After surviving the Grabber in 2022’s The Black Phone, Mason Thames’ Finney and Madeleine McGraw’s Gwen are back to take on Ethan Hawke’s horror villain in Black Phone 2. So is Miguel Mora, despite his character Robin not making it out of the first film.

In a sit-down interview with the cast of Black Phone 2 at New York Comic Con, ahead of the film’s release in movie theaters on October 17, ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley asked Mora about this return for the horror sequel. “I’m back as the little brother! Or am I?,” Mora teased. “Maybe I’m just Robin with glᴀsses.”

Mora is indeed playing an entirely new character, Ernesto, who, as he says, is the little brother of Robin. With Robin having been one of Finney’s best friends in the original film, who died at the hands of the Grabber off-screen, Ernesto’s role in the sequel could carry a good bit of weight. Mora spoke about taking on the new role:

[I]t was such a great opportunity to come back and portray a totally new individual. Ernesto being the little brother was a really cool experience for myself.

Mora, Thames, McGraw, and Hawke all return for Black Phone 2, which picks up years after the first film. Gwen is having dreams of the Grabber stalking three boys being stalked at a winter camp, so she and Finney go and investigate. Among the new cast for Black Phone 2 are Demián Bichir, Arianna Rivas, Maev Beaty, and Graham Abbey.

Also returning for the sequel is director Scott Derrickson, who once again co-wrote the script with C. Robert Cargill.

The Black Phone was a solid hit when it was released in 2022. The film was “Certified Fresh” at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, while it made $161 million at the worldwide box office. While the sequel’s box office remains to be seen, it is receiving similar praise from critics.

After having its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025, Black Phone 2 has an RT score of 81% as of writing, matching its predecessor. Horror legend Stephen King also gave the film a glowing review, calling Black Phone 2 better than the original. King does have a connection to the film, as his son Joe Hill wrote the short story it is based on.

Black Phone 2 is premiering in theaters in the heart of spooky season. It’s the most high-profile new horror movie releasing in October, though other new options this month include Good Boy, the viral horror movie told from a dog’s perspective, and a special Halloween horror movie double feature at AMC theaters.