Introduction to Black Phone 2
The wait is finally over, as Universal Pictures has released the first official trailer for Black Phone 2. After four years in the making, the film is set to hit theaters this fall, with a release date of October 17th, just in time for the spooky season. With Scott Derrickson, the director of Doctor Strange, returning to helm the sequel, audiences were eager to see what the creative team had developed, especially with the news that Ethan Hawke, the infamous and terrifying serial killer known as The Grabber, would be back.
The Plot Thickens
Although Finney (Mason Thames) successfully killed The Grabber in the first film, it seems that the presence of the murderer still lingers beyond the grave, thanks to a mysterious rotary phone. While there are still many gaps to be filled, the film appears to be taking a supernatural turn, likely delving into the current favorite topic of the genre – trauma. Former victims of The Grabber, apparently from his time at a youth camp, will flesh out the plot of the new film, while Finney’s sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), is haunted by dreams that bring her back to the basement where her older sibling was once held captive.
Background and Inspiration
The first film served as an adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story of the same name, but Derrickson and his co-writer, C. Robert Cargill, went completely off the rails this time around. The last time we left the characters, Finney had just escaped The Grabber’s clutches and run back into the arms of his sister, Gwen. For a brief refresher, Gwen possesses supernatural abilities that enable her to help the police in their search for The Grabber’s lair and put an end to the ongoing nightmare plaguing the city.
What Scott Derrickson Has Teased About Black Phone 2
Black Phone became one of the most talked-about and highest-grossing films from the studio, with Derrickson more than eager to return to continue the story. The original was as dark as they came – after all, it was about a child murderer. However, the Doctor Strange director has previously hinted that the follow-up will be even heavier. Derrickson stated, "The main difference is that it’s a high school film, just like the original was a middle school film, but these are two very different things. You know that a high school coming-of-age film demands more; it has to be more visceral." He also added, "I think the change that takes place in people between middle school and high school is some of the greatest change they go through in their lives, and about these characters, who really developed as humans in the four years between the films, was still very interesting to me."
Release Date
Black Phone 2 is set to hit theaters on October 17th, 2025. The film is directed by Scott Derrickson and written by C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson. The producers include Jason Blum, Joe Hill, C. Robert Cargill, Christopher H. Warner, and Ryan Turek. With the release date just around the corner, fans of the first film are eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Black Phone series.
