Naomi Ackie is in final talks to star in They Follow, David Robert Mitchell‘s follow-up to his cult 2015 horror film It Follows. She would join the returning Maika Monroe, according to Deadline.
No word yet on who Ackie will play, and plot details remain tightly guarded. What we do know is that the sequel takes place a decade after the events of the original.
Written and directed by Mitchell, It Follows follows Jay Height, portrayed by Monroe. Jay is a college student who becomes the target of a relentless supernatural force after having sex. The only way to rid herself of it would be to pass it to another person through sex. The flick was made on a shoestring budget but went on to gross $23.3 million worldwide, cementing its place on the all-time list as a modern horror classic.
So what might They Follow actually end up being about? I mean the change from “It” to “They” is pretty intriguing. Perhaps the entity has multiplied, or perhaps Jay is being hunted alongside a new group of characters. The sequel takes place a decade later, meaning Jay will be in her early thirties, still harboring the immense trauma from her original ordeal. Ackie’s character could be the curse’s new target or someone closely tied to Jay’s past. Sure sounds like it, but we are simply in guesswork land.
Mitchell will direct the sequel from his own script.
After facing multiple production delays over the last few years, filming is finally scheduled to begin next month.
Neon’s Tom Quinn has been teasing the sequel since his time heading up Radius-TWC more than a decade ago. Mitchell is producing alongside Jake Weiner and Chris Bender of Good Fear Content, plus It Follows alums David Kaplan, Erik Rommesmo, Rebecca Green, and Laura Smith.
One of today’s most in-demand actresses, Ackie is coming off an Independent Spirit Award win for her supporting turn in Sorry, Baby, the A24 drama from Eva Victor. Recent credits include Mickey 17, Blink Twice, and I Love Boosters. She’s also set to star in the upcoming DC Studios film Clayface.
News of Ackie’s talks comes ahead of the August 14 release of Mitchell’s latest feature, The End of Oak Street. That upcoming sci-fi movie stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor and explores a world where dinosaurs infiltrate a suburban community. It marks Mitchell’s biggest studio project to date.
Horror fans, this casting is a bold statement. Ackie possesses serious range and has proven herself across multiple genres. Partnering her with Monroe, who has established herself as a modern scream queen in films like Longlegs and Watcher, could make They Follow one of the most anticipated horror sequels in years. A theatrical release is anticipated for 2027.
