Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for The Black Phone.
After teasing ideas for a potential sequel, co-writer/director Scott Derrickson has shared a The Black Phone 2 update. Derrickson co-wrote and directed the 2022 hit adaptation of Joe Hill's horror short story with C. Robert Cargill, his frequent creative partner with whom he worked on the Sinister movies and the first Doctor Strange movie. The duo were previously attached to return to co-write and direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness before departing due to creative differences with Marvel Studios and putting their focus into The Black Phone.
The Black Phone centers on Finney, a young teen living in a quiet Denver suburb in the '70s being terrorized by a serial child abductor The Grabber who himself is kidnaped and finds a way to communicate with The Grabber's past victims and uses their advice to try and escape. Mason Thames and Ethan Hawke led the cast of The Black Phone alongside Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone and Miguel Cazarez Mora. Hitting theaters this past June, the horror-thriller scored largely favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike and was a box office smash, opening the door to a potential The Black Phone 2.
While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant for the first film's home media release, Scott Derrickson shared an update on The Black Phone 2. The co-writer/director confirmed he is working on a few ideas for a potential sequel, though noted he doesn't want to rush it and will only make the film if he is confident in it. See what Derrickson shared below:
“I’m chewing on some ideas. I'm not in a super big rush right now, but obviously, everybody wants there to be a sequel because the movie did so well. It's something I'd like to do, but of course, I'll only do it if it can be great.”
Derrickson had previously teased the possibility of The Black Phone 2 around the first film's theatrical release, saying author Joe Hill had pitched him a "wonderful idea" for the sequel and expressing his desire to do it if the movie performed well. Thanks to a combination of strong word of mouth from its Fantastic Fest premiere, reviews from critics and Derrickson's history in the horror genre, The Black Phone proved another smash hit for Blumhouse Productions, grossing over $150 million against its reported $18 million production budget. Though Derrickson's update on The Black Phone 2 may not be promising for those eager to see more of the world, his note that he'll only make the sequel if "it can be great" should come as a soothing assurance for those who feel a follow-up to be unnecessary.
Given the first film ended with the death of Ethan Hawke's The Grabber and Finney being reunited with his family, it's understandable some would question how The Black Phone 2 could continue the story and feel it should be a standalone title. With that said, Derrickson's prior tease that Hill came to him with the idea of what the sequel could be and his confirmation that he's not rushing to get it off the ground does indicate the potential for an exciting follow-up to the 2022 hit. In the meantime, audiences can catch up with the first Black Phone movie now on digital platforms and hitting shelves on Blu-ray and DVD on August 16.