The Black Phone 2 just got a major casting upgrade – Anna Lore, fresh off her buzzed-about role in Final Destination: Bloodlines, has officially joined the cast of Universal Pictures’ horror sequel The Black Phone 2.
The 32-year-old actress is set to star alongside returning cast members Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora, as well as new additions Demián Bichir and Arianna Rivas.
Details about Lore’s role remain under wraps, but her addition signals that director Scott Derrickson is expanding the terrifying universe of The Grabber with some fresh blood, and maybe a few new victims.
The original Black Phone, released in 2021, followed 13-year-old Finney Shaw (Thames) as he was abducted by a sadistic killer known as The Grabber (Hawke). Trapped in a soundproof basement, Finney discovers a mysterious disconnected phone that allows him to communicate with the dead children who came before him, each leaving him clues to escape.
The first film was a breakout hit for Blumhouse, grossing over $161 million worldwide on an $18 million budget. Now, the sequel aims to up the stakes, and reportedly takes a supernatural twist: The Grabber is back, from beyond the grave, seeking revenge on the children who defied him.
Director Scott Derrickson, who also co-wrote the sequel with Robert Cargill, has been open about his cautious approach to making a second film. “It wasn’t a foregone conclusion,” he told Screen Rant. “I didn’t feel obliged to make a sequel. But there were ideas that felt strong enough to continue the story.”
Interestingly, Derrickson describes The Black Phone 2 as a “high school coming-of-age movie”, a natural shift considering the cast has grown up since the original. He emphasized the unique tone of the franchise, balancing supernatural horror with grounded emotional arcs, a mix that clearly resonated with audiences the first time around.
“It’s a continuation, but it’s also an evolution,” Derrickson added. “These characters are older, the themes are deeper, and the scares are going to hit differently.”
Anna Lore’s horror credentials make her a perfect fit for this universe. Her turn in Final Destination: Bloodlines positioned her as one of the genre’s rising stars. With The Black Phone 2 landing in theaters this October 2025, her role is expected to play a significant part in the story’s next terrifying chapter.
The film is being produced by Jason Blum for Blumhouse Productions, with Derrickson and Cargill also producing. Whether it matches the first film’s box office magic or not, one thing’s certain, The Grabber isn’t done haunting us yet.
And neither is Anna Lore.
