So The Black Phone 2 is officially happening, but I’m worried it might just be a cash grab

I just saw the news that Universal officially greenlit The Black Phone 2, and Scott Derrickson confirmed he’s back to direct. Part of me is pumped because I genuinely loved the first one—the whole 70s vibe, the creepy mask, and Ethan Hawke’s performance was just net level. But another part of me is getting serious sequel aniety.

You know that feeling when a studio sees a movie make $160 million on a like $20 million budget and just has to make another one, consequences be damned The first movie wrapped up Finney’s story pretty neatly, right He defeated The Grabber, saved his sister Gwen, and got back to his life. So what’s the plan for the second one A new killer in a different town Or are they going to bring Ethan Hawke’s character back from the dead, which would feel like a major cheat. I read that Derrickson said this sequel will continue the story of the original characters, which has to mean Finney and Gwen.

But how does that work without undoing the perfect ending of the first film And let’s talk about the phones. The whole concept of the black phone and the dead victims talking to Finney was so unique and central to the first movie’s plot. If they just repeat that same gimmick with a new kid, it’s gonna feel tired.

Like, “oh look, another basement, another disconnected phone that rings. ” It needs a fresh angle to feel scary again, not just a rehash. Maybe the sequel could focus more on Gwen and her psychic dreams That could be a cool way to epand the universe without being a carbon copy.

I’m also curious about the timeline. The first one was set in 1978. Are we jumping ahead a few years to the 80s Seeing an older Finney, maybe in high school, still traumatized but having to face a new supernatural threat That could be interesting if it’s handled with care.

But the pressure is on. The surprise success of the first one means epectations are sky-high. Honestly, my biggest fear is that they’ll just try to make it bigger and more violent, and lose the heart that made the original so good.

It wasn’t just a slasher; it was a story about sibling love and resilience. If the sequel forgets that, it’ll just be another forgettable horror sequel in a sea of them. What do you guys think Are you ecited, or are you with me on the skepticism What would you want to see in a Black Phone 2 that wouldn’t ruin the legacy of the first film