Premiere - Ready or Not 2: Here I Come : Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood present the sequel in Paris

By Mulder, Paris, Pathé Palace, 25 march 2026

On March 25, 2026, the Paris premiere of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come turned the Pathé Palace into one of the most exciting genre film events of the spring season, with our media present on the red carpet and inside the theater for the official presentation of the film. The evening had the atmosphere of a true celebration of horror-comedy cinema, with fans gathering early in front of the cinema hoping to catch a glimpse of the cast, and the excitement clearly rising when Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Elijah Wood arrived to introduce the movie in person. The presence of these three actors gave the premiere a very international feel, especially for French fans who grew up watching Sarah Michelle Gellar in cult television and film roles, while Elijah Wood continues to enjoy a strong following among genre audiences. Inside the theater, the introduction was warm and energetic, with the actors thanking the audience for their support and insisting that the sequel pushes everything further than the first film, both in scale and in dark humor, something that immediately set the tone for the screening and created a strong connection with the crowd.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a 2026 American comedy horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo behind the first film and members of the Radio Silence collective, with a screenplay written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, who also created the original characters. The film is a direct sequel to Ready or Not (2019) and once again follows Grace MacCaullay, played by Samara Weaving, whose survival at the end of the first movie left the door wide open for a larger and more ambitious continuation. This time the story begins immediately after the events of the original, with Grace discovering that escaping the Le Domas family was only the first step in a much bigger and far more dangerous game. The sequel introduces a new central dynamic by bringing in Grace’s estranged sister Faith, played by Kathryn Newton, forcing the heroine to protect someone she has not seen in years while being hunted by four rival elite families competing for control of a secret council that holds enormous power. The cast also includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood, a lineup that mixes horror icons, cult actors, and unexpected choices, reinforcing the film’s tone that constantly balances satire, violence, and absurdity.

The sequel was not initially planned as a straightforward continuation. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett were developing an original story centered on two sisters for Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton when Searchlight Pictures approached them about directing a sequel to Ready or Not. Instead of abandoning their idea, the directors proposed merging the sister storyline into the existing universe, a creative decision that ultimately shaped the final film and explains why the sequel feels larger in scope than the first. The project was officially announced by Searchlight Pictures on October 12, 2024, during a special screening of the original film, confirming the return of Samara Weaving, Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy, and the original producing team. Kathryn Newton joined the cast in March 2025, followed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, David Cronenberg, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, and Olivia Cheng, giving the sequel a cast that immediately attracted attention among genre fans. Principal photography began in Toronto on April 21, 2025, and wrapped on June 2, 2025, with the title first revealed as Ready or Not: Here I Come before being finalized as Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.

The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 13, 2026, before its U.S. theatrical release on March 20, 2026, distributed by Searchlight Pictures, and the early reception has been generally positive. Critics have highlighted the film’s willingness to go bigger and bloodier than the original, with Glenn Garner from Deadline describing it as “a bloody good time” that could open the door for a trilogy, while Meagan Navarro from Bloody Disgusting praised the increased scale and body count, even if she felt some of the original’s charm was harder to recapture. BJ Colangelo from /Film noted that the sequel doubles down on the mythology and raises the stakes, and Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com gave the film three out of four stars, emphasizing the satisfying idea of ordinary characters fighting powerful elites in a story that mixes social satire with horror spectacle. More mixed reactions also appeared, with Owen Gleiberman from Variety suggesting that fans of the first film will enjoy the sequel but hoping future installments will explore the world’s rules in even more interesting ways, a comment that shows how the franchise has grown from a one-film concept into a potential long-term saga.

Watching the film with a Paris audience gave a particularly interesting perspective, because the crowd reacted strongly to both the humor and the brutality, proving that the mix that made the first movie a cult success still works today. The presence of Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Elijah Wood during the introduction clearly helped energize the room, and the applause at the end of the screening confirmed that the sequel has what fans expect from the franchise: outrageous violence, dark comedy, and a story that continues to mock the idea of powerful families controlling the world from the shadows. With a runtime of 108 minutes, cinematography by Brett Jutkiewicz, editing by Jay Prychidny, and music by Sven Faulconer, the film keeps the fast rhythm that defined the original while expanding the mythology into something closer to a secret-society thriller mixed with a survival horror game.

The Paris premiere at Pathé Palace felt like the perfect setting for this kind of film, combining the glamour of a major studio event with the enthusiasm of a genre audience, and the presence of the cast made it clear that Searchlight Pictures is treating the sequel as an important release rather than a simple follow-up. With its theatrical release scheduled in France for April 8, 2026, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come arrives with strong expectations, positive early reactions, and the feeling that the story of Grace MacCaullay may not be finished yet, especially if the audience response in Paris is any indication that the world created by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Guy Busick, and R. Christopher Murphy still has plenty of blood-soaked surprises left to reveal.

Synopsis : 
Shortly after escaping the Le Domas family’s relentless attack, Grace discovers that she has just reached a new level in this nightmarish game—and she’ll have her estranged sister, Faith, by her side. She’ll have only one chance to survive, protect her sister, and claim the High Seat of the Council that rules the world. This time, four rival families are hunting her down to seize the throne, and whoever wins will hold absolute power.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Written by Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy
Based on Characters created by by Guy Busick & R. Christopher Murphy
Produced by Tripp Vinson, James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, Bradley J. Fischer
Starring  Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood
Cinematography : Brett Jutkiewicz
Edited by Jay Prychidny
Music by Sven Faulconer
Production companies : Vinson Films, Mythology Entertainment, Radio Silence
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures (United States)
Release dates : March 13, 2026 (SXSW), March 20, 2026 (United States), April 8, 2026 (France)
Running time : 108 minutes

Video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville
Photos red carpet: @fannyrlphotography 
Photos Presentation (room 1) : Boris Colletier / Mulderville