Leslie Vernon will rise again.
Twenty years after the 2006 slasher mockumentary Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon became an indie horror hit, the long-discussed sequel is officially in the works, Variety has confirmed. The film, titled Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon, follows the further adventures of Leslie Vernon, a popular serial killer of the time.
Director Scott Grosserman and screenwriter David J. Steves will return for the sequel, as will original cast members Nathan Basel, Angela Goethals, and Robert Englund.
“For 20 years, people have been asking if Leslie was coming back. The truth is, he never really left,” Grosserman said in a statement. “Our fans kept this movie alive by sharing it, quoting it, telling their friends about it, and treating it as something worth owning. They’re what made this sequel possible.”
A Kickstarter has also been launched to supplement the scope of the film. Although the film is being made without fan support, Grosserman said the additional funding will help expand the film.
“We’re making the movie either way,” Grosserman said. “But the more the audience participates, the bigger we can make it. Bigger set pieces, more cameos, more surprises. This movie has always been a fan-driven movie, and it still is.”
Paper Street Pictures, the filmmaker-first genre company led by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns, is producing the sequel.
“Aaron, Cam, and the entire Paper Street team believed there was more story to tell about Leslie,” Grosserman said. “Their support and tenacity over the years has made a huge difference in getting us here. They’ve built a base for bold horror filmmakers, and we couldn’t imagine making this sequel with anyone else.”
Adam F. Goldberg (The Goldbergs, Shelby Oaks) will also serve as executive producer.
Watch the first Behind the Mask movie trailer below.
