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Movie Review: ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’
Samara Weaving in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Opening in theaters on March 20th is ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come‘, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (aka Radio Silence) and starring Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, Nestor Carbonell, and David Cronenberg.
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Related Article: Samara Weaving and More Talk Sequel ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

‘Ready or Not’ was a breath of fresh air when it came out in 2019: directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (‘Scream’ and ‘Scream VI’), screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, and star Samara Weaving delivered a smart, subversive, often wickedly funny and unapologetically gory horror comedy that poked fun at wealth and marriage.

‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ reunites the same team and adds some more ingredients, including a new cast and an expanded in-movie mythology, occasionally yielding the same results. The movie is fun, although it takes a long time to get going and a lot of what worked the first time already seems familiar now.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

The new film literally opens as the first one ends, with a bloodied Grace Le Domas (Weaving) stumbling out of her in-laws’ burning estate, having survived a brutal game on her wedding day in which her new family must sacrifice her to a demon or face ruination and death. Grace (who immediately starts using her maiden name of MacCaullay again) is whisked to the hospital, where she’s met by her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton), who was called as her emergency contact.

Before the siblings can barely start airing grievances, however, they’re attacked (in a too-brief appearance from Kevin Durand); it turns out that the Le Domas family were part of a council of wealthy, powerful families who secretly rule the world thanks to their worship of Satan, and now that one of the families has been wiped out, the others have one night to kill Grace lest the same misfortune befall them. This time, however, Faith is caught up in the hunt, and the two sisters must face a violent onslaught by not one but four families, including the all-powerful Danforth clan.

(L to R) Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett on the set of ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

‘Ready or Not 2’ gets off to a creaky start: the entire first act is almost all exposition, as first Grace explains the plot of the first film to Faith, and then a smug, subtly amused Elijah Wood – as the council’s unnamed lawyer – lays down the complicated rules of the new game once Grace and Faith are captured (those rules, by the way, are bent or disregarded more than once as we go along). All that throat-clearing takes a long time and slows the pace to a crawl, only punctuated by the first attack on the sisters in the hospital.

Once the game’s afoot, the action picks up again and the first kill (death by industrial washing machine) is morbidly hilarious, thanks to Weaving and Newton’s reactions. Most of the would-be killers this time are barely sketched in as characters – save for the sinister brother-sister act of the Danforths, played by Shawn Hatosy (‘The Pitt’) and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ icon Sarah Michelle Gellar – which is a bit of a letdown from the first film: the dynamic there, as the Le Domas clan picked at each other while hunting Grace, offered a scathing critique of family that is missing from the new story.

(L to R): Kara Wooten, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

In one funny/not funny early sequence, the Danforth patriarch, played by legendary director David Cronenberg, picks up a bedside phone and mutters ‘Approve the ceasefire,’ while watching footage of a war zone on his TV. No sooner does he hang up then a ‘Breaking News’ banner announces the ceasefire. The idea that a small coterie of very rich, well-connected oligarchs runs the world – a sort of cross between the Illuminati and the High Table of the ‘John Wick’ films – is a prescient and all too timely one, but ‘Ready or Not 2’ more or less pays it lip service and moves on.

The film really shines brightest and comes fully alive when the MacCaullay sisters fight, claw, shoot, and kick their way through the vast new labyrinth of a Danforth-owned resort, although it begins to feel repetitive down the stretch. A more acidic layer of social critique is largely absent this time amidst all the hardcore violence and gore. Two movies in, ‘Ready or Not’ is still entertaining but has lost that fresh feeling.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Nestor Carbonell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, and Nadeem Umar-Khitab in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Although their relationship follows a shopworn narrative arc (the sisters greet each other coldly, fight, make up, fight, make up again, become besties), Weaving and Newton (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’) make a great team and their interactions do keep ‘Ready or Not 2’ appealing. Weaving’s huge eyes and expressive features only emphasize her star presence, while Newton has undeniable charisma with a jaded undercurrent. Their chemistry makes the siblings’ relationship organic and well-earned.

Gellar and Hatosy make a solid brother-sister act as well, the former working a few extra layers into her character and the latter proving effective as a truly vicious, misogynistic psychopath (with all the money and power in the world at his fingertips). It’s great to see Cronenberg in his extended cameo, and the best of the supporting cast is the ever-efficient lawyer played by Elijah Wood, who’s clearly having himself a grand old time and wants to share it with us.

Final Thoughts

Elijah Wood in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Directors Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett have their strengths, including an eye for detail and a dark sense of humor, as well as their weaknesses, such as a tendency to edit their fight scenes a little too choppily. Their use of already tired tropes (such as scoring a violent confrontation with an incongruous pop ballad) is matched by their ability to concoct macabre but highly funny set pieces and some outrageous moments of gore.

But while ‘Ready or Not 2’ is moderately entertaining (especially in its second half), this sequel doesn’t sizzle like its predecessor despite doubling down on its protagonists, its world-building, and its undeniably hateful (and rich) villains. If the box office gross leads to a third film, the rules of the game may have to be changed before we’re ready (or not) to return.

‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’ receives a score of 70 out of 100.

(L to R): Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I
Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

What is the plot of ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’?

After surviving a brutal ‘game’ that resulted in the deaths of her husband and in-laws, Grace MacCaullay learns that the wealthiest and most influential families on Earth have to kill her in a new game or risk losing their power and fortunes. Grace refuses to participate at first – until her younger sister, Faith, is also marked for death.

Who is in the cast of ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’?
- Samara Weaving as Grace MacCaullay
- Kathryn Newton as Faith MacCaullay
- Sarah Michelle Gellar as Ursula Danforth
- Shawn Hatosy as Titus Danforth
- David Cronenberg as Chester Danforth
- Elijah Wood as the Lawyer
- Néstor Carbonell as Ignacio El Caido
- Kevin Durand as Bill Wilkinson
- Olivia Cheng as Wan Chen Xing
- Varun Saranga as Madhu Rajan
- Nadeem Umar-Khitab as Viraj Rajan
- Juan Pablo Romero as Felipe El Caido
- Masa Lizdek as Martina Rajan
- Maia Jae as Francesca El Caido
- Daniel Beirne as Kip Danforth
- Antony Hall as Wan Cheng Fu
‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’ opens in theaters on March 20th.

List of Movies Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett:
- ‘V/H/S‘ (2012)
- ‘Devil’s Due‘ (2014)
- ‘Southbound‘ (2016)
- ‘Ready or Not‘ (2019)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
- ‘Abigail‘ (2024)
- ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come‘ (2026)
Buy Tickets: ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett Movies on Amazon
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March 19, 2026
‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ Cast Interviews
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Opening in theaters on March 20th is ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come‘, which is a sequel to 2019’s ‘Ready or Not’ and was once again directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (‘Abigail’), who are also known as Radio Silence.
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Samara Weaving (‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’) returns to her role as Grace MacCaullay and is joined by new cast members Kathryn Newton (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’), Sarah Michelle Gellar (‘The Grudge’), Shawn Hatosy (‘The Pitt’), Elijah Wood (‘The Monkey’), Nestor Carbonell (‘The Dark Knight’), and David Cronenberg (‘The Fly’).

(L to R) Kathryn Newton, Samara Weaving, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood star in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Elijah Wood about their work on ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’, Weaving’s return to her character, what it was like for the other actors to join the franchise, the new characters, working with the directors, and what fans of the first movie can expect from the sequel.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Weaving, Newton, Gellar, and Wood, as well as directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.

