When you think about 2000s action movies, you probably picture sun-drenched beaches, incredibly fit actors in bikinis, and a plot that’s basically an excuse for underwater cinematography. The original Into the Blue hit that sweet spot perfectly with Paul Walker and Jessica Alba. But then 2009 rolled around, and we got a direct-to-video follow-up. Honestly, the into the blue 2 movie cast is the main reason anyone is still looking this movie up today. It wasn't exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but it served as a weirdly effective springboard for a bunch of actors who were about to become much bigger deals on TV.
If you haven't seen it, the movie is officially titled Into the Blue 2: The Reef. It’s a sequel in name only. None of the original characters return, which is kinda standard for these types of budget-friendly sequels. Instead of the Bahamas, we’re in Honolulu, Hawaii. The story follows Sebastian and Dani, a couple of divers who get tangled up with some very shady people looking for more than just sunken Spanish gold.
Who Exactly Was in the Into the Blue 2 Movie Cast?
The leading man here is Chris Carmack. Long before he was playing Dr. Atticus "Link" Lincoln on Grey’s Anatomy or the country crooner Will Lexington on Nashville, he was Sebastian. Sebastian is basically the "Paul Walker" of this movie—a talented diver with big dreams and zero money. Carmack actually went through a pretty intense physical transformation for the role. He reportedly put on about 13 pounds of muscle, jumping from 187 to 200 pounds to look the part of a professional diver.
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Then you’ve got Laura Vandervoort playing Dani. At the time, she was fresh off her role as Kara (Supergirl) on Smallville. She brings a lot of the heavy lifting to the movie. Interestingly, while the film is definitely marketed on its "bikini factor," Vandervoort has mentioned in interviews that her role was actually quite physical. She did a massive barefoot running sequence on concrete that was inspired by the movie Run Lola Run. She even had to wear beige-colored pads on her feet when the camera wasn't looking at them just to survive the shoot.
The Supporting Players and Villains
The "bad guys" in this one aren't just generic pirates; they’re actually quite recognizable faces if you watched TV in the late 2000s:
- David Anders as Carlton: If you’re a fan of Alias, Heroes, or The Vampire Diaries, you know David Anders is the king of playing the charming but untrustworthy guy. Here, he plays a "wealthy" client who turns out to be a terrorist looking for nuclear components.
- Marsha Thomason as Azra: Best known for White Collar and Las Vegas, Thomason plays Carlton’s partner. She brings a bit more edge to the villainy than your typical henchwoman.
- Michael Graziadei as Mace: He plays Sebastian’s best friend and employee. You might recognize him from The Young and the Restless or his later role in American Horror Story.
- Mircea Monroe as Kimi: Playing Dani’s best friend, Monroe took on a lot of the more "revealing" scenes that Vandervoort reportedly declined. She’s since had a great career in comedies like Episodes.
The Reality TV Cameos
This is where the into the blue 2 movie cast gets really "2009." The producers leaned hard into the reality TV craze of the era. This was the feature film debut for Audrina Patridge, who was at the height of her The Hills fame. She plays Kelsey, a character who is mostly there for a beach volleyball scene.
Even more niche? The movie features Amanda Kimmel and Parvati Shallow. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they are Survivor legends. They play versions of themselves (or very similar characters) in a beach volleyball competition. It’s a total "time capsule" moment for anyone who lived through the mid-aughts.
Why the Cast Was Different from the First Movie
It’s no secret that Into the Blue 2 was a budget-conscious production. MGM and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment weren't looking to bring back Paul Walker or Jessica Alba for a direct-to-DVD release. That would have cost more than the entire production budget of this sequel.
Instead, they hired Stephen Herek to direct. Herek is actually a pretty big name—he directed Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and The Mighty Ducks. He tried to give the movie a bit more style than your average bargain-bin action flick. He used very fast editing and saturated colors to hide the fact that they didn't have the $50 million budget of the original.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Movie
People often assume this is a continuation of Jared and Sam’s story from the first film. It isn't. Not even a little bit. There isn't a single mention of the events of the first movie. Basically, the studio just owned the "Into the Blue" brand and wanted to use it to sell a new tropical thriller.
Another common misconception is that it was filmed in the Caribbean. Nope. While the first one was shot in the Bahamas, Into the Blue 2 was filmed entirely on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. If you look closely at the background of some of the boat scenes, you can see Hawaiian landmarks that definitely aren't in the Atlantic.
Is It Worth a Watch for the Cast Alone?
Look, nobody is going to tell you this is a five-star film. The dialogue is sometimes a bit rough, and the plot involving nuclear containers in the ocean is a little "out there." But if you’re a fan of the actors involved, it’s actually kind of fun to see them in their early days.
Chris Carmack and Laura Vandervoort have genuine chemistry. They make the "struggling couple" dynamic feel more real than it probably should in a movie like this. Plus, seeing David Anders do his "evil gentleman" routine is always a good time. It's essentially a high-budget episode of a 2000s action show like Burn Notice or Hawaii Five-O.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive into the world of this specific movie or the into the blue 2 movie cast, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check the Special Features: If you can find the actual DVD, the "Get Wet" featurette is actually pretty interesting. It shows the cast going through real scuba training. Unlike many movies where they just use body doubles, Carmack and Vandervoort spent a significant amount of time actually underwater.
- Look for the Smallville Connections: It's a fun trivia fact that three cast members (Vandervoort, Carmack, and Anders) all appeared in Smallville at various points.
- The Soundtrack is a Time Capsule: The movie features music by Michael Franti & Spearhead and BT. It perfectly captures that specific late-2000s beach vibe.
- Streaming availability: As of 2026, the movie often pops up on free, ad-supported streaming services like Tubi or Pluto TV. It’s rarely worth a $14.99 "buy" price, but it’s a perfect "lazy Saturday afternoon" watch.
To truly appreciate the effort put in by the actors, watch the chase scenes. Knowing that Vandervoort was actually running full tilt on Hawaiian pavement gives those sequences a bit more weight. It wasn't just a vacation for the actors; they actually put in the work, even if the script didn't always match their effort.
If you’re tracking the careers of these actors, this movie is a crucial "before they were famous" bridge. It shows that even in the world of direct-to-video sequels, talent tends to rise to the top eventually.
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To get the most out of your rewatch, try to spot the Survivor cameos during the volleyball scenes—it’s much harder than you’d think if you aren't looking for them. You should also compare the cinematography to the 2005 original; while the budget was lower, the use of HD cameras in 2008-2009 actually makes some of the reef shots look sharper than the film-stock used in the first movie.