Naomi Ackie in Final Talks for They Follow as Maika Monroe Returns for the It Follows Sequel

Well, after nearly ten years of radio silence, it looks like we're finally getting a proper sequel to David Robert Mitchell's indie horror darling, It Follows. The new film, bluntly titled They Follow, is about to kick off and, for anyone who remembers how much of a sleeper hit the first one was, it’s fair to say this is a big deal in horror circles.

The Return of Jay (And a New Face)

Maika Monroe is back in the role that made people side-eye every stranger on the street – yes, she’s reprising Jay. You’ll remember Jay: the uni student with major supernatural stalking problems. And fresh off the rumour mill, Deadline has it that Naomi Ackie (who you might know from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) is in the final stages of signing on as well. Ackie’s role? Entirely under wraps. If you love a good guessing game, this is it.

What Do We Know About They Follow?

Don’t expect much in the way of plot spoilers – everything’s being kept very hush-hush. What’s clear is: the story picks up a decade on from the original, so presumably everyone’s still traumatised and looking over their shoulder. Somewhere, there’s probably a support group for ‘people stalked by shapeshifting entities’.

David Robert Mitchell is back on writing and directing duties, which feels reassuring. He's got the band back together, too, with original producers David Kaplan, Erik Rommesmo, Rebecca Green, and Laura Smith all on board. Throw in Jake Weiner and Chris Bender from Good Fear Content and you’ve got the whole production team locked in. The shoot is eyeing up a summer start – so unless something crawls out of a lake and derails it, we’ll definitely be seeing progress soon.

The Original in a Nutshell

Quick refresher: It Follows saw Jay, after what can only be described as 'a nightmare of a sexual encounter', being eternally hunted by a supernatural presence. The terror of the film (beyond the actual monster) was that this entity basically morphs into anyone – your neighbour, a stranger, an old lady on a mobility scooter – and just trudges towards you, relentlessly. The only reprieve? Pass it on via sex. Yes, it’s as awkward and disturbing as it sounds.

What Has Monroe Said?

'I was sent the script and I thought it was incredible. It’s also very different from the original. I felt the original was a litle more heightened and dramatic, and this I think is really quite grounded. (The sequel) follows the story of these two women that are just mentally dealing with a lot. I thought it was a really interesting take on it. Fingers crossed it happens, next year is the rumour.'

So, the sequel’s apparently taking a different vibe – more grounded, heavier on psychological themes, maybe less monster-chasing-for-the-sake-of-it. If you were worried about just getting a carbon copy of the original, sounds like Mitchell’s mixing up the formula a bit.

Naomi Ackie: Busy Schedule

As for Ackie, she’s got her hands full at the moment (frankly, who isn’t?). She’s currently starring in I Love Boosters alongside Keke Palmer and Taylour Paige – basically a film about a ring of shoplifters going after a ruthless fashion mogul’s wardrobe and flogging the loot on the cheap. You might have seen our own Chris Bumbray had a go at reviewing that one.

She’s also lined up for Clayface from DC Studios, which is dropping on 23rd October. Busy, busy, busy.

• Maika Monroe returns as Jay
• Naomi Ackie (Star Wars) in talks to join
• Directed and written by David Robert Mitchell
• Original producers and new production partners on board
• Plot set a decade after the original
• Production aiming for a summer start
• Monroe teases a 'very grounded', psychological sequel
• Ackie appearing in I Love Boosters and Clayface