One of the biggest horror film surprises of last year is the popularity of “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” Sure, the film is based on an established IP, but it was really the power of Guillermo del Toro’s name being lent to the production and the strong filmmaking that was able to take this YA-focused horror film and turn it into a hit. And as you might expect when a studio realizes it has a potential franchise on its hands, a sequel is now in development.
According to Deadline, filmmaker André Øvredal, who helmed the original film, is set to return for the upcoming ‘Scary Stories 2,’ from the first film’s writers Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman. While the second film doesn’t have an official title or plot synopsis, we do know that Guillermo del Toro is also returning as a producer on the film, and he will also provide the story for the sequel.
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is based on the popular YA horror novels of the same name. The film was able to take a selection of these stories and adapt them to the big screen. The film told the story of a young girl in 1968 that turned events in her life into a series of scary stories. The book was then found decades later by a group of teenagers. Of course, that’s when everything gets turned into chaos.
Øvredal previously helmed the films “Trollhunter” and “The Autopsy of Jane Doe.” Both films were well received by genre fans, making him one of the more exciting new horror filmmakers working today. Earlier this year, he released the film “Mortal,” starring Nat Wolff. He’s also attached as the filmmaker behind the forthcoming film, “The Long Walk,” based on the Stephen King novel.
There’s no release date set for ‘Scary Stories 2,’ but considering the first modestly-budgeted film was able to earn more than $105 million worldwide last year, you can expect the studio to want to move pretty fast on the sequel.