After 20 years of waiting, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is getting a sequel! Director Scott Glosserman and writer David J. Stieve will be returning for Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon. As the name suggests, it will continue to follow the crimes of a very chatty serial killer.
2006’s The Rise of Leslie Vernon was a meta slasher that quickly gained a cult following. One that has been clamoring for more Vernon.
Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon
The film’s original stars, Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, and Robert Englund, will also be returning.
“For 20 years, people have asked if Leslie would ever come back. The truth is, he never really left,” Glosserman said in a statement to Variety. “Fans kept this movie alive by sharing it, quoting it, introducing it to their friends, and treating it like something worth holding onto. This sequel is happening because of them.”
The filmmaker will be launching a Kickstarter to help with additional funding. But he is clear that The Return of Leslie Vernon will happen even if the campaign is not successful.
“We’re making the movie either way,” says Glosserman. “But the more the audience gets involved, the bigger we can make it. Bigger set pieces. More cameos. More surprises. This has always been a fan-driven film, and it still is.”
The project is being produced by Paper Street Pictures, a genre company led by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns. Adam F. Goldberg will be executive producing.
“Aaron, Cam, and the entire Paper Street team never stopped believing there was more story to tell with Leslie,” said Glosserman. “Their support and persistence over the years made a huge difference in getting us here. They’ve built a home for bold horror filmmakers, and I couldn’t imagine making this sequel with anyone else.”
We’ll keep you posted on updates about Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon as the project develops.
