I have a confession. I likeKatie Holmes. In fact, I’ve always liked Katie Holmes, ever since I first saw her as Joey Potter onDawson’s Creek. Since then, she’s had a bit of a rollercoaster career, and at one point during her marriage toTom Cruise, she threatened to become more of a celebrity than an actress. But every few years, Holmes delivers a performance that reminds you why she’s a star in the first place. So the fact that she has just signed on to star in the horror sequelThe Boy 2represents an upgrade, to me, over the first film’s leading ladyLauren Cohan.
Sure, Holmes has a mixed track record with genre films, stumbling early in her career withDisturbing BehaviorandTeaching Mrs. Tingle, butDon’t Be Afraid of the Darkwas decent, and she was actually pretty good in that film. I didn’t care much for 2016’sThe Boy, but Holmes' casting is a step in the right direction for the sequel, which will follow another family that moves into Heelshire Mansion, where their young son makes an unsettling new friend – an eerily life-like doll he calls Brahms.
William Brent Bellis returning to direct the STXfilms sequel, which once again will be written byStacey Menear. Lakeshore Entertainment’sTom Rosenberg,Gary LucchesiandEric Reidwill produce alongsideMatt Berenson,Jim WedaaandRoy Lee. Production will start on January 14th in Victoria, British Columbia. The first film grossed $68 million worldwide on a production budget of less than $15 million, proving to be a modest hit for STX.
“Following the success ofThe Boy, we are thrilled to be working on the next chapter of this chilling Brahms story with Stacey and William. We are also delighted to be continuing our relationship with STX, on this, our third partnership," said Rosenberg, whose Lakeshore recently teamed with STX on theJennifer Garneraction-thrillerPeppermintand theShailene Woodleysurvival dramaAdrift.
Holmes was quite good on Showtime’sRay Donovana few years back, and her feature credits includeChristopher Nolan’sBatman Begins,Jason Reitman’sThank You for SmokingandSteven Soderbergh’sLogan Lucky. She’ll next be seen alongsidePatrick Stewartin the musical dramaCoda.
Brent Bell previously directedThe Devil Insideand is currently developing several projects, including the Blumhouse TV seriesPosthumans.He also just signed on to direct the divorce-themed horror filmSeparationstarringRupert Friend(Homeland). That film is described as a cross betweenKramer vs. KramerandThe Sixth Sense, and frankly, sounds much more interesting thanThe Boy 2. Fortunately, production starts next month, so the director will be able to slip it in before heading to work on STX’s sequel. He’s represented by ICM Partners, which also reps Holmes along with Untitled Entertainment.
