A24 Teams Up Again for Horror Sequel 'Talk 2 Me'

In the increasingly intriguing world of horror cinema, A24 is once again joining forces with Danny and Michael Philippou, this time for the sequel to the summer’s breakout horror film, Talk to Me. The much-awaited sequel, aptly named Talk 2 Me, boasts a screenplay by Danny Philippou alongside Bill Hinzman, and will be directed by the Philippou brothers.

The talk of a sequel was always on the cards, even before Talk to Me opened in theaters. In an interview with Deadline, Danny Philippou hinted at the creation of additional chilling scenes fueled by 'the hands', thereby paving the way for a sequel. A24, having acquired Talk to Me from Sundance’s Midnight section for a high-seven-figure sum, is likely thrilled with this forecast.

Since its inception, Talk to Me has raked in an impressive $22M domestically, earning a solid spot in A24's record books as one of the highest-grossing horror flicks. Just eleven days into its run, the film outpaced the earnings of Ari Aster’s Midsommar (which garnered $17.3M), breezed past the final domestic revenue of last summer's Bodies Bodies Bodies ($11.4M), and is now on the verge of topping the domestic gross of The Witch ($25.4M). Despite being a touch behind the U.S./Canada gross earnings of Hereditary, A24's most successful horror film to date ($44M), Talk to Me shows considerable promise.

The initial Talk to Me movie was the result of a collaboration between Causeway Films’ Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton, who served as producers. This newly announced sequel, Talk 2 Me, joins the ranks of other successful A24 horror franchises such as Ti West’s X trilogy, which features the forthcoming film, MaXXXine starring Mia Goth, Halsey, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, and Michelle Monaghan.

This year was a splendid one for A24, the studio that garnered the highest number of Oscar wins, nine in total. This was largely due to the indie box office sensation, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which secured seven awards, including Best Picture.

Post the premiere of Talk to Me at Sundance, WME signed the Philippou brothers in January, marking the onset of their journey in the glitzy world of Hollywood. And from where we stand, it looks to be one filled with promising opportunities.

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Now, on to the fun part.

So, the saying goes "Talk is cheap". Perhaps, but A24 could argue that talking twice is rather expensive. Joining the ranks of horror sequels that make more than just 'cents', Talk 2 Me promises to be more than a mere echo of its wildly successful predecessor. Although, wouldn't you love the horror of negotiating for "high-seven-figure" sequels become a new Hollywood hobby?

The film journey of the Philippou brothers seems to emulate some sort of horror version of Cinderella. They whipped up the unique mind-boggler known as Talk to Me and, faster than a fairy godmother's wand, they found themselves plunged into red carpets, Sundance premieres, and inked contracts with WME. Talk about a fairytale--with a thrilling twist, of course.

Yet, it's worth noting a rather fascinating trend here. A24, known for its independent oddities and horror darlings, seems to be cracking, or rather, hacking away at the common mold. First, Ari Aster took us on a terror trip with Hereditary and Midsommar. Now the Philippou brothers come out of nowhere, armed with their 'hands', and horror buffs everywhere are left scratching their heads and checking under their beds. Welcome to the new horror Order?

On a final note, if the pattern holds, we can expect Talk 2 Me to go the distance, with inevitable Oscar nods. Maybe horror genre can finally break free from the chains of stereotypical slasher flicks and carve its seat at Hollywood's high table. Now wouldn't that be a story worth talking about?