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The Black Phone 2 release date: Blumhouse's Grabber returns from the dead

Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames are back to continue the supernatural horror story based on a short by Joe Hill

Guides by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Tue Jul 01 2025

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The Grabber has returned.

Yes, the menacingly-masked killer of horror movie The Black Phone (and one of the few people that still uses a landline) isn't letting a little thing like dying in the first film from stopping him on his quest to bring pain to the innocent. Ethan Hawke, who plays the serial murderer in the first film, is returning to the role, and Mason Thames is returning as Finney, the teen who stopped him once before.

Let's hope he can do it again. Watch the trailer here.

The Black Phone is based on a Joe Hill story of the same name published in 2005. Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson and screenwriter C. Robert Cargill, who crafted the movie, are back again for the sequel, based on an unpublished idea author Hill had for a follow-up to his original story. However, it's technically not the first time we'll see the world of the Black Phone back in theaters - Derrickson confirmed that his segment of horror anthology V/H/S/85, titled Dreamkill, takes place in the same saga.

The Black Phone 2 comes to theaters October 17.

In the immortal words of Danny Elfman, "Life's no fun without a good scare." We couldn't agree more, which is why we've cobbled together a couple pieces to send a chill up your spine. Join Popverse as we explore:

And much gore. Er, more. Much more.

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Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. As Popverse's Staff Writer, he criss-crosses the pop culture landscape bringing you the news and opinions about the big things (and the next big things). In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.