A surprise success back in 2013, the Guillermo Del Toro-produced horror Mama has finally spawned a sequel. Studio Universal are now in final negotiations with directing duo Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch to get the ball rolling.
The first Mama, starred Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It told the story of two orphaned girls, raised for five years in the woods by a mysterious, dark entity who then comes with them when they're adopted back into suburbia by their rock-chick aunt and her partner. Andreés Muschetti was the director - adapting his own unsettling short film - although Del Toro's name was more prominent in the marketing (see also The Orphanage and Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark).
Del Toro doesn't seem to be involved this time, and there's no word yet on casting. But Widmyer and Kolsch manning the cameras is an enticing prospect. They were previously behind the affecting festival horror hit Starry Eyes. Hopefully they can at least match the touching emotional resonance of the first film.
Widmyer and Kolsch will also write the screenplay, and the producers named so far are Scott Bernstein (Straight Outta Compton) and Russell Ackerman, who was involved - uncredited - with the first Mama and used to be Del Toro's assistant.
The directors are also attached to Lionsgate's Exorcism Diaries, so we'll see whether that or Mama 2 happens first.