The Black Phone scared audiences four years ago when it crept its way into theaters in 2021. The movie saw Ethan Hawke as The Grabber, someone who abducts and kills children, and Mason Thames as his most recent victim. Now, The Grabber is back. 

ScreenRant talked with the author of the short story “The Black Phone”, Joe Hill, who said the return of The Grabber was established in the first movie. Hill said, “The Grabber is dead, but being dead hasn’t stopped people from reaching out to Finney before. So, maybe he isn’t as gone as we thought he was.” 

There are some theories about The Grabbers’ death and his return. Some believe he will be a ghost. Some have even compared him to the A Nightmare on Elm Street killer, Freddy Krueger. 

Ethan Hawke is returning to the film alongside Mason Thames. Scott Derrickson is also returning to direct the sequel and is writing with C. Robert Cargill again. 

You can try to spot the setup for The Grabbers’ eventual return in the first movie, which is streaming on Peacock. The Black Phone 2 is hitting theaters in time for spooky season, on October 16. Universal Pictures has dropped the trailer, which you can watch below.