Related Article: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood Board ‘Ready or Not: Here I Come’

(L to R) Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Moviefone: To begin with, Sarah Michelle, what would you say to fans sitting down right now in a movie theater to watch this sequel to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?

Sarah Michelle Gellar: I think that if you love the first one, you’re guaranteed to love the second. But I think the most important thing is to consider that, as popular as the first movie was, they did not rush out a sequel. Radio Silence waited until they knew they had the story and the cast. They really did it right. I think what we do in this one is we really honor the legacy of the first one and just continue that. I would say unhinged is a good word. There’s no setup in this one. You are in it.

Elijah Wood in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Elijah, what would you say to get people excited for this sequel?

Elijah Wood: I mean, get ready for a ride. Like the first film, when that game of Hide and Seek begins, it’s a ride until the end of the film and this movie is no different. The stakes are bigger. It does not let up once it starts. The thing is, it literally starts seconds after the first movie ends. You’re kind of off to the races very quickly.

Samara Weaving in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Samara, is there anything you would like to add to that?

Samara Weaving: Just buckle up. Get ready. It’s going to get weird.

MF: Kathryn, what would you say to prepare fans of the original for this sequel?

Kathryn Newton: I would say have fun and scream. It would be so cool if people walked out of this and saw it again and had something to say every time there was a kill, like a ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ situation. Can we come up with some kind of drinking game or something?

Kathryn Newton in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Samara, what was it like for you to return to this franchise and play this character again?

SW: It was a dream. I really didn’t think that I would be able to after the first one because it was such a weird movie and we didn’t know if people would like it or not, because we had such a great time making it. So, the fact that I got to do it again was just the best.

MF: What was it like having Kathryn as a partner this time around?

SW: Oh, so annoying. No, it was so great, because I would get a bit bored on the first one because it would just be me running around like a lunatic. So, it was great, I had a friend on set with this one.

(L to R): Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Kathryn, were you a fan of the first film and what has it been like for you to join this series?

KN: I was. I was really honored to be a part of it, and wanted to make the growing fan base, the cult fan base even happier, and hopefully they love it. Just to work with Matt and Tyler again was a dream. They’re the best.

(L to R) Nestor Carbonell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, and Nadeem Umar-Khitab in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Sarah Michelle, were you a fan of the first movie and what was it like for you to join the series and take on this role?

SMG: I had seen the original. I was a big fan. I got a call one day, and they said, “Have you ever seen ‘Ready or Not’?” I said, “Yeah, of course.” They said, “Well, they’re making a sequel.” I first thought, “Really? It’s been five or six years, and they usually rush them out.” I read it, and I absolutely loved it. Just from reading it on the page, you see it. I said, “I want to meet the boys immediately.” I met the guys on a Zoom the next day, and I think I said yes about a minute into the meeting. I think that’s about how long it took.

Elijah Wood in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Elijah, your character is very mysterious, and we don’t learn a lot about him during the movie. Did you create a backstory for yourself to understand where he comes from and his role in this world?

EW: No, but I certainly thought about it. Matt, Tyler, and I would talk about who this guy is, and where he’s come from. Is he immortal? Has he been around for centuries? Has he been doing this for a long time? Things like that that certainly kind of were in the fabric of what I was thinking for the character. Then my task was to deliver those rules in as interesting a way as I could.

(L to R) Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Kathryn, how would you describe the sibling relationship between Grace and Faith and where it stands when the movie starts?

KN: They’re on the rocks. They’ve got things to talk about and they’re not talking, they’re running. There’s no time to be talking. I keep trying to talk and it’s just causing issues. She’s like, “Stop it,” and I’m like, “No.” It’s a little bit of that. There’s a bit of drama, some life and death situations, and we still talk about boys.

MF: Elijah, can you talk about collaborating with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett on set?

EW: I mean, these guys are so lovely. They are such film fans, such fans of the creation of cinema, and have such enthusiasm that really extends to everybody on set, the cast included, and it is sort of an infectious feeling of we’re all in this thing creating together. It’s very collaborative. I love those guys. They’re lovely and it makes it fun. Listen, they’re very articulate as well, and very clear about what it is that they want. They barely looked stressed.

(L to R) Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett on the set of ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Sarah Michelle, what was your experience like working with Matt and Tyler?

SMG: They treated everyone with the same dignity from number one on the call sheet to every PA that was on the show. I think that it just makes for a really great experience. I mean, I don’t know how to describe it any better than that. There’s no guessing with them. They can always tell you what they want. You don’t have to drag it out of them. But more than anything, I would say that this was a hard shoot. We had very few days. It was a lot of nights. The weather was not cooperative. They never raised their voice, not once in the entire shoot, and that says a lot. Occasionally, at the end of the night, you could see them pacing, trying to figure out what shots they had to cut, but it was more their creative thought process.

MF: Samara, what was it like for you to work with Matt and Tyler again?

SM: They’re the greatest. They’ve become close friends of mine, so it was just any excuse to hang out with them. I’d take a bullet for them. They’re the best.

(L to R) Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett on the set of ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Finally, Kathryn, you worked with Matt and Tyler on ‘Abigail’, but what do you love about working with them as filmmakers?

KN: I think Matt and Tyler are the best audience. They love what they do, and I think they don’t ask much of you. Then when you give them something, they really see it and they really elevate it. I felt like on this movie, they really protected my performance because I did a lot of weird things that I didn’t know would work. Then the other thing they do, Matt specifically, I think because it was the second movie together, he knew things I was capable of that I didn’t. It was important to get the horror and the stakes of the movie. He had to make sure I was doing enough. He had to make sure I was being scared enough, or whatever it called for. So, he elevated my performance, and then they kept it together in the edit.

(L to R) Juan Pablo Romero, Nestor Carbonell, Varun Saranga, Maša Lizdek, Shawn Hatosy, Samara Weaving, Nadeem Umar-Khitab, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Daniel Beirne, Kathryn Newton, Antony Hall, and Olivia Cheng in ‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’. Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2026 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

What is the plot of ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’?

Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving), the sole survivor of a brutal “game” that resulted in the deaths of her husband and in-laws, learns that her victory comes with a price. Now, the wealthiest and most influential families on Earth must kill her in a new game – or risk losing their power and fortunes. Grace refuses to participate at first but is left with no choice when she learns that her younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), has also been marked for death and must protect her at all costs.

Who is in the cast of ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’?
- Samara Weaving as Grace MacCaullay
- Kathryn Newton as Faith MacCaullay
- Sarah Michelle Gellar as Ursula Danforth
- Shawn Hatosy as Titus Danforth
- David Cronenberg as Chester Danforth
- Elijah Wood as The Lawyer
- Néstor Carbonell as Ignacio El Caido
- Kevin Durand as Bill Wilkinson
- Olivia Cheng as Wan Chen Xing
- Varun Saranga as Madhu Rajan
- Nadeem Umar-Khitab as Viraj Rajan
- Juan Pablo Romero as Felipe El Caido
- Masa Lizdek as Martina Rajan
- Maia Jae as Francesca El Caido
- Daniel Beirne as Kip Danforth
- Antony Hall as Wan Cheng Fu
‘Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come’ opens in theaters on March 20th.

