Jason Blum Makes Waves with ‘The Black Phone 2’ Trailer Reveal at CinemaCon
Get ready to clutch your pearls, horror aficionados, because Jason Blum and young star Madeleine McGraw just dropped a bombshell at CinemaCon that has our spidey senses tingling! In a spectacle that could only be described as a riveting horror gala, Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum donned a Grabber mask (because why not?) as he joined McGraw on stage to unveil the trailer for the much-anticipated ‘The Black Phone 2’. The sequel, hitting theaters on October 17, is already causing quite the stir, thanks to its predecessor’s unexpected success, which raked in a jaw-dropping $161 million against a mere $18 million budget. Talk about turning a profit!
The original film, released in 2022, followed a young boy’s harrowing tale of abduction, where he receives distressing calls from the previous victims of a serial killer, the Grabber, who was chillingly portrayed by Ethan Hawke. Screenwriter Scott Derrickson, channeling the genius of Joe Hill’s short story, crafted a narrative that sent shivers down our spines and left us begging for more. Now, with Derrickson still knee-deep in production, Blum stepped into the spotlight to assure fans that the sequel would not simply be a rehash of the first film. In the spirit of true creativity, he indicated that they would take the narrative to “new and unexpected” places.
As McGraw shared her excitement about returning to the franchise, it was evident that the chemistry remained palpable, and the evolution of the characters promised a fresh take on horror storytelling. With Hawke reprising his iconic role alongside McGraw and Mason Thames, the film’s new cast members include Arianna Rivas and Demián Bichir, adding layers to the tale. The trailer, replete with eerie sequences of a black phone ringing away in a desolate snowy tundra, tantalized the audience with a glimpse of the gripping exchanges between Thames’s character and the Grabber himself.
Derrickson, in a previous chat with The Hollywood Reporter, confessed that he was initially hesitant about diving into the sequel pool until Hill pitched a tantalizing idea that he simply couldn’t resist. But in a delightful twist of fate, he found himself at the helm of another project, The Gorge, leading him to realize that time was of the essence. The goal? To capture the essence of high school for the characters before they matured into the realm of adulthood, making this sequel not just a continuation but a new chapter in their lives.
In an age where horror sequels often tread familiar ground, Derrickson is adamant that ‘The Black Phone 2’ aims to break the mold. He asserts that the best sequels are those that surprise audiences, and frankly, we couldn’t agree more. Will Blum and Derrickson deliver a sequel that lives up to its predecessor’s legacy? Only time will tell, but the anticipation is thick in the air—not unlike the tension in a horror flick just before the big scare.
Class dismissed. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for October 17!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The Hollywood Reporter
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
