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Horror fans bowled over by ‘fever dream’ cast for eagerly anticipated sequel film

Mark O'Brien as Alex Le Domas grabs Samara Weaving's arm as Grace, dressed in a wedding gown, as they hide by the side of a bed in Ready or Not
A smash-hit horror film is back for a sequel – and its cast is phenomenal (Picture: Zachanowich/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)

Horror fans have been sharing their glee over the stacked cast that’s been revealed for an exciting sequel in the works.

Ready or Not was a popular 2019 film in the genre, which nabbed an impressive 89% rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes from critics.

Now its star Samara Weaving has been confirmed to be returning alongside newcomers to the franchise Elijah Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Cronenberg – yes, the acclaimed body horror master-director himself.

They join previously announced Marvel star Kathryn Newton, as well as Shawn Hatosy, The Dark Knight actor Néstor Carbonell and Kevin Durand.

The follow-up film’s official title has also been confirmed as Ready or Not: Here I Come, which has tickled fans with its playful perfection too.

Wood, known best for his leading role in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, has also appeared in multiple horror flicks, including The Monkey for Oz Perkins most recently, as well as slasher Maniac and Colour Out of Space with Nicolas Cage, while Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Gellar is a horror icon thanks to her turns in I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Grudge and Scream 2.

Slasher icon Sarah Michelle Gellar is joining returning star Samara Weaving in Ready or Not: Here I Come (Picture: JM Haedrich/SIPA/Rex/Shutterstock)
Elijah Wood is also part of the project (Picture: John Salangsang/Rex/Shutterstock)

While a bit of a left swing, Cronenberg has acted several times before, appearing in TV series Star Trek: Discovery most recently, as well as Slasher and Alias Grace, and even cameos in his own films. This is where he’s made his name, directing horror staples like The Fly, Videodrome and Scanners, alongside his new release The Shrouds.

‘David Cronenberg being cast in Ready or Not 2… what a time to be alive,’ exclaimed fan @BriAnimator_ on X, while Gretchen added: ‘The sound I made when I saw this reveal.’

‘This cast feels like a fever dream in the best possible way. Horror fans, we win,’ enthused @Giii_014 as Debayo mused: ‘How do you fit Cronenberg, Buffy, and Frodo into one horror movie without tearing a hole in reality?’

Others praised the line-up ‘killer’ as Andi proclaimed: ‘I was not into this idea before. But now I will be there.’

Body horror master David Cronenberg will be acting in the movie too, causing fans to liken the cast to a ‘fever dream’ (Picture: SIPA/Rex/Shutterstock)
Cronenberg is a hugely respected director in the genre, with films like The Fly (pictured) to his name (Picture: Corbis via Getty Images)

‘Elijah Wood in a horror is usually something pretty bonkers, I’m keen,’ said Joka0451 on Reddit.

‘SMG and Elijah Wood are both scream queens, I cannot wait!’ posted @TheHellMotel while @Nad_GarciaS shared: ‘Calling Cronenberg, Gellar, Wood, Durand AND Samara Weaving ‘ensemble’ feels like assembling a horror Avengers team – too many heavy hitters or the perfect recipe for chaos? 🤔 Can Ready or Not 2 keep the claustrophobic tension or will the star power turn it into a crowded house of jump scares?’

In Ready or Not, Samara played Grace, who couldn’t be happier after she marries the man of her dreams at his family’s luxurious estate. 

There’s just one catch – she must now hide from midnight until dawn while her new in-laws hunt her down with guns, crossbows and other weapons.

Ready or Not saw Weaving’s Grace fight off her murderous new family the night of her wedding (Picture: Eric Zachanowich/Everett/Rex/Shutterstock)
How her story will continue is not yet clear (Picture: Eric Zachanowich/Everett/Rex/Shutterstock)

As Grace desperately tries to survive the night, she soon finds a way to turn the tables on her not-so-lovable relatives. 

‘It’s the kind of low-budget, bound-for-cult-glory movie whose eccentricities will grow on you with repeated viewings, wrote critic Brian Eggert in his review, while Josh Larsen described the movie as ‘the gorier, gushier, nastier cousin to Knives Out’.

Filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, aka Radio Silence, are returning to direct the survival horror; screenwriters Guy Busick (“Abigail,” “Scream”) and R. Christopher Murphy are also back.

Ready or Not grossed $57million (£42.7m) on a $6m (£4.5m) budget, and its directors went on to make Scream (2022), Scream VI and Abigail in the interim.

Ready or Not: Here I Come is yet to receive a release date. Ready or Not is available to stream on Disney Plus.

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