The Black Phone 2 is coming after the first film was a box office hit. Blumhouse and Universal are making a sequel with Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, and Madeline McGraw will return in the Scott Derrickson sequel.
However, the film won’t be getting a summer release. After initially being slated for a June 27, 2025, release date, Universal has moved it. Per Collider, The Black Phone 2 will now open on October 17, 2025, making it a perfect Halloween watch.
This is probably disappointing for fans of the series. By the time the sequel comes out, it will have been well over three years since its predecessor.
What is The Black Phone about?
The Black Phone is an adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story of the same name. Derrickson directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with C. Robert Cargill. Scott Derrickson gained fame for directing horror films such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Sinister. He also directed Doctor Strange for the MCU.
It follows a young boy, Finney (Thames), who is abducted by a man called the Grabber (Hawke). While locked away in his basement, Finney discovers a rotary phone that connects him with the Grabber’s previous victims.
The film was a big hit, grossing over $160 million for Universal. $90.1 million of that haul came domestically. The film added another $71.3 million in international territories. It was a co-production between Universal, Blumhouse, and Crooked Highway.
The Black Phone 2 bringing back Ethan Hawke, Thames, and McGraw is a huge development. Hawke is an acclaimed actor known for his work in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy and First Reformed.
Mason Thames gained widespread recognition for his role in The Black Phone. Coming up, he will lead the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake. Madeline McGraw has starred in films such as Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and Toy Story 4. She also leads Secrets of Sulphur Springs.
What about the sequel?
After its box office success, it’s not surprising that Universal and Blumhouse decided to make a sequel. The story will likely have to be original since The Black Phone was based on a short story.
In November 2023, it was reported that Hawke, Thames, and McGraw would all return for Derrickson’s sequel. This was a little bit surprising, as the first film gave closure to all of the characters.
Warning: Spoilers for The Black Phone ahead
At the end of The Black Phone, Finney escapes the Grabber. He breaks his neck with the phone cord and seemingly traps the Grabber. I suppose if you don’t see the Grabber actually die, he never really did. Derrickson will have to do a lot of explaining in the sequel.
As for Finnery and his sister, Gwen (McGraw), they are reunited at the end of the film. Terrence (Jeremy Davies), their alcoholic and abusive father, even asks for their forgiveness by the end of the film. Finney closes out the film with confidence sitting next to his crush at school.
How and why Finney and Gwen need to be in the sequel is unclear. They both got their catharsis and a sequel could have focused on different kids. But we’ll have to wait until October 2025 to see what happens.
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