First Look: The Grabber Looms Over Gwen With an Axe in Black Phone 2
The Grabber is back in the latest look at Black Phone 2: an exclusive image shows him stalking Gwen in what appears to be a real hallway, and the sequel is set to hit theaters this fall.
- Exclusive image: shows the Grabber approaching Gwen with an axe.
- Trailer teased the return, but the footage leaves the Grabber’s exact status unclear.
- Release date: Black Phone 2 opens in theaters on Oct. 17, 2025.
What the original film set up
Scott Derrickson directed the 2021 film The Black Phone. In that movie, Ethan Hawke plays the Grabber, who kidnaps and tortures a boy named Finney, played by Mason Thames. Meanwhile, Finney’s sister Gwen, played by Madeleine McGraw, uses emerging psychic abilities to assist police efforts.
Importantly, the original film establishes that the Grabber dies before any direct confrontation with Gwen. Furthermore, a basement phone lets Finney communicate with the Grabber’s past victims, which is central to how he survives.
New image and the trailer
An exclusive image provided to Polygon shows the Grabber walking down a hallway toward Gwen while carrying an axe. The photo appears to place the two characters in the same physical space.
In addition, a trailer teased the Grabber’s return. However, the trailer does not make it clear whether the scenes with the Grabber and Gwen occur in the film’s objective reality or within Gwen’s psychic visions.
Cast and crew reminders
Black Phone 2 is directed by Scott Derrickson. The main returning cast includes Ethan Hawke as the Grabber and Madeleine McGraw as Gwen, with Mason Thames reprising the role of Finney in relation to the original story.
What remains unanswered
The key open question is factual: how does the Grabber return, given his death in the first film? So far, only the trailer and the exclusive image have been released. Therefore, the film itself will provide the definitive explanation.
Release details
Black Phone 2 is scheduled to be released in theaters on Oct. 17, 2025. For now, the trailer and the new image are the main official materials available.