List of Movies Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett:
- ‘V/H/S‘ (2012)
- ‘Devil’s Due‘ (2014)
- ‘Southbound‘ (2016)
- ‘Ready or Not‘ (2019)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
- ‘Abigail‘ (2024)
- ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come‘ (2026)
Buy Tickets: ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett Movies on Amazon
March 18, 2026
First Images from ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ Online
(L to R) Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:
- The first images from ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ are online.
- Samara Weaving returns, with Kathryn Newton playing her estranged sister.
- Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are once again in the director’s chair.
When the first sequel to magician heist movie ‘Now You See Me’ came out, there was widespread dismay that it wasn’t called ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t.’ While this year’s threequel has finally employed that title, the filmmakers behind 2019’s horror comedy thriller ‘Ready or Not’ are not wasting their own opportunity for a title pun.

Yes, ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ is on the way next year and the first images are online.
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Returning from the original (since, er, she was pretty much the only one to survive), is Samara Weaving’s Grace, still fighting for her life (see more on the story below).

And the Radio Silence collective, including directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, are also all back.

Related Article: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood Board ‘Ready or Not: Here I Come’

What was the story of ‘Ready or Not’?

(L to R: Juan Pablo Romero, Nestor Carbonell, Varun Saranga, Maša Lizdek, Shawn Hatosy, Samara Weaving, Nadeem Umar-Khitab, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Daniel Beirne, Kathryn Newton, Antony Hall, and Olivia Cheng in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

The original movie followed a young bride (Weaving’s Grace) as she joined her new husband’s (Mark O’Brien) rich, eccentric family (which included Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell) in a time-honored tradition that turned into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.

Writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy returned to craft the chaos, and we have an official synopsis: Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game –– and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side.

Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.

New to the ensemble besides Newton for this one are Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg and Kevin Durand.

‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’: the filmmakers speak

(L to R): Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett are clearly happy to be back at it:

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the world of ‘Ready or Not’ with Samara, Brett, Avery and Andrew and so excited to work with this immensely talented cast and the incredible artists across every department joining the ‘Ready or Not’ family.”

When will ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ be in theaters?

(L to R): Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

The movie has already planted a flag –– let’s be honest, more likely a pickaxe –– in an April 10, 2026 release date.

(L to R): Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

List of Elijah Wood Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Back to the Future Part II‘ (1989)
- ‘Internal Affairs‘ (1990)
- ‘Avalon‘ (1990)
- ‘Radio Flyer‘ (1992)
- ‘Forever Young‘ (1992)
- ‘The Good Son‘ (1993)
- ‘Flipper‘ (1996)
- ‘The Ice Storm‘ (1997)
- ‘Deep Impact‘ (1998)
- ‘The Faculty‘ (1998)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring‘ (2001)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers‘ (2002)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King‘ (2003)
- ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind‘ (2004)
- ‘Sin City‘ (2005)
- ‘Everything Is Illuminated‘ (2005)
- ‘Green Street Hooligans‘ (2006)
- ‘Happy Feet‘ (2006)
- ‘Wilfred‘ (2007 – 2011)
- ‘Happy Feet Two‘ (2011)
- ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘ (2012)
- ‘The Last Witch Hunter‘ (2015)
- ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency‘ (2016 – 2017)
- ‘Come to Daddy‘ (2020)
- ‘Yellowjackets‘ (2021 – 2023)
- ‘Bookworm‘ (2024)
- ‘The Monkey‘ (2025)
Buy Elijah Wood Movies On Amazon
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December 3, 2025
Sarah Michelle Gellar & Elijah Wood Join ‘Ready or Not’ Sequel
(Left) Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television. (Right) Elijah Wood in ‘Bookworm’. Photo: Rialto Distribution.

Preview:
- Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood have boarded the ‘Ready or Not’ sequel.
- Samara Weaving is returning to star.
- The movie is about to start shooting.
The cameras are about to roll on the follow-up to 2019 horror hit ‘Ready or Not,’ which means that directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett –– part of the filmmaking collective known as Radio Silence alongside producers Justin Martinez and Chad Villella –– are getting ready to unleash the chaos of games-turned-deadly once again.
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Following the success of the original –– $6 million budget with more than $57 million at the box office worldwide, the sequel, which we now know is rather wonderfully titled ‘Ready or Not: Here I Come,’ is adding some cast members to join the established Samara Weaving (who will reprise the role of Grace from the original) and more recent addition Kathryn Newton.

And the new recruits should be familiar to anyone who enjoys genre titles: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood.

They’re not the only fresh faces signing up to work on the new movie: Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand (who, like Newton, worked with the directors on vampire romp ‘Abigail’) and directing legend/occasional actor David Cronenberg are rounding out the cast.

Related Article: Samara Weaving and Radio Silence Team Reuniting for ‘Ready or Not’ Sequel

What was the story of ‘Ready or Not’?

The cast of ‘Ready or Not’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The original movie followed a young bride (Weaving’s Grace) as she joined her new husband’s (Mark O’Brien) rich, eccentric family (which included Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell) in a time-honored tradition that turned into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.

Spoiler alert in case you didn’t see the film: Weaving’s character was just about the only person to make it out of the game alive.

Which means it’s hard to predict what will happen in the follow-up. Could there be previously unseen family members who come out of the woodwork to threaten Grace? Will she find herself in a different but equally dangerous weird life-threatening situation?

We can only guess at this point, but with writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy returning to craft the chaos, it’ll surely be just as lethal.

‘Ready or Not: Here I Come’: The filmmakers speak

Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett are clearly happy to be back at it:

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the world of ‘Ready or Not’ with Samara, Brett, Avery and Andrew and so excited to work with this immensely talented cast and the incredible artists across every department joining the ‘Ready or Not’ family.”

And here’s what Searchlight Pictures president Matthew Greenfield had to say:

“We’re beyond excited to make another film with the phenomenal Radio Silence. With ‘Ready or Not: Here I Come,’ we get to go on another ride with the amazing Samara Weaving, mix in awesome new voices and bring audiences a fresh take that’s every bit as twisted and fun as the first one. This is for those who’ve been waiting, and those who didn’t see it coming.”

Where else have we seen Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah wood?

(L to R) Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe in ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is no stranger to the world of sci-fi and fantasy, particularly on the small screen. She’s still best known for playing Buffy Summers, the main character of much-loved series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ and is an executive producer on the rebooted version of the show that is now in development.

Elsewhere on TV, she’s been seen in shows such as ‘Dexter: Original Sin,’ ‘Wolf Pack,’ ‘The Crazy Ones,’ ‘Ringer’ and ‘Buffy’ spin-off ‘Angel.’

Movie-wise, her credits include ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer,’ ‘Scream 2,’ ‘Small Soldiers,’ ‘Simply Irresistible,’ ‘Cruel Intentions,’ the American version of ‘The Grudge’ and as Daphne in the two live-action ‘Scooby Doo’ movies.

She’s attached to star in and produce a new TV series called ‘Bad Summer People.’

(L to R) Laura Mennell, Elijah Wood and Theo James in ‘The Monkey’. Photo: Neon.

As for Wood, he got his start as a child actor, making his movie debut in ‘Back to the Future Part II.’

Since then, he’s been seen in the likes of ‘Forever Young,’ ‘Flipper,’ ‘The Ice Storm,’ ‘Deep Impact,’ ‘The Faculty,’ ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,’ ‘Sin City,’ ‘The Monkey‘ and voiced Mumble in the two ‘Happy Feet’ movies.

But far and away on his resume in terms of impact is his work on Peter Jackson’s three giant ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies, in which he played Frodo Baggins.

Since then, he’s also become something of a producer, helping filmmakers get their work on screens.

