Directors of ‘Talk to Me’ Preemptively Shot an Intriguing Prequel

Caution: Spoilers for ‘Talk to Me’ follow in the text below.

OVERVIEW
The horror sensation ‘Talk to Me’ is resonating with viewers and outperforming box office forecasts. Interestingly, its directors have already completed shooting a prequel that delves into the lives of the brothers Cole and Duckett, as experienced via mobile phones and social media. The Philippou brothers harbor sequel ambitions, supported by an extensive lore bible built around the enigmatic preserved hand featured in the film. Concurrently, they are also involved in a myriad of other projects, including an adaptation of the Street Fighter franchise.

‘Talk to Me’, A24’s chilling summer blockbuster, is impressing both critics and audiences. Directed by the Philippou twins, Danny and Michael, the exorcism-based film has raked in twice its budget in the opening weekend itself. The film’s popularity and the lingering questions about the eerie embalmed hand have opened up possibilities for further exploration of this cinematic universe. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, the directors disclosed that they’ve already shot an entire prequel that spotlights brothers Cole (played by Ari McCarthy) and Duckett (enacted by Sunny Johnson).

‘Talk to Me’ starts off with a brief glimpse of Cole and Duckett at a house gathering. In true horror movie style, events spiral out of control, culminating in Duckett, possessed by a malevolent spirit, stabbing his brother and subsequently ending his own life. Duckett’s gruesome demise foreshadows the doom that awaits Sophie Wilde’s Mia and her friends as they become ensnared by the adrenaline rush of inviting possession by the dead via an embalmed hand. Duckett stands as a horrifying example of the consequences of exceeding the 90-second possession limit and succumbing to spirit possession.

“Danny Philippou said, “We’ve actually completed filming a whole prequel featuring Duckett. It’s entirely told through mobile phones and social media, which could make for an interesting release in the future.” Horror films employing the Internet and social media are nothing new, given the popularity of movies like Unfriended, Host, and Cam. However, a Duckett-centric narrative portrayed through digital media would fit well with the themes of privacy invasion by mobile phones in ‘Talk to Me’. There’s also a rich backstory involving Duckett and the hand that remains largely unexplored, save for Joss’s (Chris Alosio) purchase history indicating his acquisition of the embalmed hand from Duckett and the friends’ conversation with Cole, who shares all he knows about the hand.

Image Via A24
Philippou Brothers Envision More ‘Talk to Me’ Installments

The Philippou brothers have consistently emphasized the extensive material they have available for sequel development. While attending the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, they expressed to FilmSweep’s Perri Nemiroff their aspirations for one or two sequels, backed by an extensive lore bible centered around the mysterious embalmed hand. They also hinted to THR that sequel ideas were proposed during the production of ‘Talk to Me’, which they’ve set aside in case A24 greenlights another venture. “You inevitably end up writing scenes for a potential sequel while penning the first film. There are so many scenes. The mythology is so dense that if A24 offers us another shot, we’d definitely seize the opportunity,” Danny added. Michael also acknowledged the potential for a sequel, stating, “We have many unique stories we’d like to narrate, but the ‘Talk to Me’ content also piques our interest. We’re definitely open to the concept of a sequel.”

In addition to ‘Talk to Me’, the brothers are engrossed in developing an action-oriented adaptation of Capcom’s iconic Street Fighter video game series for Legendary Entertainment. They harbor grand plans for their Hollywood career with an action drama and another horror script in their pipeline. “We’re also working on another horror screenplay titled ‘Bring Her Back’ which we’re eager to start on next,” Danny Philippou revealed.

‘Talk to Me’ is currently showing in theaters. Stay updated with FilmSweep for more information about the Philippou brothers’ upcoming projects and revisit our previous interview with them below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Talk to Me sequel

More about Talk to Me sequel

• The Hollywood Reporter Interview with Philippou Brothers
• FilmSweep Interview about Talk to Me Sequel
• Sundance Film Festival 2023
• A24’s Talk to Me
• Street Fighter Video Game Series
• Legendary Entertainment