Halloween 2018's cast features a lot of familiar faces - both from the original movie and new actors from elsewhere in the horror genre.

Picking up 40 years after the infamous Halloween night when Michael Myers escaped from a sanitarium and went on a killing spree, Halloween discards the messy continuity of the many sequels to John Carpenter's original film. The detail of Laurie Strode being Michael Myers' sister is written off as just a false rumor, but Laurie has nonetheless spent the last four decades preparing for Michael's return, and actually looking forward to it - so that she can kill him.

Related: Halloween 2018's After-Credits Sequel Tease Explained

Some of the faces in Halloween 2018 will likely be naggingly familiar - whether because they appeared in the original movie, or from other recent TV shows and movies. To help you figure out where you recognize the actors from, here's our guide to the cast and characters of Halloween.

James Jude Courtney & Nick Castle Play Michael Myers In Halloween 2018

Halloween 2018 Michael Myers Nick Castle

Of course, Michael Myers' most recognizable face is actually a distorted version of William Shatner's face. The original mask was a Captain James T. Kirk mask that was bought from a Halloween store for a couple of dollars, and then adjusted to be even creepier - and that design has reigned throughout the franchise. In Green's film, Michael Myers is played for the first time by stunt performer James Jude Courtney, who has had small roles in TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Babylon 5. Interestingly, however, Halloween also briefly brings back Nick Castle, the actor who originally played "The Shape" in the 1978 movie. Castle only appears in one brief scene in the new movie - when Laurie sees him through an upstairs window and he tilts his head. Castle is actually better known as a writer and director of films like The Last Starfighter and Escape From New York.

Halloween 2018's Returning Cast

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween 1978 2018

The most famous face in Halloween's cast is, of course, Jamie Lee Curtis, who once again returns to the role of Laurie Strode. Curtis was just 19 years old when filming John Carpenter's 1978 film, and previously reprised her role in Halloween II (1981), Halloween: H2O (1998), and Halloween: Resurrection (2002). She's also had an extensive acting career outside of the Halloween franchise, returning in Carpenter's The Fog and starring in comedy films like Freaky Friday and A Fish Called Wanda, as well as James Cameron's True Lies and recent TV series Scream Queens.

In addition to Curtis and Castle, another returning cast member that you may well have missed is P.J. Soles, who played Lynda in the original movie, and gets killed after mistakenly believing that Michael - wearing a sheet over his head to look like a ghost - is her boyfriend. In Green's movie, she has a minor role as a teacher. Soles also played gum-chewing mean girl Norma in Brian De Palma's Carrie, and more recently appeared in horror movie The Butterfly Room.

Related: What To Expect From The Halloween 2018 Sequel

Halloween 2018's New Cast

Halloween 2018 - Rhian Rees

The most recognizable member of Halloween's supporting cast is Judy Greer, who has become somewhat known for playing "best friend" roles in movies. Greer played Scott Lang's ex-wife, Maggie, in both of the Ant-Man movies, appeared as Karen (the sister of Bryce Dallas Howards' character) in Jurassic World, and was George Bluth's assistant/mistress Kitty Sanchez in Arrested Development. In Halloween she plays Laurie's daughter, Karen Strode.

Starring as Karen's daughter, Allyson Strode, is Andi Matichak. Matichak is a relative newcomer, but had a guest role as Brook Soso's former best friend Meadow in Orange is the New Black.

True crime investigators and podcasters Aaron Storey and Dana Haines are played by Jefferson Hall and Rhian Rees, respectively. Hall is most recognizable for his TV work, having played Lord Jon Arryn's squire, Hugh of the Vale, in a couple of episodes of Game of Thrones, and Torstein in the TV show Vikings. Rees is a newcomer, but recently appeared alongside Anthony Michael Hall in family drama The Lears.

Michael Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Sartain, is played by Haluk Bilginer. Bilginer is a Turkish actor best known for his roles in Turkish TV shows and films, but he did a stint in the '80s on British soap opera Eastenders, played Simonides in the recent remake of Ben-Hur, and appeared in Jon Stewart's true-life drama Rosewater.

Karen's husband, Ray, is played by Toby Huss, who can also be seen in Karyn Kusuma's new thriller Destroyer, and is probably best known for his role as John Bosworth in TV series Halt and Catch Fire.

Officer Hawkins is played by Will Patton, who is known for his roles in movies like Armageddon, Gone in Sixty Seconds, and The Punisher.

Allyson's boyfriend Cameron is played by Dylan Arnold, who can also be see in The Purge TV series and in Dee Rees' historical drama Mudbound.

Allyson's friends Oscar, Vicky and Dave are played by Drew Scheid, Virginia Gardner, and Miles Robbins, respectively. Scheid had a minor role as a drunk teen in season 2 of Stranger Things. Gardner plays Karolina Dean in Marvel TV series Runaways. Robbins appeared in Kay Cannon's recent sex comedy Blockers.

More: Halloween 2018's Ending Explained