There’s nothing worse than a bunch of angry tomatoes.
The USS Midway Museum found itself at the heart of vegetable viciousness with its co-starring role in the soon to be released “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence.”
Part of this latest installment of the Killer Tomatoes movie series was actually filmed on board Midway. As with the previous four films, “Organic Intelligence” delivers the cult classic’s signature blend of slapstick humor, sci-fi parody and gloriously unhinged tomato chaos.
The museum hosted a one-night advance screening of “Organic Intelligence” on the ship’s hangar deck before members of the movie’s production team, Midway staff and volunteers, and hundreds of diehard Killer Tomato movie fans.
“It was a blast to celebrate the project’s (almost) completion in one of its key locations, surrounded by the people who made it possible,” said David Ferino, the film’s director. “It was the movie crew’s first time seeing it with living, breathing humans besides ourselves, so it was a ginormous relief that the audience was comprised of kindly San Diegans, Tomato-heads and Midway staff.”
“I loved the advance screening on the Midway,” said actress Myrna Velasco, who stars as Marina Sifuentes, one of the tomato fighters in the film. “I’m one of those actors who is usually very nervous to watch my work, especially with an audience, but being able to hear the audience laugh at the jokes we crafted while floating in the hangar bay was totally affirming.”
Several months earlier, Midway was the filming location for a number of scenes in the motion picture as it was cast as the secret headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Vegetable Investigation, the government agency tasked with stopping the tomato invasion.
“Filming within the confines of history was an opportunity I will always treasure,” said Steve Peace, the co-creator of the Killer Tomatoes franchise, of filming on Midway. “Like most San Diegans of my generation, the Navy is a big part of my own family story.”
“Seven years ago my parents and I visited the Midway for the first time,” remembered David. “I was a kid in a candy store – pressing all the buttons, turning all the dials. At one point I turned to my folks and said, ‘I’d love to make a movie here.’ Cut to the summer of 2025 and I was doing just that. Unbelievable. I’m still pinching myself.”
The original “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” was unleashed on the public in 1978 as a low-budget, independent parody film that lampoons B-movies. “Organic Intelligence,” the fifth installment in the film’s ketchupy franchise, is once again a tongue-in-cheek, monster-movie satire.
“Filming Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence was such a fun experience,” said Myrna. “I felt very fortunate to learn and play with some of Hollywood’s comedic legends, while also having the space to establish my own kind of funny with fellow up-and-coming actors. Acting in an established franchise can be pretty intimidating, but I felt incredibly supported by the creators Costa Dillon and Steve Peace.”
In this latest vine-ripened romp, the mutant tomatoes aren’t just back, they’re organically intelligent, and after earlier failed attempts to take over the world and eliminate humanity, they are now bent on “getting it right” this time. Keeping the mayhem under control was daunting but a dream come true for David as the film’s director.
“Directing this movie was wild, and I mean that in the best way possible,” said David. “It was wild to be considered for the job, it was wild to get the job, and it was wild to actually make the film. I’ve always had a penchant for b-movies, so becoming a part of a camp franchise with such a hallowed legacy is truly just – wow.”
Not only was Midway front and center in the film, but a number of the museum’s staff and volunteers had cameo roles as aging naval aviators.
“It was great fun for me to be in a movie as I can now say I am a movie star,” said volunteer docent Pence Parson with a grin. “I can’t wait to start signing autographs. It was also terrific that the movie was screened on the Midway.”
“We have been overwhelmed by the positive response,” said Steve. “When the finishing touches are completed on the film, it will be even better. More surprises to come.”
“Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence” is scheduled to be released to the public in 2026.
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