A24, the production company behind viral YouTube sensation "Talk to Me," has taken a creative detour from the horror hit's planned sequel. The sibling directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou had teased their ambitions for a follow-up, but it now seems they've decided to branch out instead.
Instead of "Talk to Me 2" hitting theaters, A24 is partnering with Meta to bring the franchise to extended reality (XR) through six half-hour episodes created exclusively for Meta headsets. These episodes will be fully immersive, shot in 3D, and designed to transport viewers into the world of "Talk to Me," where a disembodied hand can possess anyone foolish enough to touch it.
The series follows a group of young travelers chasing the ultimate party on a European island until they discover the Hand, a supernatural force that's more deadly than any substance. The creative team behind this XR project includes Darren Brandl and Trent Atherton, who co-founded XRTV. Craig William Macneill, known for his work on "Castle Rock" and "Westworld," will be directing all six episodes.
The Philippou brothers expressed their enthusiasm for this new direction, explaining that the promise of XR is to map the story into viewers' own spaces, evoking a sense of presence and awe. They praised "Talk to Me" as an ideal project for XR because it explores themes of possession and spirit world interactions in a way that feels both thrilling and terrifying.
While fans may be disappointed by the lack of theatrical release for "Talk to Me 2," it's clear that the Philippou brothers are committed to bringing this franchise to new audiences. In an interview, Danny Philippou revealed that A24 was initially eager for him to make "Talk to Me 2" next, but he and his brother opted to take a break from the project to revisit it with fresh eyes.
As of now, there's no release date or title announced for the Meta and XRTV series. However, fans can expect more news on this innovative horror franchise in the coming months.
Instead of "Talk to Me 2" hitting theaters, A24 is partnering with Meta to bring the franchise to extended reality (XR) through six half-hour episodes created exclusively for Meta headsets. These episodes will be fully immersive, shot in 3D, and designed to transport viewers into the world of "Talk to Me," where a disembodied hand can possess anyone foolish enough to touch it.
The series follows a group of young travelers chasing the ultimate party on a European island until they discover the Hand, a supernatural force that's more deadly than any substance. The creative team behind this XR project includes Darren Brandl and Trent Atherton, who co-founded XRTV. Craig William Macneill, known for his work on "Castle Rock" and "Westworld," will be directing all six episodes.
The Philippou brothers expressed their enthusiasm for this new direction, explaining that the promise of XR is to map the story into viewers' own spaces, evoking a sense of presence and awe. They praised "Talk to Me" as an ideal project for XR because it explores themes of possession and spirit world interactions in a way that feels both thrilling and terrifying.
While fans may be disappointed by the lack of theatrical release for "Talk to Me 2," it's clear that the Philippou brothers are committed to bringing this franchise to new audiences. In an interview, Danny Philippou revealed that A24 was initially eager for him to make "Talk to Me 2" next, but he and his brother opted to take a break from the project to revisit it with fresh eyes.
As of now, there's no release date or title announced for the Meta and XRTV series. However, fans can expect more news on this innovative horror franchise in the coming months.
and yeah it's kinda sad they're not doing a movie sequel but at least its getting new life through XR 
? i mean im kinda stoked they're doin it 4 meta tho! extended reality is like whoa 
it's gonna be so trippy seein that hand possess people on ur headset 
still excited to see what they come up with tho, meta's getting in on the action and craig william macneill directing all 6 episodes sounds promising 
. I'm not sure if that's gonna work for me, but I trust the Philippou brothers and Craig William Macneill to make it happen 
. Extended reality is still kinda new to me, so I'll have to wait and see how this plays out 
I'm so stoked about this XR move! It's like, totally mind-blowing to think that we'll be able to dive into the world of "Talk to Me" in a whole new way 
. I mean, who wouldn't wanna experience the creepiness and thrills of that supernatural hand on their own terms? 
. Fingers crossed they'll drop some juicy updates soon! 
. I mean, I know some people love VR and all but... I dunno 
. Is it gonna be scary tho? Like, is that disembodied hand thing gonna freak me out 
?
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we've got this crazy story, why not take it to new heights...literally?" 
But hey, if the Philippou brothers think XR is the way forward, who am I to argue? Maybe this is exactly what the franchise needed to shake things up. Can't wait to see how it all comes together! 
That tech is getting so wild!