His TV credits include ‘Yellowjackets,’ ‘Star Wars: Resistance,’ ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency,’ ‘Wilfred’ and ‘Frasier.’

When will ‘Ready or Not: Here I Come’ be in theaters?

Backers Searchlight Pictures haven’t yet announced when the sequel will be causing chaos on screens, but with production gearing up, a 2026 release surely isn’t out of the question.

Elijah Wood in ‘Bookworm’. Photo: Rialto Distribution.

List of Elijah Wood Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Back to the Future Part II‘ (1989)
- ‘Internal Affairs‘ (1990)
- ‘Avalon‘ (1990)
- ‘Radio Flyer‘ (1992)
- ‘Forever Young‘ (1992)
- ‘The Good Son‘ (1993)
- ‘Flipper‘ (1996)
- ‘The Ice Storm‘ (1997)
- ‘Deep Impact‘ (1998)
- ‘The Faculty‘ (1998)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring‘ (2001)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers‘ (2002)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King‘ (2003)
- ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind‘ (2004)
- ‘Sin City‘ (2005)
- ‘Everything Is Illuminated‘ (2005)
- ‘Green Street Hooligans‘ (2006)
- ‘Happy Feet‘ (2006)
- ‘Wilfred‘ (2007 – 2011)
- ‘Happy Feet Two‘ (2011)
- ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘ (2012)
- ‘The Last Witch Hunter‘ (2015)
- ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency‘ (2016 – 2017)
- ‘Come to Daddy‘ (2020)
- ‘Yellowjackets‘ (2021 – 2023)
- ‘Bookworm‘ (2024)
- ‘The Monkey‘ (2025)
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April 25, 2025
Kathryn Newton Joins ‘Ready or Not’ Sequel
Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 Focus Features LLC.

Preview:
- Kathryn Newton will be part of the cast for ‘Ready or Not 2.’
- Samara Weaving is returning to star.
- Newton previously worked with the ‘Ready’ directing duo on ‘Abigail.’
As they prepare to make the follow-up to 2019 horror hit ‘Ready or Not’ (following a detour into cranking out a couple of ‘Scream’ entries and last year’s vamp-tastic ‘Abigail’) directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett –– part of the filmmaking collective known as Radio Silence alongside producers Justin Martinez and Chad Villella –– are drawing from the cast of one of their previous outings to appear alongside returning star Samara Weaving.
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In this case, their choice per Deadline is Kathryn Newton, who played Sammy, one of the crooks employed to kidnap a young girl in ‘Abigail,’ unaware that their charge is in, fact, a bloodsucker looking to stalk and snack on them all as her next meal.

Given that this marks a reunion for the directors and two of their previous stars, should ‘Scream’ alumni start clearing their schedule? We’ll have to wait and see on that front.

Related Article: Samara Weaving and Radio Silence Team Reuniting for ‘Ready or Not’ Sequel

What was the story of ‘Ready or Not’?

The cast of ‘Ready or Not’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The original movie followed a young bride (Weaving) as she joined her new husband’s (Mark O’Brien) rich, eccentric family (which included Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell) in a time-honored tradition that turned into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.

Spoiler alert in case you didn’t see the film: Weaving’s Grace was just about the only person to make it out of the game alive.

Which means it’s hard to predict what will happen in the follow-up. Could there be previously unseen family members who come out of the woodwork to threaten Grace? Will she find herself in a different but equally dangerous weird life-threatening situation?

We can only guess at this point, but with writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy returning to craft the chaos, it’ll surely be just as lethal.

Where else have we seen Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton?

Samara Weaving in ‘Ready or Not’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Weaving, in addition to her star-making turn in the first ‘Ready’ movie, has also been seen in the big screen likes of ‘Mystery Road,’ ‘Mayhem,’ ‘Monster Trucks,’ ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,’ ‘Guns Akimbo’ and ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music.’

She also had a quick cameo in the ‘Ready’ directors ‘Scream VI’ as one of the early victims of that movie’s Ghostface killer.

On TV, she’s appeared in shows such as ‘Ash vs Evil Dead,’ ‘SMILF,’ ‘No Activity’ and ‘Nine Perfect Strangers.’

She’ll next be seen in stalker thriller comedy ‘Borderline’ opposite Ray Nicholson, playing a 1990s pop star who receives some unwanted attention from an obsessed fan. Along with that, she’s also worked on TV series ‘Little Sky’ and action comedy movie ‘Eenie Meanie.’

(L to R) Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.

As for Newton, she got her start on soap opera ‘All My Children’ and has movies including ‘Bad Teacher,’ ‘Lady Bird,’ ‘Blockers,’ ‘Pokémon: Detective Pikachu,’ ‘Freaky’ and taking over the role of Cassie Lang, Scott Lang’s daughter, in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’

More recently, she scored the lead in ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ and, as previously mentioned, appeared in ‘Abigail.’ Her other TV credits include ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘Halt and Catch Fire.’

Coming up is horror thriller movie ‘DeamQuil’ and crime drama ‘Lips Like Sugar.’

And coincidentally, this isn’t the first time the pair will appear in the same movie as Newton was also part of the cast for ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.’

When will ‘Ready or Not 2’ be in theaters?

Searchlight has yet to confirm a release date for the movie, but with filming clearly set for this year, we wouldn’t be surprised if it emerged early in 2026.

Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

List of Movies Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett:
- ‘V/H/S‘ (2012)
- ‘Devil’s Due‘ (2014)
- ‘Southbound‘ (2016)
- ‘Ready or Not‘ (2019)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
- ‘Abigail‘ (2024)
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March 7, 2025
‘Here After’ Exclusive Interview: Connie Britton
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Opening in select theaters and on digital September 13th is the new thriller ‘Here After’, which was directed by Robert Salerno (‘Smile’) and stars Connie Britton (‘The White Lotus’ and ‘Friday Night Lights’), Freya Hannan-Mills (‘The Cuckoo’), and Giovanni Cirfiera (‘Ford v Ferrari’).

Related Article: John Boyega and Nicole Beharie Talk True Story ‘Breaking’

Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Connie Britton about her work on ‘Here After’, her first reaction to the screenplay, her character’s guilt, her relationship with her daughter, working with actress Freya Hannan-Mills, the tone of the movie, and collaborating with director Robert Salerno on set, as well as teasing her other upcoming movie, the true story ‘Winner’, which also opens in theaters on September 13th.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Britton and director Robert Salerno.

Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to be part of this project?

Connie Britton: Well, I’ve joked about this before because of course, doing ‘American Horror Story’ all those years ago, I’ve always been afraid of horror movies. That’s not been my go-to genre, but I was really moved by this story when I read it, and it really took me by surprise, and it tapped into some very maternal feelings that I experience in my life and in kind of this supernatural way. But for me, whenever I read a script, I always really look for something that taps into my own humanity because I feel like if I’m experiencing that now in this way, my hope is that then I can help an audience tap into that thing too. So, that’s what it felt like when I first read the script. I just kind of felt really moved and the experience of what it feels like to be a mother and the unknown, but in a way that I hadn’t quite seen before.

MF: Can you talk about the guilt that Claire is dealing with and what she’s willing to do to protect her daughter?

