Thanksgiving 2: Shooting start announced

The sequel to Eli Roth's slasher hit "Thanksgiving" was announced back in December last year. Now, however, it has finally been announced when filming will begin.

In an interview with IndieWire, Eli Roth revealed that the first take is scheduled for March 2025.

The director emphasized that "Thanksgiving 2" will be a direct sequel to the first film. The actors, including Nell Verlaque and Rick Hoffman, are to be back. Interestingly, the budget for the sequel is deliberately kept at a similarly low level as its predecessor. The screenplay was once again written by Roth in collaboration with his close friend Jeff Rendell. The latter already wrote "Cabin Fever" for Roth.

There is no concrete information on the story as yet. According to Roth, however, we are in for an "epic cat-and-mouse chase". The film is currently expected to be released in cinemas in time for Thanksgiving on November 27, 2025.

Eli Roth: A career full of shock moments

Eli Roth has established himself as one of the most recognizable names in modern cinema, particularly in the horror genre. His career as a director spans a diverse range of films, from uncompromising horror to blockbuster entertainment. With his latest projects, "Thanksgiving" and "Borderlands", Roth continues his success story by broadening his horizons and exploring different genres.

The beginnings: "Cabin Fever" (2002)

Roth's first feature film, "Cabin Fever", was shot on a budget of just 1.5 million US dollars and went on to become a cult classic. The story is about a group of friends who are haunted by a flesh-eating virus in a remote cabin. With its mixture of body horror, pitch-black humor and allusions to classic horror films, Roth immediately attracted attention. The film grossed over 30 million US dollars worldwide and established Roth as a new voice in horror cinema.

"Hostel" (2005) and "Hostel 2" (2007): Torture porn and controversy

With "Hostel" and its sequel "Hostel 2", Roth defined the subgenre of "Torture Porn" in the 2000s. The films, which focus on the dark world of organized torture tourism, became known for their explicit scenes of violence as well as their socio-critical undertones. Hostel was a commercial success, grossing over 80 million US dollars worldwide on a budget of just 4.8 million US dollars. The sequel deepened the subject matter by shedding light on the perpetrators' perspective and introducing female protagonists. The films divided audiences, but cemented Roth's reputation as a provocative filmmaker.

"The Green Inferno" (2013): Homage to cannibal horror

After a long break, Roth returned with "The Green Inferno", a brutal cannibal horror film inspired by the Italian genre classics of the 1970s and 1980s. The film is about idealistic activists who are captured by a tribe of cannibals in a Peruvian rainforest. "The Green Inferno" polarizes with its extreme portrayals and satirical take on Western activism, but remains an important milestone in Roth's filmography.

"Knock Knock" (2015) and "Death Wish" (2018): Excursions into other genres

Roth showed his versatility with "Knock Knock" and "Death Wish". "Knock Knock", a psychological thriller starring Keanu Reeves, tells the story of a married man who is seduced and subsequently terrorized by two young women. The film played with moral gray areas and offered less gore than Roth's previous works.

"Death Wish", a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, marked Roth's entry into the action genre. The film, which starred Bruce Willis, received mixed reviews but showed Roth's ability to work outside of horror.

"The House with a Clock in its Walls" (2018): Horror for the whole family

Roth took a surprising step with "The House with a Clock in its Walls", a fantasy horror film for a younger audience. Starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchett, the film tells the story of a boy who is drawn into a magical world full of secrets and dangers. The film was a commercial success and proved that Roth can also be convincing in family-friendly projects without losing his signature style.

"Thanksgiving" (2023): From fake trailer to slasher masterpiece

"Thanksgiving", Roth's latest horror film, is based on a fake trailer he shot for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's "Grindhouse" in 2007. The film is set in a small town that is terrorized by a masked killer after a gruesome incident during a Thanksgiving parade. With bloody kills and dark humor, Roth returns to his roots as a horror master. "Thanksgiving" was praised by fans and critics alike and showed that Roth is still able to tell innovative and gripping horror stories even after two decades in the business.

"Borderlands" (2024): A massive flop

With "Borderlands", a film adaptation of the successful video game of the same name, Roth once again broke new ground. The film, which boasts a star-studded cast with names such as Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Jamie Lee Curtis, combines science fiction, action and the absurd humor of the game. However, it ultimately proved to be a huge flop, earning 32 million dollars at the box office.