Crackle, Sony’s free streaming network, and Legendary Digital Media has announced that production has kicked off in Vancouver on “Dead Rising: Endgame,” the sequel to last year’s successful original feature film, “Dead Rising: Watchtower.”

“The sequel “Dead Rising: Endgame” drops us into the zombie-infested quarantined zone of East Mission City where investigative reporter Chase Carter must stop a secret government conspiracy which, though seemingly aimed at ending the country’s zombie epidemic, will also kill millions of innocent civilians.”

“Dead Rising: Endgame” is based on the hugely popular “Dead Rising” video game franchise by Capcom, which has sold over 9.1 million copies worldwide.

Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives,” “Dallas”) returns to “Dead Rising: Endgame” as Chase Carter, the well-known television journalist who goes back underground to stop the military’s rogue operation and break the ultimate story.

Keegan Connor Tracy (“Once Upon a Time,” “Bates Motel”) returns as camera operator and producer, Jordan Blair. Attempting to thwart their plans is Dennis Haysbert (“24,” “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) reprising his role as General Lyons, a crooked Military Intelligence Officer. Patrick Sabongui (“The Art of More”) returns in a new role, playing a skilled zombie killer and video game aficionado who talks a big and crude game to mask his gentle side.

The film also features new cast including Billy Zane (Zoolander 2, Titanic) as Rand, a handsome, cruel scientist who was hired by the government to find a cure for the raging zombie infection, but is instead conducting horrendous experiments on the infected. Marie Avgeropoulos (“The 100″) plays Sandra Lowe, a skilled computer hacker and Chase’s on-and-off girlfriend who joins him in his quest to battle the zombie-infested underground and stop General Lyons’ plan.

Ian Tracey (“Bates Motel”) portrays George Hancock, the courageous whistleblower who compels Chase and his team to enter a zombie-infested city on a rescue mission. Jessica Harmon (“iZombie”) plays Jill, a news producer who joins Chase and his intrepid crew to infiltrate a secret laboratory and stop the carnage. Victor Webster (“Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” “Continuum”) is Chuck Greene, the reluctant hero and protagonist of the Dead Rising 2 video game. Additionally, Camille Sullivan (“The Man in the High Castle”) portrays the role of Susan Ingot, the CEO of Phenotrans, the manufacturer of Zombrex, the vaccine that keeps the zombie infection at bay.

“Dead Rising: Endgame” is directed by Pat Williams (“Continuum”) and written by Michael Ferris (Terminator Salvation) and Tim Carter (“Dead Rising: Watchtower”). “Dead Rising: Endgame” is presented by Legendary Digital Media and produced by Tim Carter with Tomas Harlan as the executive producer under their Contradiction Films banner. This second chapter in the “Dead Rising” film series is scheduled for a summer 2016 release.