CB: Well, I mom guilt is a thing. It’s real. Parent guilt is real. We’re not going to just restrict it to moms. I’ve done enough therapy to know that guilt is never productive, so it’s kind of is something that plagues us. So, for me, it was interesting to explore how she’s guilty because there was a consequence to something that was a result of her own emotional pain. There was a deeply emotionally painful consequence to that. So, I really was trying to explore my own guilt and what it would feel like if that was ratcheted up to here and heightened to a point where I couldn’t see the world in any other way other than through the filter of that guilt. It was interesting. As an actor, I always want to try to learn something from the roles that I play and learn something about myself. Sometimes you must look at things that you don’t really want to look at all the time every day. Guilt is certainly one of them. So, it was a challenging exploration, but also a beneficial one. I think it helped me understand the places where I feel guilty and where it’s not beneficial for me. Again, I hope that for audiences who watch it too.

(L to R) Freya Hannan-Mills and Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

MF: Can you talk about Claire’s relationship with Robin and what it was like working with actress Freya Hannan-Mills?

CB: Well, Freya is so wonderful and just a wonderful human being and a wonderful actress and amazing, transformative in this part. She made it easy, and instinctively she’s somebody that you want to be maternal toward, but we talked a lot about her relationship with her mother, and she’s just a gentle soul. So, it felt very much, like I could just get right into that feeling of I love this being. So yeah, it was wonderful to work with her.

MF: Can you talk about the film’s tone, and as an actress, is that something you are concerned with, or do you just leave that up to the director?

CB: Tone is really one of the most important things always because tone is such a pivotal part of telling the story. So, because if you tell a story with a more humorous tone, it’s going to come across completely differently than if you tell a story with a more surreal or moody tone. So yeah, as we were making the movie, I was constantly trying to understand what my role was between grounding the movie, but also understanding that there was this supernatural element to it and trying to find the balance between worlds. But I always want to try to ground any character that I play as much as I can, because I think that that allows our audience then to open into whatever worlds we’re creating even more effectively because the audience feels grounded as well. But that’s always a balancing act, and just to find out how, you’re firmly on the ground and then how far you can fly.

(L to R) Giovanni Cirfiera, Alessandro Bressanello and Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

MF: What was it like collaborating with veteran producer Robert Salerno on his first feature film as a director?

CB: It’s always exciting working with someone who is directing the original vision from the script. It’s exciting because, and we talked about it a lot, he really had invested so much of himself into the vision of this story. Then it’s exciting to see that unfold. In Bob’s case, he is a veteran producer, but also, he was directing a movie for the first time in Italy. We had these incredible Italian crews that I just adored so much. But it was interesting watching the challenges that came up for him around that, and being a first-time director, and it just felt like we kind of were all in these beautiful Roman trenches together, really learning how to do this in that beautiful landscape with the wonderful crews that we got to work with.

Director Susanna Fogel’s ‘Winner’. Photo: Vertical.

MF: Finally, in addition to ‘Here After’, you also have the film ‘Winner’ opening on the same day. What can you tell us about that movie and the character you play?

CB: Well, I mean, that is an incredible story. I don’t know if you know the story of Reality Winner or not, but it’s a true story about a young woman named Reality Winner who during the 2016, when Trump was elected, basically she was working for the NSA, and she discovered that the Russians had interfered with our elections. So, because she felt like people needed to know this, she anonymously sent her discovery to a to a media site, and she was arrested by the FBI. She went through a terrible prison ordeal and is still enduring a lot of the repercussions of that. Anyway, it’s an amazing story of this very young woman. I play her mother who helped try to give her a voice because she was given one of the worst sentences, we’ve ever given to someone who’s basically been accused of being a traitor to the country. So, it’s an interesting philosophical story, and hers is a story of courage. You learn a lot about it, but Susanna Fogel (‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’), the director tells it almost as a black comedy, which speaking of tone, it’s kind of a harrowing story, but seen through the lens of black comedy, it makes it more accessible and relatable as well.
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What is the plot of ‘Here After’?

Claire Hiller (Connie Britton) is overjoyed when her daughter Robin (Freya Hannan-Mills) is miraculously revived after a fatal accident. But her relief turns to dread as Claire notices changes in her daughter, suspecting something dark has followed her back from the brink of death.

Who is in the cast of ‘Here After’?
- Connie Britton as Claire
- Freya Hannan-Mills as Robin
- Giovanni Cirfiera as Luca
- Tommaso Basili as Dr. Ben Romano
(L to R) Giovanni Cirfiera and Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Other Connie Britton Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Brothers McMullen‘ (1995)
- ‘Spin City‘ (1996 – 2002)
- ‘The West Wing‘ (1999 – 2006)
- ‘The Fighting Fitzgeralds‘ (2001)
- ‘24‘ (2001 – 2014)
- ‘Friday Night Lights‘ (2004)
- ‘Friday Night Lights‘ (2006 – 2011)
- ‘Women in Trouble‘ (2009)
- ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street‘ (2010)
- ‘American Horror Story‘ (2011 – 2024)
- ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World‘ (2012)
- ‘The Fitzgerald Family Christmas‘ (2012)
- ‘Nashville‘ (2012 – 2018)
- ‘The To Do List‘ (2013)
- ‘This Is Where I Leave You‘ (2014)
- ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl‘ (2015)
- ‘American Ultra‘ (2015)
- ‘American Crime Story‘ (2016 – 2021)
- ‘Professor Marston and the Wonder Women‘ (2017)
- ‘9-1-1‘ (2018 – 2024)
- ‘Dirty John‘ (2018 – 2020)
- ‘The Mustang‘ (2019)
- ‘Bombshell‘ (2019)
- ‘Promising Young Woman‘ (2020)
- ‘The White Lotus‘ (2021 – 2022)
- ‘Joe Bell‘ (2021)
- ‘Breaking‘ (2022)
- ‘Luckiest Girl Alive‘ (2022)
- ‘Dear Edward‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Here After’ Movie Showtimes

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September 13, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Abigail’
Alisha Weir as Abigail in ‘Abigail,’ directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Photo: Universal Pictures.

In theaters on Friday, April 19th, ‘Abigail’ finds Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, directors of ‘Ready or Not’ and the two most recent ‘Scream’ movies.

Here, freed from the constrictions of working within a franchise framework, they get back to their roots for a funny, bloody tale of kidnappers who target the wrong person with violent results.

Related Article: Corey Hawkins Talks ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ and Director André Øvredal

Does ‘Abigail’ Draw Entertaining Blood?

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Are you a hemophobe? In that case, you should probably avoid ‘Abigail’, since it features more blood on screen than the original ‘Carrie’. There are buckets of the red stuff, whether from someone vomiting it up, a pit of bodies floating in it, or… well, the last one would be a spoiler.

Truth be told, though, we doubt anyone with that condition would be happily sitting down for a horror movie anyway, since they usually tend to include plenty of blood. And there is much more to recommend ‘Abigail’ beyond all of that, plenty of positives rather than just the B-positive.

Because this latest offering from the Radio Silence team is a funny, violent, crazy and occasionally audacious terror offering.

Script and Direction

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

While the script originated with Stephen Shields, who came up with the basic concept and many of the fun ideas littering the story, it has since been through the hands of regular Radio Silence scriptwriter Guy Busick, who has worked with the directors on movies such as ‘Ready or Not’ and the two ‘Scream’ entries they made.

It’s the latter to which ‘Abigail’ feels more closely aligned –– like that thriller, which sees a young woman marrying into a wealthy family who discovers that new additions are challenged to a lethal game that finds her running for her life through a creepy mansion with the armed, privileged spawn tracking her down.

