Filmmaker Osgood Perkins is revisiting the eerie world of Longlegs, but not in the way audiences might expect. A new project set within the same universe is officially in the works, with Paramount Pictures stepping in to back the film, marking a shift from the original movie’s distributor, Neon.
Perkins has written the script and will direct and produce the upcoming feature, while Nicolas Cage is attached to star and produce, reprising his chilling presence associated with the titular character. However, insiders clarify that the film is not a direct sequel, instead describing it as a story “set in the Longlegs universe".
Production duties are being shared by Brian Kavanaugh Jones of Range Media, Chris Ferguson — Perkins’ collaborator at their banner Phobos — and Dave Caplan of C2, which also financed the first film.
Released in 2024, Longlegs became an unexpected box office phenomenon. Made on a budget of under $10 million, the film grossed $128 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing independent film of the past decade and Neon’s top domestic performer. The story followed an FBI agent, played by Maika Monroe, whose clairvoyant abilities aid her investigation into a string of murder-suicides linked to a cryptic serial killer known as Longlegs. Cage’s unsettling portrayal of the antagonist became one of the film’s most talked-about elements.
Blending occult themes, psychological manipulation, satanic undertones and procedural storytelling, the film created a rich narrative landscape that now lends itself to further exploration.
Since Longlegs, Perkins has remained active in the horror space, directing films such as The Monkey and Keeper. He has also completed work on The Young People, featuring Nicole Kidman, Lola Tung and Nico Parker.
Meanwhile, Cage continues to stay busy with a diverse slate. He will next appear in the Amazon Prime Video series Spider-Noir, premiering in May, and is also set to portray football icon John Madden in David O Russell’s upcoming biographical drama Madden.
