The horror gods have spoken, and they have blessed us with the ultimate scream queen duo. Kathryn Newton has officially joined Samara Weaving in the highly anticipated sequel to Ready or Not, according to Deadline. Social media is in a full-blown frenzy over the casting, and honestly, who can blame them? Two of the most iconic modern horror stars teaming up in one movie? This is cinema.

A Sequel Worth the Wait

The original Ready or Not, released in 2019 and directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, was an instant horror-comedy classic. The film followed Grace, played by Samara Weaving, a newlywed who finds herself in a sadistic game of hide-and-seek with her in-laws, who are hellbent on sacrificing her to maintain their wealth and power. It was bloody, hilarious, and completely unhinged in the best way possible.

Not only was the movie a critical success, but it also raked in over $57 million at the box office on a tiny $6 million budget. With numbers like that, a sequel was inevitable. And now, with Kathryn Newton in the mix, expectations have skyrocketed.

The Kathryn Newton Effect

Kathryn Newton is no stranger to horror, and her addition to Ready or Not 2 is sending fans into overdrive. From her chilling role in Paranormal Activity 4 to her killer performance in Freaky and most recently, her gothic dream girl energy in Lisa Frankenstein, Newton has cemented herself as a modern scream queen.

This isn’t even her first time working with Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett. She starred in their vampire thriller Abigail, which means the directors already know how to use her to perfection. Whether she’s playing a final girl, a villain, or something completely unexpected, one thing is certain—Newton is about to eat this role up.

Social Media Reactions Are Pure Chaos (In the Best Way)

As soon as the casting news dropped, horror Twitter (or X, if you insist) exploded with excitement. Fans are already calling Ready or Not 2 one of the most anticipated horror films of the decade, and the reactions are nothing short of iconic.

One person tweeted, “KATHRYN NEWTON AND SAMARA WEAVING IN READY OR NOT 2 OMG THE TWO SCREAM QUEENS IN ONE MOVIE!!!”

Another wrote, “Ready or Not is one of my favorite horror movies and Kathryn Newton is my favorite current actress. I could cry. This was made for me.”

A fan who was clearly having a rough day said, “I’m having the worst day and I really needed that Kathryn Newton news. Thank you.”

Someone else declared, “Kathryn Newton in Ready or Not 2 is honestly the biggest win for the horror community. I’m so proud of her I’m emotional.”

Another fan summed it up best: “Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton in a movie together… I will not survive this.”

People are invested, and for good reason. This casting is the kind of horror news that brings the genre community together in celebration.

What We Know About the Sequel So Far

Details about Ready or Not 2 are still under wraps, but with Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett returning to direct and original writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy back on board, the film is in very good hands.

Searchlight Pictures is producing, with Tripp Vinson, James Vanderbilt, Bradley J. Fischer, and William Sherak as producers, while Chad Villella, Tara Farney, Greg Denny, Busick, and Murphy serve as executive producers.

What we don’t know yet is whether Ready or Not 2 will be a direct sequel following Samara Weaving’s character Grace or a brand-new story set in the same twisted universe. Either way, the prospect of Weaving and Newton sharing the screen is enough to make horror fans count down the days until its release.

Get Ready for a Horror Masterpiece

If Ready or Not proved anything, it’s that Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett know how to craft a stylish, bloody, and wildly entertaining horror movie. With the addition of Kathryn Newton, the sequel has officially reached must-watch status.

There’s no release date yet, but that just means we have more time to manifest the most unhinged, gory, and chaotic horror sequel imaginable. Until then, we’ll be refreshing Twitter and rewatching Ready or Not on repeat.