Ready or not, the game is back on. Cameras are rolling on the sequel, officially titled Ready or Not: Here I Come, and this time, Samara Weaving’s blood-soaked bride isn’t the only familiar face drawing attention. Horror veterans Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood have officially joined the cast (per Variety), bringing new firepower to the follow-up to 2019’s surprise hit. While details about their roles remain tightly guarded, their involvement signals that Radio Silence (the directing duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) is doubling down on the genre-savvy chaos that made the original a standout.
Gellar, forever etched into horror history thanks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and films like The Grudge and I Know What You Did Last Summer, teams up with Wood, whose post-Lord of the Rings career has leaned heavily into genre fare like Come to Daddy, Maniac, and The Monkey. They join an ensemble that already includes Kathryn Newton (Lisa Frankenstein), Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt), Néstor Carbonell (Bates Motel), Kevin Durand (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), and director David Cronenberg (The Fly) in an acting role. Cronenberg’s presence alone promises something off-kilter, given his long-standing reputation for pushing the boundaries of horror and science fiction.
Filming is underway in Toronto, and while plot details are still under wraps, the project reteams Weaving with Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett for the third time, following her work on the original Ready or Not and Scream 6. Newton and Durand also recently collaborated with the duo on last year’s Abigail, suggesting a familiar shorthand is in place as production kicks off. Screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, both of whom helped shape the tone of the original, have also returned to script the sequel.
“We’re thrilled to be returning to the world of Ready or Not with Samara, Brett, Avery and Andrew,” said Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, “and so excited to work with this immensely talented cast and the incredible artists across every department joining the Ready or Not family.”
Searchlight Pictures president Matthew Greenfield said, “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.”
Ready or Not made waves in 2019 thanks to its mix of violent spectacle, razor-sharp satire, and standout lead performance from Weaving. The ending left little room for continuation, but as genre conventions have long proved, new stories can always emerge, especially when the blood hasn’t fully dried. A fresh mix of characters, genre-heavyweight actors, and the same anarchic tone suggests the filmmakers are aiming for something bigger — and possibly bloodier.
No release date has been announced, but with production already in motion and momentum building, the wait for another round of deadly hide-and-seek may not be long.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
