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Summary

  • Trick 'r Treat 2, the long-awaited sequel to the cult horror film, is finally in active development with Legendary Pictures.
  • Director Michael Dougherty has confirmed that there are several drafts of the script for Trick 'r Treat 2.
  • The story of Trick 'r Treat 2 will feature Sam, the iconic pumpkin-headed trick-or-treater, facing off against a formidable nemesis.

Trick ‘r Treat 2 was first confirmed well over a decade ago, but an incredibly rocky development journey means the Trick 'r Treat sequel hasn't arrived despite there being clear interest. The 2007 anthology horror movie Trick ‘r Treat was created and directed by Michael Dougherty, and gained a cult following in the years that followed its direct-to-DVD release. Trick 'r Treat featured four interweaving stories set on Halloween night. The common element between the tales was Sam, a pumpkin-headed trick-or-treater who notably wore shabby orange pajamas and a burlap sack over his head. Sam would pop in to severely punish anyone who disrespected the traditions of Halloween.

The non-linear format of the storytelling later blended to reveal Sam's motivations. The highly-underrated horror film starring Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, and Dylan Baker is now a must-watch every Halloween season for many horror movie buffs. Discussions and demand for Trick ‘r Treat 2 has been consistent ever since the first movie arrived, and while the sequel was confirmed all the way back in 2009 it’s yet to materialize. However, thanks to reveals from Michael Dougherty, it appears development on Trick ‘r Treat 2 is finally picking up steam.

Most Recent Trick ‘R Treat 2 News

Sam stares menacingly ahead with his creepy button eyes in Trick 'r Treat

The most recent Trick ‘r Treat 2 news came on October 25, 2023. After over a year since last updating audiences with a tease that the Trick ‘r Treat sequel was in active development with Legendary Pictures, director Michael Dougherty shared several details on the script and story of Trick ‘r Treat 2 with Collider. Dougherty took the opportunity to confirm that the next Trick ‘r Treat movie is still in development, and that the story would make the wait worth it.

“The sequel [to Trick ‘r Treat] is in active development with Legendary," Dougherty reconfirmed in late 2023. "I'll go so far as to say that we have several drafts of a script." He then went on to give a rough outline of where he and Legendary are in the development of Trick ‘r Treat 2, both acknowledging that the wait has been long while also teasing it may be the final stretch of the journey — “So much of it is timing, and as you know, we just got out of a strike, so the next step, fingers crossed, would be looking at budget, of course, schedule, and all the rest."

Trick ‘R Treat 2 Is Confirmed

Sam with lollipop in Trick r Treat

Trick ‘r Treat 2 is confirmed, with Michael Dougherty announcing the new Trick ‘r Treat movie had entered development with Legendary Pictures in 2022. There had been well over a decade of discussions and reveals for over a decade prior to this, however, and the Trick ‘r Treat sequel has been in some form of development since only two years after the release of the first movie.

In 2009, Dougherty shared that he was in the early developments of writing Trick 'r Treat 2. A few years later, in 2013, Dougherty and Legendary Pictures officially announced that Trick 'r Treat 2 was happening much to the delight of fans. Unfortunately, development stalled in the years that followed, but Dougherty always claimed that he hoped for Trick 'r Treat 2 to be his next project. Dougherty next shared an update in a 2017 interview (via Comic Book Movie), revealing the possibility of Trick r’ Treat 2 ever happening was (at that point) up in the air:

"Listen, I'm intrigued by the idea and it's completely up to Legendary. It's been a few years since we initially talked about it and there's been a regime change since then. They still have the property and they love it and there's still a long line of merchandise and a continuing line of comic books based on the film but the ball is in their court. The moment they say they're interested and ready to go, we'll see if the stars align. At the same time, I think there's something to be said about not sequelising it. In a business that is obsessed with franchising and spinoffs and prequels and sequels, maybe there's something to be said about just leaving it alone."

Fast-forward to 2023 and the situation has again radically shifted. Despite Dougherty’s former pessimism, Trick ‘r Treat 2 is in active development at Legendary, and Dougherty’s creative team has almost finalized a script with the next stages being scheduling, budget, and other essential behind-the-scenes steps the project needs in order to finally get off the ground.

Trick ‘R Treat 2 Cast

Sam looms over a bed in Trick R Treat

The cast of Trick ‘r Treat 2 is unknown, as Legendary hasn’t started the casting process for the Trick ‘r Treat sequel yet. The first movie features a wide ensemble cast across its five stories. While many of the cast members were newcomers it did feature Brian Cox (Succession, Deadwood), Dylan Baker (Happiness, Thirteen Days) and Ana Paquin (True Blood, X-Men). Given how much of a cult classic the first movie became it’s highly possible the Trick ‘r Treat cast will have several well-known names attached to it, though until anything is revealed by Legendary or director Michael Dougherty it’s impossible to know who they could be.

Trick ‘R Treat 2 Story

Trick 'r Treat School Bus Scene

The Trick ‘r Treat 2 story is one of the most mysterious aspects of the upcoming Trick ‘r Treat sequel. Judging by comments from Michael Dougherty, the script is almost finalized though work on it is still ongoing as of later 2023. The only tease made by Dougherty so far is that Sam, the enforcer of Halloween traditions, will find himself with a nemesis when he returns in the new Trick ‘r Treat movie.

Speaking to Collider, Dougherty revealed “the working title is Trick ‘r Treat 2, and we came up with a proper nemesis for Sam that would give Brian Cox a run for his money”. Exactly what this means is unclear though the idea of Sam having his own villain is already an exciting prospect for the Trick ‘r Treat 2 narrative.