So, you’ve seen the hand. You’ve watched Mia’s eyes go pitch black and heard that wet, thumping sound of Riley’s head against the counter. It’s hard to shake. Honestly, Talk to Me didn't just land in 2023; it felt like a total reset for what A24 could do with a tiny budget and some YouTube-bred audacity.
But now it's 2026, and the "talk to me movies" landscape is way more complicated than just a single Aussie hit.
People keep asking: where is the sequel? Why are the Philippou brothers making documentaries about deathmatch wrestling instead of giving us more embalmed hands? The truth is, the world of Talk to Me is expanding, just not in the way a typical Hollywood franchise would. We’re looking at a prequel that’s already been shot, a sequel titled Talk 2 Me that’s currently in a script-war with itself, and a spin-off series that sounds like a total fever dream.
The Duckett Prequel Is Already Real (Sort Of)
Here is the thing most people miss: Danny and Michael Philippou have already filmed an entire prequel.
Seriously.
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Before the first movie even hit Sundance, they shot a feature-length project centered on Duckett—the guy from the opening scene who stabs his brother and then himself. If you remember that chaotic, one-take intro, it felt like we walked into the middle of a story. That’s because we did.
The brothers confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that this prequel is told entirely through the lens of mobile phones and social media. It’s a found-footage nightmare that tracks how the hand destroyed Duckett’s life before Mia ever touched it. They haven’t released it yet because they’re perfectionists, or maybe because A24 is holding it as the ultimate "break glass in case of emergency" marketing tool.
Talk to Me Movies: Why the Sequel Is Taking Forever
A24 "summoned a sequel" (their words, not mine) almost immediately after the first one cleared $90 million on a $4.5 million budget. But as of right now, Talk 2 Me is still in the workshop.
Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman have actually written two different versions of the script. One follows the fallout of the first film's characters, while the other apparently heads in a totally different direction. Danny told IndieWire he’s stuck because he can’t decide which "avenue" is more horrific.
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It’s a good problem to have, I guess.
In the meantime, they’ve been busy. They released Bring Her Back in 2025, which stars Sally Hawkins and proved they aren't one-hit wonders. That movie grossed about $39 million and kept their "trauma-horror" crown firmly in place. Michael even joked that they might not get to Talk 2 Me until 2027 or 2028 because they have a documentary and another original horror film in the queue first.
The Meta VR Spin-off You Probably Didn't Expect
While we wait for the theatrical sequel, there’s a weird side-project happening with Meta and XRTV.
It’s a 3D six-episode series. The plot? A group of travelers in Europe go looking for the "ultimate party" and find the hand instead. It treats the possession like a "supernatural high," which leans into that drug metaphor the first movie did so well. If you have a headset, this is basically the closest you’ll get to the franchise in 2026.
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Explaining That Ending Without the Fluff
Let’s be real—the ending of the first movie is what makes everyone search for "talk to me movies" in the first place.
Mia is dead. She’s not "trapped" in the sense of being a ghost in the hospital; she’s become the spirit on the other side. When she sees that faint light in the darkness and reaches out, she’s being summoned by a new group of kids.
The lore is brutal:
- If you die with a spirit inside you, you're stuck in that purgatory.
- The 90-second rule isn't just a suggestion; it’s the barrier that keeps the door from staying open.
- The spirits are liars. That wasn't Mia's mom. It was a "mimic" exploiting her grief.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
If you're looking for a concrete release date for Talk 2 Me, you won't find one today. The Philippous are currently focused on their documentary and a new project called Diabolic (produced by their peer Daniel J. Phillips) is carrying the Aussie horror torch in early 2026.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Duckett Scene Again: Pay attention to the background details; the Philippous have hinted that clues for the prequel are buried in the "social media" clips shown early in the film.
- Keep an Eye on the "Black Angels" Website: The directors often hide Easter eggs and found-footage clips on their associated production sites.
- Track "Bring Her Back": If you haven't seen their 2025 follow-up, watch it. It uses the same practical effects team and gives you a taste of how their style is evolving before they return to the "Hand" universe.
The wait is long, but considering how many horror sequels feel like cheap cash-ins, the fact that they’re sitting on two scripts until one feels "perfect" is actually a relief.