Universal Pictures has debuted the first official trailer for Black Phone 2, announcing that Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber in Black Phone 2, just as suspense and terror begin to escalate again in this anticipated sequel set for release this October. Building on the deadly events of the first film, fans can expect more tension as returning characters face new horrors connected to their past at a remote winter camp.
Main Cast and Creative Team Step Back Into Darkness
Black Phone 2 reunites Ethan Hawke with his iconic villainous role as The Grabber, joined by Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora. Director Scott Derrickson, who led the original, returns to shape the sequel’s unnerving atmosphere, teaming up once again with longtime collaborator C. Robert Cargill on the script. Both Derrickson and Cargill also serve as producers alongside Jason Blum, while executive producers include Joe Hill and Ryan Turek. The film emerges from a collaboration between Universal Pictures and Blumhouse, with support from Crooked Highway Productions.
Twisted Family Ties and a Deadly Winter Reveal
Following the events of the first film, Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber—this time, his presence appears to transcend death. Now haunting Gwen, played by Madeleine McGraw, the villain’s focus shifts to Finn’s younger sister as disturbing supernatural events begin to unfold. Mason Thames’s Finn, aged seventeen and scarred from his earlier ordeal, struggles to cope with lingering trauma as Gwen, two years his junior, starts receiving terrifying phone calls in dreams. Through her disturbing visions, she witnesses three boys being hunted at Alpine Lake, a secluded camp shrouded in snow and secrecy.
Determined to solve the mystery and stop the new threat, Gwen pushes Finn to join her at Alpine Lake amid a fierce storm. What the siblings find unravels a chilling link between the Grabber and their family history, forcing them to confront a killer whose menace has only grown stronger beyond the grave.
Trailer Sets an Ominous Tone for the Sequel
Promotional footage previews the film’s unsettling mood, layering haunting narration over shadowy, foreboding scenes. The trailer suggests that The Grabber’s terror is not bound by death and that Finn and Gwen remain ensnared in unresolved trauma. One line in particular heightens the sequel’s sense of vengeance and supernatural threat:
“I had a bad dream. Hello, Finney. Did you think our story was over? You’re dead. You, of all people, know that dead is just a word. He’s here. Gwen! Vengeance is mine.”
—Hawke, Character
These words foreshadow ongoing psychological and supernatural battles for the siblings as the specter of The Grabber returns with unfinished business.
Expanding Into a Lasting Horror Franchise
With Black Phone 2, producers Scott Derrickson, Jason Blum, and C. Robert Cargill aim to expand the franchise, drawing on the massive success of the original, which earned over $160 million and critical acclaim through Blumhouse’s horror pedigree. Executive producers Joe Hill and Ryan Turek help guide this vision, signaling Universal Pictures’ intention to create ongoing stories that push its mythology and horror further.
Release Date Draws Closer for Horror Fans
Anticipation continues to build as Universal and Blumhouse set Black Phone 2 for theatrical release on October 17th. Returning cast Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora join Ethan Hawke for another unnerving battle against darkness, with longtime creatives behind the scenes driving this next sinister chapter. The future of the franchise now hinges on whether Finn and Gwen can overcome The Grabber—now even more dangerous in death than life—this fall at Alpine Lake.
