Blumhouse Productions has officially announced that Octavia Spencer confirmed for Ma sequel by Blumhouse, bringing back her intense performance for a follow-up to the 2019 psychological horror film. The news was revealed during the company’s inaugural “Business of Fear” event, though the sequel does not yet have a director or announced creative team, highlighting a period of anticipation for fans and industry observers.
Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse, joined by creative partner James Wan of Atomic Monster, made the announcement, underscoring the studio’s ongoing strategy to revisit and expand successful franchises while working with modest budgets. Octavia Spencer’s return as Sue Ann Ellington, known in the first film as “Ma,” hints at the continuation of a sinister and complex character that left a memorable mark on the genre.
“‘Ma’ has proven to be a social phenomenon since its release in 2019, with fans eagerly embracing the film and Octavia’s iconic performance as Ma. As Ma likes to say ‘don’t make me drink alone,’ so we’re thrilled Octavia will join us again for a second round.”
—Jason Blum, CEO of Blumhouse Productions
The original ‘Ma’: Story of revenge and terror
The first ‘Ma’ film followed a group of teenagers — played by Diana Silvers, Corey Fogelmanis, McKaley Miller, Gianni Paolo, and Dante Brown — who befriended an older woman, Sue Ann Ellington, portrayed by Octavia Spencer. Sue Ann, a solitary veterinarian with ties to the teens’ parents, opened her basement to them as a party spot. The atmosphere grew tense and violent as the teens discovered Sue Ann’s history, leading to chilling twists connected to longstanding grudges.
As events spiraled, the bond between Sue Ann and the young group collapsed. Sue Ann’s vendetta, rooted in painful experiences from her own youth and her interactions with the teens’ parents, fueled the psychological and physical suspense. The first film ended with a scene where Sue Ann — after being attacked — was last seen embracing the body of her childhood crush, Ben, played by Luke Evans, as her house burned around them, raising questions about her fate.
Possible directions for the next chapter of ‘Ma’
The creative direction for the ‘Ma’ sequel remains uncertain. The conclusion of the original film left Sue Ann’s fate unclear, inviting speculation about whether her character survived and what form her revenge might take next. Given horror traditions, the return of a villain often defies logic, so it would not be unexpected for Sue Ann Ellington to find new targets or continue her complex cycle of retribution. Though some have speculated about a potential prequel or entirely new direction, the exact narrative has yet to be revealed, and neither writer Scotty Landes nor director Tate Taylor have been confirmed to return.
Octavia Spencer’s expansive career and recent highlights
Outside of ‘Ma,’ Octavia Spencer has built a diverse and acclaimed body of work. She achieved a breakout with her Oscar-winning role as Minny Jackson in ‘The Help,’ directed by longtime collaborator Tate Taylor. Her acclaimed performances include roles in ‘Hidden Figures’ and Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Shape of Water,’ showcasing her range across drama and genre films.
More recently, Spencer has moved into television, notably with Apple TV+’s series ‘Truth Be Told,’ and appeared in the holiday film ‘Spirited’ as Kimberly. Her contributions also extend behind the scenes—she has taken on producer roles, championing new projects and supporting other filmmakers in getting their work off the ground.
Key announcements from the ‘Business of Fear’ event
In addition to confirming the ‘Ma’ sequel with Octavia Spencer, Blumhouse also unveiled several other horror-related developments at the “Business of Fear” event. Jason Blum announced an upcoming adaptation of the popular paranormal video game ‘Phasmophobia,’ developed by Kinetic Games in Britain. The multiplayer horror game has sold over 23 million copies globally and will bring its ghost-hunting premise to the screen, though no cast or director is attached yet.
Further notable news from the event included efforts by Blumhouse to acquire the rights to the longstanding horror franchise ‘Saw,’ which originated with James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s first film in 2004. Lionsgate will maintain a 50% partnership in the franchise under this deal. An 11th installment in the series is in development, but creative differences have delayed its release. If finalized, the deal could bring James Wan closer to the franchise he co-created as both co-writer and executive producer, potentially steering it with renewed vision.
It’s much harder to do what we started doing 15 years ago. So the way that we’ve addressed that is by adding a bit of money to our model; but still, by studio standards, for instance, the budgets of our movies are 60% off the average sticker price, actually probably more, 75% off, the average sticker price.
—Jason Blum, CEO of Blumhouse Productions
What to expect about the sequel’s production timeline
The ‘Ma’ sequel is in the early planning stages. While Octavia Spencer is set to return, there is no confirmed director or creative team, and Blumhouse has not announced a release date. It is possible that Tate Taylor, who directed the first film, may be approached again, but this remains speculation for now. Further news about the sequel’s production schedule is expected once more details about the team and story direction are decided, and fans await confirmation of returning cast members and creative collaborators.
Notable horror films produced by Blumhouse Productions
Blumhouse Productions is recognized for building popular horror franchises and standalone thrillers on controlled budgets. Below is a selection of well-known films produced by the company over the years:
1. ‘Paranormal Activity’ (2007)
2. ‘Insidious’ (2010)
3. ‘Sinister’ (2012)
4. ‘The Purge’ (2013)
5. ‘Creep’ (2014)
6. ‘Unfriended’ (2014)
7. ‘Split’ (2016)
8. ‘Get Out’ (2017)
9. ‘Happy Death Day’ (2017)
10. ‘Upgrade’ (2018)
11. ‘Truth or Dare’ (2018)
12. ‘Halloween’ (2018)
13. ‘Us’ (2019)
14. ‘Ma’ (2019)
15. ‘Fantasy Island’ (2020)
16. ‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)
17. ‘The Hunt’ (2020)
18. ‘Freaky’ (2020)
19. ‘The Black Phone’ (2021)
20. ‘M3GAN’ (2022)
21. ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ (2023)
22. ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ (2023)
23. ‘Night Swim’ (2024)
24. ‘Imaginary’ (2024)
25. ‘Speak No Evil’ (2024)
26. ‘Wolf Man’ (2025)
27. ‘Drop’ (2025)
28. ‘The Woman in the Yard’ (2025)
With Octavia Spencer confirmed for Ma sequel by Blumhouse, attention now turns to how the company will build upon its genre legacy while navigating new creative territory for one of its most unnerving characters.