Here, the focus is on a group of criminals who kidnap a young girl, looking to squeeze her rich father for a ransom, only to discover that she is most definitely not what she appears. It’s given away in all the marketing and the trailer, so we’re really not spoiling anything here: she’s a vampire, and the criminals have all been lured to the creepy mansion she shares with her father to serve as her latest playthings/snack food.

(From left) Dan Stevens, director Tyler Gillett, Melissa Barrera and director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin on the set of ‘Abigail.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

The script is light on its feet, completely understanding that this is a fun, pulpy B-movie with the scares and the laughs perfectly calibrated. The criminal crew, all brought to life by an engaging gang of accomplished actors (more on them below), bicker and spar amusingly, and when they started to be picked off one by one, you’re actually engaged in their fate (even if you’re happy for most of them to meet a bloody end).

On the directing front, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett know exactly how to pull of something like this –– ‘Ready or Not’ certainly proved it. They pitch the tone perfectly, dialing up the madness when needed and slowing things down to let the movie breathe. There are moments when it starts to lull, and those are issues (such as one or two moments where the survival of one of the characters stretches credulity), but those are few and far between.

‘Abigail’: Performances

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

The Radio Silence team has a knack for casting, and ‘Abigail’ is no exception.

First off, we have the title character herself. Alisha Weir is best known (so far –– this young actor surely has a bright future ahead) as the main character in ‘Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical’, but here she throws herself into the unhinged, creepy character of an ancient, undead creature who just happens to look like an innocent young girl. She’s a delight, able to pivot on a whim between seeming scared and cunningly tracking down her prey.

It doesn’t hurt that Abigail loves to dance, channeling Weir’s own dance training for funny/scary sequences where she’s on the hunt for a victim. There are shades of M3GAN’s dance stylings here.

Melissa Barrera, one of the stars of the most recent two ‘Scream’ movies, is similarly superb as “Joey” (the criminal crew adopts the names of the Sinatra Rat Pack so as not to learn each other’s real monikers in case they are nabbed by the authorities, which turns out to be the least of their worries). She’s the heart of the film, and the emotional core you actually want to have survive.

As for the rest? They’re different levels of cannon (or vampire) fodder, though all are well developed and well played.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Dan Stevens (Frank) gives off great grubby charm as a former cop who has turned to crime, all sarcastic asides and impatient attitude. Stevens is always watchable whether he’s being an absolute asshole or running for his life.

Kathryn Newton, as Sammy, is all kooky former-rich-girl-turned-hacker bubbliness, which soon turns to terror (and then something else). She really delivers on all those levels.

Kevin Durand is the hulking, less-than-smart Peter, who is the brawn of the group. He works perfectly in the role, the ideal balance of tough and vulnerable.

William Catlett is studied intensity as the former military man who is given the name “Rickles” (there’s a reason for that we won’t spoil) and doesn’t trust the others. Catlett brings energy and verve to the role even given the character’s gruff demeanor.

Finally, we have ‘Euphoria’s Angus Cloud as Dean, the actor (who died after filming the movie, and is memorialized in the end credits) making his slacker character his own, even if it’s a smaller role.

‘Abigail’: Final Thoughts

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

‘Abigail’ is a finely-tuned horror comedy that manages to do both well. The bickering team dynamic works and the vampire element is fantastic.

And, as we mentioned before, it’s a bloody good time at the movies.

‘Abigail’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Abigail’?

After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight.

In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

Who is in ‘Abigail’?
- Melissa Barrera as Joey
- Dan Stevens as Frank
- Kathryn Newton as Sammy
- William Catlett as Rickles
- Kevin Durand as Peter
- Angus Cloud as Dean
- Alisha Weir as Abigail
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Abigail:’
- ‘Dracula‘ (1931)
- ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula‘ (1992)
- ‘Interview with the Vampire‘ (1994)
- ‘Blade II‘ (2002)
- ‘Twilight‘ (2008)
- ‘Let Me In‘ (2010)
- ‘Dracula Untold‘ (2014)
- ‘Bones and All‘ (2022)
- ‘Morbius‘ (2022)
- ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter‘ (2023)
- ‘Renfield‘ (2023)
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April 20, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’
(L to R) Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Opening in theaters on February 9th is ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ starring Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, and Carla Gugino.

Related Article: Director Zelda Williams and Writer Diablo Cody Talk ‘Lisa Frankenstein’

Initial Thoughts

Appropriately enough, given its title, ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ is made up of parts sewn together from other, better movies: there’s a little ‘Edward Scissorhands’ in there, a seasoning of ‘Ginger Snaps,’ and even strands of screenwriter Diablo Cody’s own 2009 cult favorite, ‘Jennifer’s Body.’ But the messaging is confusing to say the least, the jokes miss the mark, and the direction – by first-timer Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams – falls flat.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the set of their film ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Mason Novick / ©Mason Novick

Following the death of her mom in a home invasion, Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) is forced to move to a new town and a new high school when her dad Dale (Joe Chrest) gets remarried rather quickly to high-strung nurse Janet (Carla Gugino). Despite the best efforts of her well-meaning but dim stepsister Taffy (Liza Soberano), Lisa is an outcast and loner at school, pining from afar for the editor of the literary magazine while she sits in a local graveyard and writes poetry at the grave of what appears to be a young 19th century nobleman.

After her drink is cruelly spiked by a mean girl at a party, Lisa wanders in a hallucinatory daze to the graveyard, where she wishes she could be with the young man buried in that grave. But instead of ending her own life, Lisa somehow manages to reanimate the young man himself (Cole Sprouse), whose decaying, fetid, walking corpse she stashes in her walk-in closet.

Horrified at first, Lisa soon realizes that she’s attracted to her Victorian dreamboat as she begins to clean the accumulated grue off him and get him nicer clothes. She also ascertains that he’s quite fond of her – and sensitive to her needs – in ways that soon lead Lisa and her Creature (who is never named) on a path of vengeance against those who have wronged her.

(L to R) Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Whatever happened to Diablo Cody? The writer of such sharp satires as ‘Juno,’ ‘Young Adult,’ and ‘Tully‘ has dipped with mixed results into the horror-comedy genre before with ‘Jennifer’s Body,’ but Cody is utterly flailing here. ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ plays like a first-draft screenplay that Cody had sitting on her hard drive for years, collecting digital dust, before sending it off with barely a glance at it. While Sprouse’s Creature actually gets a decent character arc (helped by the actor’s winning, wordless performance), Newton’s Lisa is literally all over the place, bouncing from pariah to school vamp within a single cut and even introducing a tired “loss of virginity” subplot late in the ballgame. The plot pushes the characters instead of the other way around, and aside from a few chuckles here and there, most of the jokes don’t land.

The ’80s setting arguably contributes nothing to the proceedings except some nostalgia-fueled costumes, set designs, and needle drops, and director Zelda Williams’ visual aesthetic – which also includes a clever, black-and-white animated title sequence – is on point. But Williams has no idea how to give this half-baked story any momentum, stringing out jokes from scene to scene with no sense of rhythm or pacing, and often leaving her actors adrift.

The final product plays – inadvertently, we assume – like a cheapo ‘80s direct-to-video horror knockoff, complete with some funny-not-funny gore and stiff staging, but armed with the kind of post-modern self-awareness that only makes its flaws stand out more.

