Thanksgiving 2 Is Still Coming, Even If John Carver Is Taking His Time
When Thanksgiving carved its way into cinemas in late 2023, it didn’t just slash box office expectations — it practically guaranteed a sequel. In fact, Thanksgiving 2 was officially announced a mere two weeks after the first film opened, with TriStar eager to strike while the gravy was hot. The original plan was simple: get it into cinemas by Thanksgiving 2025. What could possibly go wrong?
Quite a bit, as it turns out.
Why Thanksgiving 2 Has Been Delayed
Despite the early announcement, Thanksgiving 2 has yet to enter production, largely thanks to the least exciting villain of all — scheduling. Addison Rae has been tied up with touring commitments, while Milo Manheim landed a starring role in Disney’s live-action remake of Tangled. John Carver, it seems, has been left waiting patiently in the pantry while his intended victims pursue other careers.
Still, director Eli Roth remains completely unfazed.
Speaking to Variety, Roth made it clear that the sequel is not a question of if, but when.
“Everybody wants to do it. I’m gonna have it locked and loaded, and we’ll find a time when we’re all available,” Roth said. “We’ll just go back for a few weeks and have fun.”
Which, coming from the man who turned a holiday built on family, food, and gratitude into a blood-soaked slasher, is oddly reassuring.
Eli Roth’s Plan for the Thanksgiving Sequel
Roth is set to return to direct Thanksgiving 2 from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Rendell, continuing the twisted vision first teased all the way back in the infamous fake trailer from Grindhouse. Nell Verlaque and Rick Hoffman are also expected to reprise their roles, joining Rae and Manheim once the cast schedules finally align like a properly set dinner table.
What’s especially encouraging is Roth’s approach to the sequel’s scale. Rather than chasing a bigger budget or inflated spectacle, he’s deliberately choosing restraint.
“We’re upping the ante but we are not going to do it with more money,” Roth previously teased. “I want it to be a challenge to pull off. Because if I’ve come up with the stuff that I think will make the best kills, then I’m going to do it like I’m never going to make another movie again.”
That mindset should be music to slasher fans’ ears. Less money, more creativity, nastier kills, and zero interest in playing it safe.
Why John Carver’s Return Still Matters
If the first Thanksgiving proved anything, it’s that Roth thrives when he’s pushing practical effects, absurd brutality, and mean-spirited humour right up to the edge of good taste and then shoving it off a cliff.
Set in Plymouth, Massachusetts — the birthplace of Thanksgiving itself — the original film followed the aftermath of a Black Friday riot that ends in tragedy. One year later, a mysterious killer inspired by Thanksgiving traditions begins stalking the town. What initially appear to be random revenge killings slowly reveal themselves as part of a far more calculated plan. Small-town slasher, seasonal theming turned up to eleven, and a killer who understands the true horror of family gatherings.
What Eli Roth Is Doing While We Wait
While Thanksgiving 2 continues to simmer, Roth is far from idle. Through his Horror Section Studios banner, he’s developing projects including Ice Cream Man and the gloriously titled Don’t Go in That House, Bitch! — because subtlety has never really been his thing. He’s also expanding the Hostel universe with a television series in development for Peacock.
So yes, Thanksgiving 2 is taking longer than expected, and no, John Carver hasn’t sharpened his knives just yet. But if Roth’s confidence is anything to go by, the sequel will arrive when it’s ready — not when a calendar demands it.
And if that means nastier kills, tighter execution, and a director swinging like it’s his last supper, the wait might just be worth it.
Now pass the cranberry sauce.
