Ethan Hawke is back as serial killer the Grabber for indie horror hit “Black Phone 2.” Three years after “The Black Phone” first rang into theaters in 2022, its sequel already has been deemed a buzzy franchise. The first film grossed $161 million against an $18 million budget, with another installment announced in 2023.

“Black Phone 2” is co-written by returning director Scott Derrickson along with C. Robert Cargill. The first film was based on a short story by Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King. Hawke’s “the Grabber” abducted children and locked his victims in a basement; one of the kids, though (played by Mason Thames), managed to escape with the help of a haunted rotary phone that connected him to the ghosts of previously kidnapped boys. Thames is back for the sequel, along with original co-stars Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora.

“Black Phone 2” is produced by Jason Blum for Blumhouse, with Derrickson and Cargill also producing. Hill and Ryan Turek executive produce. Universal and Blumhouse present the Crooked Highway Production. The film was originally set for a June 27, 2025 release but was delayed until the fall.

Director and co-writer Derrickson told THR that the sequel will put an unexpected twist on the premise of the first film. “The first movie was a ghost movie but all the ghosts were victims, which is typical, a ghost story,” Derrickson said. “But in this one, you’ve got a ghost that is a villain.”

He continued, citing how the plot has now differed since the lead isn’t a 13-year-old boy anymore, “A middle school coming-of-age horror movie is a different animal than a high school coming-of-age horror film. There’s a ratcheting up of intensity because of that.”

Derrickson previously said in interviews upon the first film’s release that short story writer Hill had been speaking about expanding the entire “Black Phone 2” universe beyond just a direct sequel, as well. “It’s not something that is innately exciting to me, in the case of this story. I’m interested in the characters that we created, and I think there’s a tone to the movie that is unique and can be expanded upon,” Derrickson told The Wrap. “So possibly, we’ll see. You never know, but I’m certainly not closed off to the idea.”

Universal will release “Black Phone 2” in theaters October 17. Check out the trailer below.