NEON has announced thatIt Follows, the 2014 cult classic horror movie, is finally getting a sequel, which has now been titledThey Follow.Both writer/director David Robert Mitchell and star Maika Monroe will be returning, fulfilling Monroe’s previously expressed wish to work with the director again (viaDeadline). InIt Follows, Monroe plays Jay Height, who’s been going out with this seemingly nice guy who says his name is Hugh. After the two of them have sex, Hugh reveals a terrifying secret of his. A shapeshifting entity that only he can see has been following him around and will kill him if it catches him. The only way to stop it, at least for a little while, is to have sex with someone and make them a new target. That means that the entity is now going after Jay. So, it’s not exactly a dream scenario.
It Followsended up grossing $15M in the United States, andreceived rave reviews upon release. Monroe herself winning an Empire Award for her work film.It Followswas also both Monroe’s breakout role and the horror film that marked her as an upcoming scream queen to look out for. Other horror movie of Monroe’s that were released afterward wereThe Guest,Villains,Watcher, and the upcomingLonglegs.
During a previous interview, Monroe had this to say aboutIt Follows:
“It’s been a crazy ride. Being a part of It Follows, there’s so many movies that have changed the horror genre, but I know that It Follows is such a massive influence and this change of the genre, which was so cool to be a part of, and so many people really connected with that film. For me, with these projects, all I can do is give the most honest performance and I don’t look at it necessarily as a horror film or thriller or this or that. It’s just me really falling into this character and bringing as much truth as I can so that people can really fall into the story.”
Bloody Disgustingalso gave us the first teaser poster for the film, with the site teasing that, “In 2024, the threat is now EVERYWHERE.”
Why It Follows Needs a Sequel Focusing on the Entity’s Story
In It Follows, a mysterious monster serves as a metaphor for trauma. With a sequel now in the works, here is a followup is a good idea.
They Follow Will Start Production in 2024
The plot ofThey Followis currently unknown, though Tom Quinn, NEON CEO, offered a hint aboutwhere a sequel could goback in 2015. Back when Quinn was co-president of Radius-TWC, which distributedIt Followswith Dimension Films, he said, “Flip the title. There’s so much you could do.” Teasing a sequel where instead of it following Jay, Jay would be following it. Of course, take that with a grain of salt because that was many years ago and Quinn isn’t the writer or the director. That’s still Mitchell’s jobs.
What Quinn and NEON will do is introduceThey Followto international buyers at AFM this week. They will also produce the movie with Good Fear Content. In terms of specific producers on the film, there’s Mitchell with Jack Weiner and Chris Bender of the aforementioned Good Feat Content. David Kaplan, Erik Rommesmo, Rebecca Green, Laura Smith, who were all producers forIt Follows, will also return in the same capacity for the sequel.
