Scott Derrickson's eagerly anticipated sequel, Black Phone 2, promises to delve deeper into the terrifying lore of the Grabber, bringing back Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) to face new horrors that are both profoundly personal and deeply supernatural. The film, which follows the chilling 2022 horror hit, continues to explore the traumatic aftermath of surviving monstrous events, as Gwen begins to receive mysterious calls from beyond the grave. The returning cast includes Ethan Hawke as the Grabber, Jeremy Davies as the siblings' father Terrence Blake, and Miguel Mora, who this time portrays Robin's twin brother, Ernesto. New additions to the cast include Anna Lore and Demián Bichir.

At New York Comic Con 2025, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff sat down with cast members Madeleine McGraw, Mason Thames, Miguel Mora, and Demián Bichir to discuss the emotional weight of their roles, the evolution of their characters, and the powerful collaborative environment that facilitated some of the film's most devastating scenes.

Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw shared insights into the development of Finney and Gwen's abilities. Thames highlighted the extensive collaborative conversations with director Scott Derrickson, emphasizing that the director values the actors' understanding of their characters to ensure authentic arcs. McGraw noted the significant challenge of portraying Gwen in the sequel, feeling as though she was playing a 'completely different character' due to the profound impact of the past trauma. She recounted calling Derrickson late at night to discuss challenging scenes, particularly the one depicting her mother's death, which she found immensely stressful and took days to recover from. Another deeply emotional scene for McGraw was a one-take phone call at the end of the film, where Anna Lore's supportive words as her character's mother brought genuine tears to her performance.

Miguel Mora discussed the complexities of returning to the universe to play Ernesto, Robin's honor-student twin brother, after his impactful role as Robin in the first film. He detailed how Derrickson's initial playful description of Ernesto evolved into a character carrying a deep sadness, aiming to make his revered older brother proud. Ernesto's dynamic with Finney is notably different from Robin's, with Finney admitting he doesn't like Ernesto, partially due to Ernesto's strong resemblance to his deceased brother. However, similar to Robin's support for Finney, Ernesto becomes a staunch supporter for Gwen, embodying a strong heart and courage.

Horror veteran Demián Bichir, initially not a fan of the genre, expressed his admiration for the first Black Phone, citing its classy, psychological depth over typical jump scares. He was profoundly impressed by the young cast's professionalism and raw talent, stating that he learned from them. Bichir lauded McGraw's performance in the final phone call scene, describing it as so powerful it moved him to tears, an unprecedented experience for him in a horror film. He emphasized the importance of a strong team and predicted international superstardom for Thames and McGraw due to their grounded, professional approach to their craft.

One of the most pivotal and emotionally charged scenes, involving Finney, Gwen, and their father Jeremy Davies at the camp, proved particularly challenging to shoot. Thames and McGraw revealed that the scene took three days to film due to uncooperative snow. This prolonged anticipation only heightened the emotional release when they finally performed, underscoring the scene's significance in portraying the drastically altered relationship between the original characters.

Finally, Mason Thames briefly teased his upcoming project, the second How to Train Your Dragon movie, drawing a connection to the emotional depth required for both roles. He spoke about the magical experience of fully inhabiting a character, breathing their essence, and noted that the animated sequel would also contain significant heartbreak, allowing him to push his acting boundaries further.