Paramount Pictures Schedules Untitled Longlegs-Universe Film for Theatrical Release on January 14, 2028

Paramount Pictures has slated an untitled film set in the Longlegs universe for theatrical release on January 14, 2028, scheduling the project over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Nicolas Cage, who starred in the original 2024 horror hit, is set to return as a star in the new film. Osgood Perkins, who wrote and directed the original, is returning to both write and direct the untitled project, continuing the creative team from the first installment that was released by Neon in July 2024.

The Details

Paramount announced the January 14, 2028 release date for the new Longlegs-universe project, selecting the MLK holiday corridor for the film's theatrical debut. Deadline first reported the date. The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap subsequently corroborated the announcement. Multiple top-tier trade outlets consistently report that the film is not being positioned as a straight sequel to the original. The project remains untitled, and plot details are being kept under wraps by the studio at this time. Trade coverage across Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and TheWrap cautions against describing the project as a confirmed direct sequel, noting that the film's exact relationship to the original has not been defined by the studio.

Nicolas Cage is set to reprise his involvement as a star in the new project. Osgood Perkins is returning to both write and direct the untitled follow-up. The producing team attached to the project, as listed across trade reports from Deadline and corroborated by other outlets, includes Brian Kavanaugh Jones, Osgood Perkins, Chris Ferguson, Dave Caplan, and Nicolas Cage. Perkins' dual role as writer and director mirrors his responsibilities on the original film. Cage's involvement extends beyond acting to include a producing credit.

The new film marks a notable shift in distribution for the franchise. The original Longlegs was released by Neon in July 2024 and grossed roughly $128 million worldwide after a breakout theatrical run. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Neon stepped aside on the new project because the budget was above its typical range. Paramount subsequently acquired the project. Trade outlets first reported in April 2026 that Paramount had secured the next Longlegs-universe film, with Cage and Perkins both attached to return. The May 2026 date announcement, as reported by Deadline and corroborated by The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap, confirms the project remains at Paramount with its original creative team intact.

Context

The first Longlegs film centered on Maika Monroe as an FBI agent investigating a serial killer known as Longlegs, a role played by Nicolas Cage. The film was released by Neon in July 2024 and grossed roughly $128 million worldwide. The project's move from Neon to Paramount followed budget considerations that placed the new film outside Neon's typical spending range, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Deadline noted that Paramount has used the MLK holiday corridor successfully before with previous releases such as Scream in 2022 and Mean Girls in 2024, a track record that helps explain the studio's dating strategy for the untitled Longlegs-universe project. The January 2028 release date places the new film roughly three and a half years after the original's theatrical debut. The timeline from July 2024 through January 2028 covers the period of the film's development and distributor transition. The original film's July 2024 release was followed by April 2026 reports from Deadline that Paramount had acquired the next Longlegs-universe project, which in turn preceded the May 2026 announcement of the January 2028 release date.

What's Next

Paramount has not released plot details or an official title for the new Longlegs-universe film. No production timeline has been disclosed publicly. The studio has not confirmed whether additional cast members from the original film will return, nor has it specified the extent of Cage's role beyond his return as a star. The producing team remains as reported by the trades, and no additional producers have been announced. The untitled status and undisclosed plot leave the project's narrative direction unspecified at this stage. The studio has not indicated when the title or plot details might be revealed. Trade outlets are expected to continue tracking the project as additional details emerge. With the January 2028 release date now set, further details on additional casting, filming schedules, or marketing plans are expected to surface in subsequent trade reports as the project moves through development toward its scheduled theatrical debut.