Exclusives
‘Lights Out’ Director In Talks to Helm ‘Annabelle 2’ (Exclusive)
Back in October we told you that John Leonetti would not be returning to direct the sequel to Annabelle, New Line Cinema’s successful The Conjuring spinoff.
At the time it was revealed that Gary Dauberman, who penned the initial spinoff, would be writing the sequel that was out to directors.
After a lengthy search, New Line is setting their sights on David F. Sandberg (not to be confused with the director of Kung Fury) to get behind the camera on Annabelle 2, Bloody Disgusting can exclusively report.
Sandberg, who is still in talks as of this writing, directed Lights Out for New Line and James Wan’s Atomic Monster. We’ve been hearing that it’s testing through the roof, which is why the adaptation of Sandberg’s short film (below) landed a massive summer release (July 22, 2016).
Knowing this, it makes complete sense that the studio and producing team would naturally segue Sandberg directly into their tentpole franchise.
The first Annabelle, which was a prequel to The Conjuring, drew in nearly $250 million in box office revenue.
A 2017 release date is being eyed, although that is not confirmed.
What happened to Flight 298? Our exclusive clip from supernatural thriller Black Box suggests a hostile takeover by an inhuman threat.
Black Box arrives on VOD today, July 7, 2026, via distributor Aura Entertainment.
In the horror movie, “A routine domestic flight turns into the flight from hell through a series of inexplicable phenomena and raw terror. Surreal encounters blur the boundaries between reality and nightmare. Passengers fight against all the odds in an attempt to survive while combating bizarre technological malfunctions, accelerating supernatural events, and alien influences.”
The film is based on the short film The Vessel, and an original screenplay from horror writer Stephen Susco (The Grudge, The Grudge 2, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Hell Fest).
Steven Quale (Into the Storm, Final Destination 5) directs.
Tom Brittney, Holly Leena White, Betsy Blue English, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Kaja Chan, Asa Ali, Boadicea Ricketts, Ceallach Spellman, Georgina Leonidas, Molly Belle Wright, Hanneke Talbot, Danny Mack, and Weronika Rosati star in Black Box.
Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici (Barbarian, Boy Kills World) and Jon Oakes (Drive, The Guilty) will produce alongside Capstone’s Christian Mercuri and David Haring (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Warren Zide (The Final Destination, American Pie), and Susco. Ruzanna Kegeyan and Roman Viaris of Capstone, and Clark Baker (Vessel) will executive produce.
Watch the clip below that sees a creepy crawling invasion aboard Flight 298, signalling supernatural turbulence ahead.