MOVIE NEWS – Nicolas Cage is expected to return to the universe of Longlegs in a new horror film that has now received an official theatrical release date. Osgood Perkins is also returning to the project, while NEON has given the follow-up the green light, with the film currently scheduled to arrive in theaters in January 2028.

Nicolas Cage is coming back for another terrifying horror tale in a follow-up to Longlegs. Director Osgood Perkins has been impressing audiences with increasingly bleak and unsettling films, starting with The Blackcoat’s Daughter in 2015. Longlegs thrives on a similar aesthetic and eerie demonic thrills, tucked away for the audience to discover gradually. Many compared the film to The Silence of the Lambs, as it features Maika Monroe as FBI Agent Lee Harker, tracking down a twisted killer. Her investigation uncovers Cage’s unsettling villain, known simply as “Longlegs,” playing his part in a dark scheme.

A follow-up film was announced recently, with Cage expected to return in his evil, prosthetic-heavy role. While this might have many viewers scratching their heads, given his character’s story arc, the new Longlegs project will be set in the same universe as the first movie. That caveat allows the next movie in the franchise to be a prequel, or even something that takes place simultaneously with the first film. NEON gave the next installment the green light, but until now it did not have an official release date.

As reported by Deadline, the next Longlegs movie will hit theaters on January 14, 2028, which falls on MLK weekend. Paramount has picked up the movie for distribution, having previously found success on the same weekend with other horror hits such as The Conjuring and Scream from 2022. With Longlegs being the kind of title that can strongly draw genre audiences, that weekend seems like a smart fit, even if it means those eager to see the follow-up will be waiting until 2028.

Perkins is also returning to the project alongside Cage, with the writer-director making it his next film. The director currently has The Young People in post-production, another horror movie set to premiere sometime later in 2026. The Young People sounds chilling, with a story that shares certain parallels with The Blackcoat’s Daughter, although full details remain to be seen. The plot of the Longlegs follow-up is also unknown, but with Cage returning, it will at least partially focus on his character. Cage’s character may also be shifted into a protagonist position, given his perspective on the grim tale from the first film.

Giving the sequel the green light was an easy decision for the studio after the first movie, which cost $10 million and made $127 million worldwide. NEON has built a loyal horror fan base, giving special attention to projects such as David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future and Brandon Cronenberg’s gory movie Possessor. The Longlegs follow-up will likely play to the same audience that helped make the first film a hit.

While the story remains under wraps, it should retain Perkins’ dark styling and Cage’s haunting performance, both of which proved highly effective in the first movie. Together, those elements could once again chill audiences. Further details, including any other returning cast members, will likely emerge as the project continues to develop. For now, one thing is clear: the Longlegs universe is not finished, and Cage may be returning to one of the most memorable horror roles of his recent career.

Source: MovieWeb