Demián Bichir Joins Universal & Blumhouse’s ‘The Black Phone 2’

Demián Bichir Joins Universal & Blumhouse’s ‘The Black Phone 2’

EXCLUSIVE: After world premiering his Angelina Jolie-helmed war drama Without Blood at the Toronto Film Festival, Academy Award nominee Demián Bichir has come aboard for a role in The Black Phone 2, Universal’s sequel to its 2021 horror hit from director Scott Derrickson.

Details as to Bichir’s role are being kept under wraps, as is the follow-up’s plot. As we were first to report, original cast members Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies and Miguel Mora are all set to return, along with Derrickson, who again co-wrote the script with partner C. Robert Cargill. Slated for release in theaters on October 17, 2025, the sequel will be produced by Derrickson, Cargill, and Blumhouse‘s Jason Blum. Joe Hill, writer of the short story on which the first film was based, serves as executive producer.

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Set in 1978 Colorado, The Black Phone watches as the shy 13-year-old Finney Shaw (Thames) is abducted by a sadistic killer known as “The Grabber” (Hawke). Thereafter, Finney is held captive in a soundproof basement, where he discovers a disconnected black rotary phone. Mysteriously, the phone begins to ring, and Finney hears the voices of The Grabber’s previous victims, who offer him advice and clues to escape. Meanwhile, Finney’s younger sister, Gwen (McGraw), experiences psychic visions that might help locate him.

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Hailing from Universal, Blumhouse and Derrickson & Cargill’s Crooked Highway, the widely acclaimed supernatural horror pic grossed over $161M worldwide, emerging as a sleeper hit amid the comeback from Covid. The film also made Deadline’s list of the most profitable movies of its year with an estimated net of $68M.

Nominated for an Oscar for his work in the 2011 romantic drama A Better Life, Bichir is coming off the world premiere of Angelina Jolie’s Without Blood, an adaptation of Alessandro Baricco’s book, in which he stars opposite Salma Hayek. In film, his other recent credits include Godzilla vs. Kong, Robin Wright’s Land, George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky, and Warner Bros’ hit horror pic The Nun. Previously seen starring on shows like Let the Right One In, Grand Hotel, The Bridge and Weeds, the esteemed Mexican actor’s other upcoming projects include Beacon, a Tribeca title which he also exec produced, as well as El Dentista for Fabula out of Mexico City.

Bichir is repped by CAA.