Despite the fact that Doctor Strange 2 was expected to be Marvel's first horror movie, it's a wonder if perhaps they weren't willing to go as dark as Derrickson wanted to when he chose to depart the sequel because of creative differences. At least, that's what might be inferred from the premise of his next directorial effort. A cinematic adaptation of Joe Hill's 2007 novella The Black Phone that he will direct and co-write alongside C. Robert Cargill, who previously co-wrote Derrickson's films Sinister and Doctor Strange (Along with co-writing Sinister 2 with him, despite Derrickson not directing that).. Looking into the basic story...it's far darker than anything he could have done with Doctor Strange 2.
The story follows a young man who is abducted and locked in a basement stained with the blood of previously murdered children. Clearly, the young man is next, but in that basement he also finds an antique telephone that rights at night...despite being disconnected. And who is on the other end of the line? Calls from the dead.
Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw have already been cast in the film which is set over at Blumhouse and Universal Pictures. Derrickson and Cargill will produce alongside Jason Blum while Hill will serve as an executive producer. Stay tuned!