Director Eli Roth has confirmed that the script for "Thanksgiving 2" is nearing completion, though challenges in coordinating the busy schedules of the film's young cast are a primary obstacle to production.
"It's just really a question of trying to figure out how we can shoot this movie and scheduling everybody, because everybody's just so busy," Roth told Polygon in a recent interview. He noted the increasing success of the original film's cast in the three years since its release, with actors like Jalen Thomas Brooks, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae, and Milo Manheim now involved in various other projects.
Despite these scheduling difficulties, Roth plans to finalize the script with co-writer Jeff Rendell after the release of his upcoming film, "Ice Cream Man." The plan involves meticulously coordinating scenes to accommodate the actors' availability, rather than the extended four-week block typically required for a full cast shoot. "We can't get everyone together again for four weeks the way we could last time, but how can I get everyone in the room for this scene and then split them up for that scene?" Roth explained.
Roth expressed his affection for the cast and their shared desire to make the sequel a reality. "I love them. They're my friends and we had a great time making it. We all wanna do it. It's just a question of scheduling."
The original "Thanksgiving" began as a fake trailer in the 2007 "Grindhouse" anthology before being adapted into a feature-length teen slasher film in 2023. The film, which follows a killer disguised as a pilgrim, was a commercial success, prompting the announcement of a sequel.
"Ice Cream Man" is scheduled for theatrical release on August 7, with "Thanksgiving" currently available for streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus.