filmmaking and digital media innovation.
While much of the plot is still under wraps, fans can expect the same chaotic energy that made the original a cult classic: over-the-top action, slapstick gore, and a soundtrack likely as bizarre as the plot itself. The iconic "Puberty Love" may even make a comeback.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence is scheduled for theatrical release later this year. For those keeping an eye on filming, the tomato uprising will be invading various San Diego neighborhoods all week - so don’t be surprised if you see a fruit with a grudge rolling down your street.
Originally published on June 4, 2025.