About time this one returned!
Twenty years. That’s how long we’ve been waiting for Leslie Vernon to get another film, and for a while it looked like one of those horror sequels that would spend the rest of its existence being talked about at conventions rather than actually getting made.
Well, it’s finally happening. Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon has started filming in Illinois, with much of the original cast back and a rather interesting new addition in the shape of Art the Clown himself, David Howard Thornton.
The news came from Ben Pace, who played cameraman Doug in the 2006 original. He shared a photograph from the production on Instagram, confirming that he was back playing Doug and that filming was underway. His excitement was pretty obvious, and you can hardly blame him. This is a sequel that has been kicking around for years, with fans repeatedly asking when Leslie was going to return.
About time.
Nathan Baesel is back as Leslie Vernon, alongside Angela Goethals as journalist Taylor Gentry and Robert Englund as Doc Halloran. That’s the reunion most people will have wanted, particularly Baesel. It’s difficult to imagine somebody else playing Leslie.
Englund is another welcome return, although I’d have liked to see more of Doc Halloran in the first film. Thankfully, that’s something we’re apparently getting this time around, with the character expected to have a much more substantial part in the sequel.
Scott Glosserman is also returning to direct, with David J. Stieve back writing the screenplay, and the sequel is apparently set around 20 years after the original.
The film is being produced by Paper Street Pictures, with Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns involved, while Adam F. Goldberg is serving as an executive producer.
One thing also worth mentioning is just how much support this film received before the production even started. The Kickstarter campaign raised $400,710 from 1,450 backers, absolutely hammering its original $20,000 target.
The current plan is for the film to release on October 27, 2027, with a premiere in Salem, Massachusetts. The filmmakers are also organising what they’re calling the People’s Premiere, with fans able to request screenings in their own towns through GATHR.
The idea is to show both films together on the same night, giving people the chance to revisit The Rise of Leslie Vernon before watching the sequel.
Just to be clear, this is a planned fan-organised theatrical event rather than confirmation of a conventional nationwide cinema release. Wider distribution details haven’t been announced yet.
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