An Appealing Cast on Paper

(L to R) Liza Soberano stars as Taffy and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Kathryn Newton has distinguished herself as a young actor to watch with film and TV roles in ‘Blockers,’ ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Freaky,’ and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ the latter of which introduced her as fledgling superhero and future Young Avenger Cassie Lang. But while the 26-year-old Newton effectively embodies a high school student here, the script gives her nothing else to work with. Her character’s motivations spin on a dime, buffeted by whatever the script requires, and giving us little with which to empathize with Lisa’s plight(s).

We’ll confess to not knowing Cole Sprouse’s previous work as Jughead on ‘Riverdale,’ or in his earlier Disney Channel efforts. But in a completely non-verbal role, Sprouse delivers an odd appeal and makes effective use of his own physicality. His reanimated Victorian lad is, ironically, perhaps the best-written character in the movie, even if the circumstances of his resurrection are nonsensical. Sprouse manages to bring some dignity to a role that is, especially early on, relegated to rather gross throat noises and a heavy load of goopy prosthetics.

The rest of the cast doesn’t get much of a chance to stand out, although Liza Soberano as Taffy has a few moments where she does something more than just the usual bubble-brained cheerleader trope. We also have to give a shout-out to Carla Gugino, a terrific actor who is given a thankless task here as the stereotypical cruel stepmom. Gugino understands the assignment as always, but is again hampered by the one-dimensional aspect of her shrill character and deserves better.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows and Cole Sprouse as The Creature in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Aside from the appeal of both Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse – who are both severely hampered by the direction and writing – we can find little else to recommend about ‘Lisa Frankenstein.’ Diablo Cody’s script recycles elements of her work that she’s touched on before, but seems unpolished and unfinished. Director Zelda Williams, meanwhile, needs to focus less on clever imagery and more on making the characters and story come to life onscreen. This is a ‘Frankenstein’ monster that should be dispatched quickly and mercifully.

‘Lisa Frankenstein’ receives 3 out of 10 stars.
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What is the Plot of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?

In 1989, a misunderstood teenage goth girl named Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) reanimates a handsome corpse (Cole Sprouse) from the Victorian era during a lightning storm and starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams by using a broken tanning machine in her garage. After going through a playfully horrific transformation, the romantic duo embarks on a murderous journey to find true love, happiness, and a few missing body parts along the way.

Who is in the Cast of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?
- Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows
- Cole Sprouse as The Creature
- Liza Soberano as Taffy
- Henry Eikenberry as Michael Trent
- Joe Chrest as Dale
- Carla Gugino as Janet
Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Lisa Frankenstein’:
- ‘Frankenstein‘ (1931)
- ‘The Bride of Frankenstein‘ (1935)
- ‘Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein‘ (1948)
- ‘Young Frankenstein‘ (1974)
- ‘Weird Science‘ (1985)
- ‘Edward Scissorhands‘ (1990)
- ‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein‘ (1994)
- ‘Jennifer’s Body‘ (2009)
- ‘I, Frankenstein‘ (2014)
- ‘Victor Frankenstein‘ (2015)
- ‘The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster‘ (2023)
- ‘Poor Things‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Frankenstein’ Movies On Amazon
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February 9, 2024
‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Interview: Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody
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Opening in theaters on February 9th is the new horror comedy ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ which was written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody (‘Juno’), directed by Zelda Williams (‘Shrimp’), and stars Kathryn Newton (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’).

(L to R) Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody talk ‘Lisa Frankenstein.’

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody about their work on ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ developing the screenplay, the themes Williams wanted to explore as a filmmaker, casting Kathryn Newton, and their experience working together on the project.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

(L to R) Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the set of their film ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Mason Novick / ©Mason Novick

Moviefone: To begin with, Diablo, can you talk about developing the screenplay and is it true that you took inspiration from 80’s movies like ‘Weird Science’?

Diablo Cody: That is right. I had always been interested in the Frankenstein myth and particularly the idea of telling it from a female perspective of sort of creating the perfect guy. ‘Weird Science’ had a real impact on me as a child because of the idea of these two guys sitting and creating the perfect woman. I remember thinking to myself, “What does the other side of that look like?” So, I wrote this. I had always had the seed of this movie germinating inside of me. But then when the pandemic hit in 2020, I desperately needed to escape, as did many of us. So, at night, I would dive into the script and get to be in that world, and it was a nice escape for me.

MF: Zelda, what was your first reaction to Diablo’s screenplay and what were some of the themes you were excited to explore as a filmmaker?

Zelda Williams: I mean, surprise and joy. Because also the reason I got the script, they had completely buried the lead that it was from her. So, I got this, I opened my email, and I was like, “Diablo Cody, what on Earth?” and opened it. I read it so fast and responded to her so quickly. I think I was most excited about the tonal mashup with the violence, the camp and love being this central theme to it. It was so nice to see all of that together. Whereas usually I would be very much into that, even alone. But all of them in one script is a rare and wonderful delicacy.

Related Article: Kathryn Newton Talks Playing Cassie Lang in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

MF: Can you talk about casting Kathryn Newton and what it was like to collaborate with her on this project?

ZW: Oh, I was so excited when she came along. I’d seen ‘Freaky,’ but I hadn’t seen ‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.’ Then I watched that, and I just found this incredible depth of character but also willingness. She’s so fearless, and comedy does really require that. It requires you to be willing to look silly and to do ridiculous things. I’ve never met someone, especially in her age range, that at that time was so excited to be that way. She tackled it 110% every single day.

MF: Diablo, what was your experience like working with Zelda on this movie?

DC: It’s the best. I mean, Zelda’s the best. I have been impressed with her since the day I met her. I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to have a lot of great collaborations with great directors, but this is up there. So, I feel really just fortunate and I’m glad that I entrusted my baby to her.

(L to R) Cinematographer Paula Huidobro and director Zelda Williams on the set of their film ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

MF: Finally, to follow up on something you just said, does it feel like you’re handing your baby over to someone else to parent when you give your script to another filmmaker to direct?

DC: Yes, that’s exactly what it feels like. Jonathan Demme once said to me, we were talking about the movie (‘Ricki and the Flash’) we were making, and he kept saying, “We literally are like parents where all we talk about is the baby.” I said, “Yup, that’s what it is, and it’s pretty great.”
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What is the Plot of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?

In 1989, a misunderstood teenage goth girl named Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) reanimates a handsome corpse (Cole Sprouse) from the Victorian era during a lightning storm and starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams by using a broken tanning machine in her garage. After going through a playfully horrific transformation, the romantic duo embarks on a murderous journey to find true love, happiness, and a few missing body parts along the way.

Who is in the Cast of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?
- Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows
- Cole Sprouse as The Creature
- Liza Soberano as Taffy
- Henry Eikenberry as Michael Trent
- Joe Chrest as Dale
- Carla Gugino as Janet
(L to R) Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Lisa Frankenstein’:
- ‘Frankenstein‘ (1931)
- ‘The Bride of Frankenstein‘ (1935)
- ‘Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein‘ (1948)
- ‘Young Frankenstein‘ (1974)
- ‘Weird Science‘ (1985)
- ‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein‘ (1994)
- ‘Jennifer’s Body‘ (2009)
- ‘I, Frankenstein‘ (2014)
- ‘Victor Frankenstein‘ (2015)
- ‘The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster‘ (2023)
- ‘Poor Things‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Frankenstein’ Movies On Amazon
February 7, 2024
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Interview: Katy O’Brian
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Now available on digital, and available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning May 16th is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ which is the third film in the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise, and the first movie to be released in Marvel’s Phase 5.

What is the Plot of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?’

