Ethan Hawke and director Scott Derrickson are working together on another horror project, although the pair have not revealed whether it will continue one of their existing franchises.
Hawke and Derrickson first collaborated on Sinister in 2012. Hawke played Ellison Oswalt, a true-crime author who uncovers horrifying material while researching his next book.
Their next major collaboration was The Black Phone. Hawke moved from playing a troubled father to portraying the terrifying Grabber, while Derrickson directed the film and returned behind the camera for its 2025 sequel, Black Phone 2.
Hawke confirms another project with Derrickson
During an interview about his upcoming film The Weight, Hawke was asked whether he planned to make more horror films. His brief answer was yes, followed by a more intriguing disclosure.
“I don’t have agendas like that about what kind of movie, really. I like people. Yeah, Scott and I are working on something right now. I think he’s so gifted. I like working with him.”
Hawke did not share the title, plot or production details. That leaves open two possibilities: the project could revisit a familiar horror world, or it could introduce a completely new story.
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Could it be Black Phone 3?
Black Phone 2 offers the clearest route to another Hawke and Derrickson horror film. The sequel resurrected the Grabber, expanded the series’ supernatural mythology and suggested that his influence reached beyond his initial reign of terror. The film also received a positive reception from critics.
However, a third instalment was not previously guaranteed. When Black Phone 2 premiered, Derrickson said he and writer C. Robert Cargill had not even discussed Black Phone 3. Cargill added that they would need a strong enough idea to justify returning to those characters.
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Another Sinister story is also possible
Sinister remains another potential source of speculation. Hawke led the original film as Ellison Oswalt, but he did not return for Sinister 2, which was directed by Ciarán Foy in 2015.
The follow-up performed poorly with critics, receiving a 14% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Hawke’s comments therefore do not point clearly towards a return to that series.
What we know about The Weight
Hawke’s comments came while discussing The Weight, a Depression-era thriller. He plays a father who joins a dangerous gold-smuggling expedition in an attempt to reunite with his daughter.
The Weight is scheduled for a theatrical release on 18 September. Until Hawke or Derrickson provides more information, the new horror project remains unidentified.
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