Naomi Ackie in Final Talks to Join Maika Monroe in ‘They Follow’
They Follow, the long-awaited sequel to David Robert Mitchell’s acclaimed horror film It Follows, is gaining momentum. Naomi Ackie is reportedly in final talks to join returning star Maika Monroe, adding another major name to one of the most anticipated upcoming horror projects.
Mitchell will return to write and direct They Follow, with the sequel taking place approximately a decade after the events of the original film. While plot and character details remain largely under wraps, the project is reportedly targeting a summer production start.
For actors interested in They Follow casting calls and auditions, the production is especially worth watching as it moves closer to filming.
What Is ‘They Follow’ About?
They Follow is the sequel to David Robert Mitchell’s 2015 psychological horror hit It Follows.
The original movie follows Jay Height, played by Maika Monroe, a college student who becomes the target of a mysterious supernatural entity after a sexual encounter.
The entity relentlessly stalks its victim while assuming the appearance of different people. The curse can be passed to another person through sex, but if the entity kills its latest target, it can begin making its way back through previous victims.
That deceptively simple concept helped turn It Follows into one of the most talked-about horror movies of the 2010s.
Details about the They Follow storyline have yet to be revealed, but the sequel is expected to take place roughly 10 years after the events of the first movie, with Monroe reprising her role as Jay.
Naomi Ackie Could Join Maika Monroe in ‘They Follow’
Naomi Ackie is reportedly in final talks to star opposite Maika Monroe in They Follow.
Details about Ackie’s potential character have not been disclosed, leaving plenty of questions about how she will fit into the supernatural world established by the first movie.
Ackie has built an increasingly prominent film career across independent projects and major studio productions. Her recent credits include Mickey 17, Blink Twice, The Thursday Murder Club, Sorry, Baby, and Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters.
She is also set to star opposite Tom Rhys Harries in DC Studios’ body-horror film Clayface.
Her potential addition to They Follow would give the sequel another high-profile performer alongside Monroe while introducing a new character into the franchise.
Maika Monroe Returns as Jay Height
Maika Monroe is set to return as Jay Height, the protagonist at the center of It Follows.
The original movie helped establish Monroe as one of the most recognizable performers in contemporary horror. Her return also raises one of the sequel’s biggest questions: What happened to Jay after the ambiguous conclusion of It Follows?
With They Follow reportedly set approximately a decade later, Mitchell has an opportunity to explore the long-term consequences of surviving the entity—and whether escaping it is ever truly possible.
Why ‘It Follows’ Became a Modern Horror Favorite
It Follows premiered to strong reviews before becoming both a critical and commercial success.
Alongside Monroe, the movie starred Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, and Lili Sepe.
The film ultimately grossed approximately $23 million against a reported production budget of a little more than $1 million.
Its success was particularly impressive given the movie’s modest scale. Rather than relying heavily on conventional jump scares, It Follows created tension through atmosphere, cinematography, music, and the simple idea that something could always be slowly walking toward its victim.
The movie helped launch Monroe to greater prominence and established Mitchell as a filmmaker to watch.
More than a decade later, that reputation has created considerable anticipation for They Follow.
Who Is Directing ‘They Follow’?
David Robert Mitchell is returning to write and direct They Follow.
That continuity is significant because Mitchell created the distinctive rules, atmosphere, and visual language of the original movie.
Mitchell is also producing the sequel alongside Jake Weiner and Chris Bender of Good Fear Content. Returning It Follows producers David Kaplan, Erik Rommesmo, Rebecca Green, and Laura Smith are also involved.
Neon is set to co-produce the movie alongside Good Fear Content and release They Follow domestically.
Who Are the Casting Directors for ‘They Follow’?
For actors hoping to work on They Follow, the casting team is one of the most important parts of the production to watch.
Mark Bennett and Rich King Casting are connected to casting for the project, bringing feature-film casting experience to the upcoming horror sequel.
Mark Bennett
Casting director Mark Bennett has an especially notable connection to the franchise because his credits include the original It Follows.
Bennett is a casting director, casting department professional, and producer whose credits also include films such as Zero Dark Thirty and Longlegs.
His return to the world of It Follows provides another point of continuity between the original movie and its sequel.
Actors interested in They Follow auditions should be familiar with the casting professionals attached to the production and monitor legitimate casting announcements as filming approaches.
Rich King Casting
Rich King Casting is also involved with casting for They Follow.
Rich King Casting has worked on feature-film and television productions and is particularly relevant to performers looking for background acting and other on-set opportunities.
As production approaches, casting needs can potentially extend beyond principal actors to include background performers, stand-ins, photo doubles, specialty talent, and other roles required during filming.
Actors should only submit through legitimate casting notices and follow the submission instructions provided for each opportunity.
“They Follow” Open Casting Call
Male Supernatural Entity Actors for Horror Production
Job Description
A horror production filming in Santa Clarita, California, is casting male performers to portray supernatural, ghost-like entities in intense day and night scenes. Talent must be comfortable with full-frontal nudity and being covered in theatrical fake blood. This role is suited for confident performers comfortable with physically and visually demanding horror content.
Job Responsibilities
- Portray a supernatural, ghost-like entity in a horror production.
- Perform scenes involving full-frontal nudity.
- Work while covered in theatrical fake blood as required by the scene.
- Participate in both daytime and nighttime filming.
- Follow direction from the production, makeup, and creative teams.
- Maintain professionalism during sensitive and demanding scenes.
Requirements
- Male performers.
- Must be comfortable with full-frontal nudity.
- Must be comfortable being covered in theatrical fake blood.
- Must be available for both required filming days.
- Must be able to work in Santa Clarita, California.
- Casting is seeking new faces who have not previously worked on the production.
Compensation
- Selected talent will receive compensation details directly from the production team.
When Will ‘They Follow’ Start Filming?
They Follow is reportedly eyeing a summer production start.
An exact filming date and production location have not been publicly detailed in the information currently available. Additional cast members beyond Maika Monroe and the potential addition of Naomi Ackie are also expected to be announced as the project progresses.
For actors and crew members, the movement toward production makes They Follow a project worth monitoring closely.
Casting requirements can change throughout pre-production and filming, meaning opportunities may emerge at different stages of the production process.
How to Audition for ‘They Follow’
Actors interested in They Follow casting calls should prepare before opportunities are announced.
Keep your acting résumé updated, make sure you have current professional headshots, and have your reel or other requested materials ready to submit. Background performers should also keep recent photos and accurate measurements available, since casting offices frequently request this information.
Most importantly, carefully follow the instructions included in each official casting notice. Requirements can vary significantly depending on whether a production is looking for principal actors, extras, stand-ins, doubles, or specialty performers.
Never assume that an opportunity is officially connected to They Follow unless the casting notice comes from a legitimate casting source or authorized production representative.
What’s Next for ‘They Follow’?
After years of anticipation, They Follow appears to be moving closer to production.
Maika Monroe is returning as Jay Height. David Robert Mitchell is once again writing and directing. Naomi Ackie is reportedly in final talks to join the cast, while Mark Bennett and Rich King Casting are connected to the project’s casting.
Major questions still remain, including who Ackie will play, which other actors will join the ensemble, and how Mitchell will expand the mythology surrounding the entity from the original movie.
For horror fans, They Follow represents the return of one of the genre’s most memorable modern concepts. For actors and entertainment professionals, its upcoming production could also mean new casting and job opportunities.
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