When horror fans pick up The Black Phone 2 in October 2025, they will meet a handful of old and new characters. The last time fans saw The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) stalking the streets in The Black Phone, it appeared as though young Finney (Mason Thames) subdued the sinister villain. Alas, with Hawke set to return for director Scott Derrickson in the upcoming sequel, Finney will have to figure out another way to prevent The Grabber from preying on more children.

In addition to Hawke and Thames, returning characters join a crop of newcomers in The Black Phone 2, with more casting news sure to come out between now and next Halloween. With The Black Phone slated for a release on October 17, 2025, it’s time to meet the cast, the characters they play, and where fans have seen them on the big and small screen.

The Black Phone 2 Release Date June 27, 2025

Mason Thames as Finney Blake (Returning)
Universal Pictures

Mason Thames has been tapped to play Finney Blake again in The Black Phone 2. In the first film, Finney is a bullied schoolboy living with his sister, Gwen, and his abusive father, Terrence. Everything changes for Finney when he is abducted from the streets of Colorado in 1978 by a serial kidnapper known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), held captive in a basement with a magical black telephone.

A relative newbie, Thames’ resume includes For All Mankind, Evel, Walker, Incoming, and Monster Summer. Fans can also see Thames play Hiccup in the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake.

Ethan Hawke as The Grabber (Returning)
Universal Pictures

Confirming his survival in the first film, Ethan Hawke has agreed to portray The Grabber in The Black Phone 2. A child kidnapper with supernatural boogeyman qualities, The Grabber wears an unnerving skeletal mask along his jawline that exposes a maniacal grin. Mason managed to break his neck with the black phone in the first film, and now The Grabber is back for revenge.

Hawke is a four-time Oscar nominee whose versatile credits include The Before trilogy, Boyhood, Training Day, Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, Daybreakers, Sinister, The Purge, and more. While more obscure, Hawke fans must see his performances in First Reformed, Born to be Blue, The Good Lord Bird, and Tape.

Madeleine McGraw as Gwen (Returning)
Universal Pictures

Madeleine McGraw will play Gwen Blake in The Black Phone 2. McGraw originated the role in the first film, in which she inherits her deceased mother’s visions of the Grabber in her sleep. Gwen’s eerie premonitions help her older brother, Mason, understand who The Grabber is and what his motives are after the killer targets a Little League teammate.

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With a 10-year resume, fans can see McGraw in Bones, American Sniper, Outcast, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Reverie, Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Harbinger, A Christmas Wish, and more. However, McGraw’s longest recurring role includes playing Zoe Campbell in Secrets of Sulphur Springs. McGraw will also take the lead in the upcoming teen runaway movie Captain Tsunami.

Jeremy Davies as Terrence (Returning)
Universal Pictures

Jeremy Davies is set to play Terrence Blake in The Black Phone 2, the abusive alcoholic father who Mason and Gwen want to avoid at all times. Following his wife’s death, Terrence unravels psychologically and takes his pain out on his children. He does not believe in Gwen’s premonitions and offers zero support, forcing the young siblings to rely on each other to survive.

Davies came of age in the independent film scene in the early ’90s with Spanking the Monkey before going on to star in Twister, Saving Private Ryan, Ravenous, Solaris, Dogville, Rescue Dawn, and more. On television, Davies is best known for playing Dr. Daniel in Lost and Dickie Bennett in Justified.

Miguel Cazarez Mora as Robin (Returning)
Universal Pictures

Miguel Cazarez Mora made his screen debut in The Black Phone. He played Robin, Mason’s friend and fellow bullied school student. Although he disappears for much of the movie, his phone call encourages Mason to fight back. Mora has only logged one credit since The Black Phone, appearing in a single So Help Me Todd episode in 2024.

Rebecca Clarke as Donna (Returning)
Universal Pictures

Rebecca Clarke debuted onscreen as Donna in The Black Phone and will reprise the role in the sequel. In the first entry, Donna was Mason’s science class partner and romantic crush. Whether she will be abducted by The Grabber in the sequel or continue to be seen at school is yet to be seen. However, it’s worth noting that, while the other cast members have been officially confirmed, Clarke’s inclusion derives from The Black Phone 2’s IMDb page.

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Demian Bichir as TBD (New)
TWC

The most exciting casting tidbit for The Black Phone 2 so far is Demian Bichir. Sadly, details about his role are unknown. The talented Mexican actor has 35 years of experience, with standout roles in A Better Life, Che, Foreverland, Savages, The Hateful Eight, Machete Kills, The Nun, Alien: Covenant, Godzilla vs. Kong, and more. Along with The Black Phone 2, Bichir will appear next in JSA, The Dentist, and Thanksgiving.

With 11 months until The Black Phone 2 rings out, expect more casting details to be announced between now and then. The Black Phone is available to stream on AppleTV+.