Once again directed by Peyton Reed (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’), the plot ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ revolves around Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with Hope’s parents, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Lang’s daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), going on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pits them against a new and powerful villain, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
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Who is in the Cast of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?’

The cast of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ includes returning MCU actors Paul Rudd (‘Avengers: Endgame’) as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly (‘Real Steel’) as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp, Michelle Pfeiffer (‘Batman Returns’) as Janet Van Dyne/Wasp, Michael Douglas (‘Basic Instinct’) as Dr. Hank Pym, and Randall Park (‘Aquaman’) as Jimmy Woo, as well as Kathryn Newton (‘Freaky’) joining the series as an older version of Cassie Lang, Jonathan Majors (‘Creed III’) as Kang the Conqueror – a variant of his ‘Loki’ character He Who Remains, Katy O’Brian (‘The Mandalorian’) as Jentorra, and Bill Murray (‘Ghostbusters’) as Krylar.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actress Katy O’Brian about her work on ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ joining the MCU, creating her character, researching Jentorra in the comics, her deleted scene with Bill Murray, working with Paul Rudd, being directed by Peyton Reed, fighting Kang the Conqueror, and where in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Jentorra will appear next.

Katy O’Brian as Jentorra in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.

You can read the full transcript below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

Moviefone: To begin with, you’ve appeared in a DC project with ‘Black Lightening,’ a ‘Star Wars’ project with ‘The Mandalorian,’ and even Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ but ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ marks your first time working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so what was it like for you to officially join the MCU with this movie?

Katy O’Brian: I wanted to be in a Marvel movie. I think a lot of actors, that’s like a big goal. So the fact that I even got an audition I was excited about and having booked it just seemed completely unreal. Every moment was awesome. It’s huge scenery, and a huge project. It’s the end of the world every time and it was great. I felt like everyone was really welcoming coming in the third part of the franchise. Paul was super great to work with, really welcoming, just really unassuming and lets you drop your guard really quickly. It was just Peyton Reed, the director, he’s phenomenal. He’s so sweet. So it really just felt like I was walking onto the set, walking into a family basically, and they welcome you with open arms.

MF: Can you talk about creating Jentorra? She only appeared in a few comics, but did you research her Marvel history to give you a better understanding of her backstory?

KO: I mean, when I’d spoken to Peyton, he pretty much said it’s not really going the comic route at all for Jentorra. Just by appearance alone, it was pretty obvious, you know? I’m not green, and I’m not blonde. They don’t really bring much of her magic into it or anything like that. So right off the bat he was saying more barbarian, like ‘Red Sonja’, having a really strong, powerful presence. What I love to add to characters is give them a little something that isn’t your super stereotypical warrior person. So I wanted also to have someone who deeply cared, genuinely cared, on an emotional level, and wasn’t afraid to be emotional with her people. Up until I saw the full hair, makeup, wardrobe, my staff, I was questioning how I’m supposed to play this character. I’m like the only straight character in a comedic world. So I felt like really out of place, and I was so worried I’d be boring and all these other things. But the second I saw the uniform, got covered in the dirt, grime, sweat and goo, and then got the magic staff in my hand, just everything clicked and it just felt right.

Katy O’Brian as Jentorra in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ © 2022 Marvel.

MF: There are a few deleted scenes on the Blu-ray and DVD, but I understand that you also shot a deleted scene with Bill Murray that did not make the home entertainment release. Can you talk about shooting that and what happens in the scene?

KO: We had a whole section of, basically, it would’ve added quite a bit of time to the movie. But he didn’t originally get killed or whatever happened. We had a whole spaceship pursuit with him, and he wound up with Kang and M.O.D.O.K. (Corey Stoll) and then was taken to a cell as well. So when I was freeing the rest of my people, he was there, had some witty quips, and then we all go off together. So I mean, that was pretty much the majority of that. Just some cool jail time and maybe not as much respect for my character as he was pretending to have for himself. Then just other things that might have gotten deleted on my end. I just think a couple little fight clips and stuff. We had a moment at the end where I was fighting and the ants show up, and I have a very brief interaction with the ants and I’m just like, what in the world’s going on? So just some little things like that that I’m sure were just cut for time. I mean in reality it is a bunch of really big beefy stunt dudes in green suit running around tackling people. So it was really fun to be a part of.

MF: Can you talk about working with Paul Rudd on set?

KO: It’s interesting that my interactions with him generally, it was pretty serious all in all. That’s where he started to realize the situation that he wound up in. So there was some offset jokes and every now and then he would just carry a scene after we were done, or if someone messed up, just keep going with that. But honestly, the person it was hardest to keep a straight face with was Kathryn Newton because her character was supposed to be, I guess, in awe of my character. So every time her mouth is wide open, her eyes are wide open and just looks so ridiculous that I couldn’t keep a straight face.

Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 Marvel.

Related Article: Kathryn Newton Talks Playing Cassie Lang in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

MF: What was it like being directed by Peyton Reed and walking on to the incredible Quantum Realm sets he created?

KO: He designed all of these wonderful sets, and it was like you didn’t really have to pretend you were transported into this world. Super small details were added. We had real dirt under our feet, and at certain times we had actual flames going up and had to dive around fire. It really felt larger than life and the set was massive. They’re just absolutely massive. So you had a lot of space to move around in, and I think Peyton did an amazing job bringing that world to life, but also showing how big it was, but just managing the time, using the space, taking the same space, and making it look completely different. It was awesome.

MF: Can you talk about Jentorra’s war against Kang the Conqueror?

KO: I don’t think that she acknowledges Kang as someone who runs the Quantum Realm. I think she acknowledges, he is basically using their energy source, their land and their people for his means, but against their best interests. I think it’s a pretty understandable point of view of you’ve destroyed my world, you’ve destroyed the world of all of these people and only for your specific gain. He has no friends. He has no equals. It’s a very, very selfish viewpoint. I don’t think they ever had a sit down and chat of like, “Hey, why are you doing this?” It was just very clearly, your reasons do not align with mine. So I think obviously he is a good villain in that sense that there’s no redemption to him. And you got M.O.D.O.K. who comes in and terrorizes the village. It’s funny because we had to be scared of him, but when you see him, he looks absolutely ridiculous. So I was just like, are you serious? I got to be afraid of this thing. But you think of something that just rolls through your village and kills half of them in one sweep. That’s pretty terrifying all in all. So she’s got a lot on her plate and a lot to overcome. But the thing with Jentorra, unlike Kang, is she’s got heart with her. She’s got people that actually care about the cause, their land, their friends and family. So I think she’s got a good backing because she’s not alone.

Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.

MF: Finally, where do you think Marvel fans will see Jentorra next?

KO: It’s so interesting because the thing about the Quantum Realm is that it is outside of space and time, so with the whole multiverse thing, I almost wonder the only way that she would really be able to interact is if they start pushing more people into the Quantum Realm, which she wouldn’t be too happy about and is probably now ruled by ants. Or maybe someone somehow pulled her out. Then I was joking on the internet that I think a great multiverse Jentorra would be Danny DeVito. I don’t know. I think it’d be really fun to see. But yeah, I just think anything’s possible. She could show up anywhere and I would love to see her come back again.

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ © 2022 Marvel.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania:’
- ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids‘ (1989)
- ‘Ant-Man‘ (2015)
- ‘Captain America: Civil War‘ (2016)
- ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp‘ (2018)
- ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)
Buy ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ On Amazon

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is produced by Marvel Studios, and Kevin Feige Productions. It is available now on digital, and available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning May 16th.
May 15, 2023