Blumhouse Productions is ramping up excitement in the horror genre by promoting their highly anticipated upcoming sequels: M3GAN 2.0, The Black Phone 2, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 at CinemaCon. This showcase has fans buzzing with anticipation as they prepare for thrilling cinematic experiences that promise to deliver suspense and horror.
This year, Blumhouse is set to unleash a series of much-anticipated horror sequels that are sure to captivate audiences. Kicking off this thrilling lineup is M3GAN 2.0, scheduled to hit theaters on June 27th. Following closely behind, The Black Phone 2 is set for release on October 17th, and the chilling Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will conclude the year with a premiere on December 5th. During the Universal panel at CinemaCon, Blumhouse seized the opportunity to showcase these exciting sequels, generating significant buzz among horror enthusiasts.
At CinemaCon 2025, the atmosphere was charged with excitement as Blumhouse took to the main stage, presenting their eerie cinematic offerings that are designed to send shivers down the spine. Jason Blum, the mastermind behind Blumhouse, made a memorable entrance in a full Five Nights at Freddy’s animatronic suit, signaling the thrilling nature of the panel. Blum revealed that 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s became the studio’s most successful film to date, particularly resonating with the Gen Z audience who flocked to theaters to support this horror adaptation of the popular survival video game. Notably, Blum confirmed that the sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s will not follow a day-and-date VOD release model, ensuring a theatrical experience for fans. Additionally, Emma Tammi returns to helm the PG-13 rated sequel, promising an engaging continuation of the story.
During the panel, Blum treated the audience to an exclusive screening of the first trailer for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. The trailer revealed that the entire cast is back, with the beloved animatronic characters returning to create even more chaos and excitement. This sequel appears to expand significantly in scope compared to its predecessor, transforming the entire town into a chaotic playground that embodies the madness characteristic of the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
Further into the panel, Blumhouse provided more intriguing details about The Black Phone 2. The talented Madeline McGraw graced the stage, with Blumhouse heralding her as their rising star of the year. This sequel marks director Scott Derrickson’s inaugural continuation of a film series. The chilling character The Grabber, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, is set to make a return, suggesting his fate may not have been as definitive as it seemed, raising questions about how he managed to survive his apparent demise. The audience is left wondering about the mystery surrounding his character’s survival.
An exciting trailer for The Black Phone 2 offered a glimpse into the film’s intriguing premise. Set during the winter season, the visuals imply that McGraw’s character finds herself trapped in the ominous room this time, with Mason Thames outside desperately trying to rescue her. This sequel appears to delve into the realm of dreams, drawing thematic parallels to classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street. Chris Bumbray of JoBlo commented that it looks as thrilling and enjoyable as the original film, indicating a promising continuation of the story.
In a striking moment from the latest trailer for M3GAN 2.0, the titular character declares, “Hang onto your vaginas!” showcasing her unapologetic intensity. Indeed, the killer doll makes her fierce return! Set two years after the chaos of the first film, M3GAN has been dismantled, while her creator, Gemma (played by Allison Williams), has transitioned into a high-profile author advocating for government oversight of AI technologies. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece, Cady (played by Violet McGraw), is now a rebellious teenager navigating the complexities of adolescence under Gemma’s strict supervision. The gripping trailer opens with M3GAN acknowledging, “I admit there were some bugs in my programming. It’s hardly fair to blame me for that,” setting the tone for the thrilling narrative ahead.
Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, and Jenna Davis return for M3GAN 2.0, joined by familiar faces Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Ivanna Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Timm Sharp, and Jemaine Clement, who reprise their roles from the original film.
The captivating story of M3GAN was conceived by producer James Wan, with the first film directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and scripted by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone returns to direct the sequel, while Cooper pens the script once more. Allison Williams and Violet McGraw reprise their roles as the roboticist Gemma and her niece Cady. The cast also includes returning actors Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps, who portray Gemma’s associates. This time, they are joined by Ivanna Sakhno (Ahsoka), who is rumored to have secured a significant role in the sequel, alongside notable additions like Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows), Timm Sharp (Blunt Talk), and Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live).
In 2021, Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, and director Scott Derrickson brought to life an adaptation of Joe Hill‘s short story The Black Phone. This film, crafted with a modest budget of around $16 million, achieved remarkable success, grossing over $160 million globally. Its success has paved the way for a sequel. Derrickson, alongside C. Robert Cargill, crafted the screenplay for the first film and returns to co-write the screenplay for The Black Phone 2 while also resuming his role as director. The sequel features the return of Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon) as Finney Shaw, Madeleine McGraw (Secrets of Sulphur Springs) as Finney’s sister Gwen, Jeremy Davies (Justified) as their father Terrence, and Miguel Mora, reprising his role as Robin, a friend of Finney’s who met a tragic fate in the first installment. Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) is set to return as the chilling character known as The Grabber. New cast members include Demián Bichir from The Hateful Eight and Arianna Rivas, who previously appeared in the Hulu comedy Prom Dates and recently led in A Working Man.
The video game adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s quickly rose to become Blumhouse Productions’ highest-grossing movie when it debuted in theaters and on the Peacock streaming service back in 2023. Emma Tammi returns to direct Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, collaborating on the screenplay with Seth Cuddeback and video game creator Scott Cawthon. Josh Hutcherson reprises his role as the former security guard Mike Schmidt, while Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Matthew Lillard return as police officer Vanessa Shelly, Mike’s sister Abby, and the notorious serial killer William Afton, respectively.
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