It's been a while since there's been any update on director André Øvredal's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 2. The sequel was announced around April 2020, meant to follow Øvredal's 2019 adaptation of Alvin Schwartz's horror anthology of the same name (produced by Guillermo del Toro). A few assurances were given here and there since then, claiming Øvredal was in development on a script as of late 2020. Another update claimed filming would start in late 2022, but that wasn't remotely true.
During an interview for his upcoming vampire film The Last Voyage of the Demeter, I had the chance to pester Øvredal about the status of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 2. I'd be a bad horror fan if I didn't ask when we'd finally see a follow-up to one of the most successful gateway horror releases of the 2000s. His answer confirms movement and gives us a hopeful update to grasp, even though it's not as definitive as we'd hope.
As per Øvredal:
"We have a story. We have a script. We've been working on the script as late as last year and even slightly into this year. The process obviously stopped with the strike — but it's alive, for sure. COVID and then [The Last Voyage of the Demeter] eating up two years of my life certainly put a dent in the progress."
Øvredal is, of course, referring to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, which has put just about all writing duties in Hollywood to a halt since it began in May. The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) are also on the picket line with them as of last month.
Fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, however, at least have confirmation that a story seems to be locked, and Øvredal has a clear vision. With The Last Voyage of the Demeter on the horizon and press obligations nearing an end, Øvredal can hopefully focus on the hotly anticipated young adult horror sequel once the strike hopefully settles in favor of picketing WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. Fingers crossed that Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will be Øvredal's next project, and that he's not stolen away to adapt another iconic horror monster's origin.
There's currently no confirmation regarding the cast, but we can assume that lead Zoe Colletti will return as survivor Stella Nicholls. Her character intends to rescue friends Chuck and Auggie at the end of the first film, which if successful, will bring back actors Gabriel Rush and Austin Zajur. It's all speculative at this point, as is Natalie Ganzhorn returning as a recovered Ruth or Michael Garza coming back as Ramón after or during Vietnam War duty. We'll have to wait until Hollywood solves its standstill — then, hopefully Øvredal can focus on bringing Schwartz's words and Stephen Gammell's exquisitely macabre illustrations to life once more.
