Terrifier's David Howard Thornton joins the cast of Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon
- Brian Fanelli
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
David Howard Thornton is best known for playing the maniacal Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise. Now, he's joining another major slasher. Variety reported this week that he just signed on to star in Behind the Mask II: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
The sequel to the meta slasher mockumentary from 2006 will take place 20 years after the initial film. Director Scott Glosserman and writer David J. Stieve have reunited for the sequel, along with stars Nathan Baesel and Angela Goethals. Like the first movie, the sequel will once again follow serial killer Leslie Vernon.
Though the sequel is in its early stages of production, there is a synopsis, which reads, "The sequel picks up in a horror landscape that has changed dramatically since Leslie first emerged, as the old rules of the genre collide with a new wave of modern slashers, viral killers, legacy sequels, and blood-soaked icons built for the internet age."
In a statement to Variety, Glosserman expressed his excitement regarding the casting of Thornton. "David is one of the defining faces of the modern slasher era," he said, adding, "If 'Behind the Mask' was about deconstructing the classic rules, then a sequel 20 years later has to reckon with what the genre has become. Bringing David into Leslie's world lets us put the old guard and the new blood in direct conversation, which is exactly where this movie should live."
Work on Behind the Mask II is slated to begin this fall, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised over $400,000. Besides the Terrifier movies, Thornton also starred in some other slasher films, including Screamboat in 2025, a bloody take on Steamboat WIllie, and he played a twisted version of the Grinch in 2022's The Mean One. He'll reprise his role as Art for Terrifier 4, which is targeted for release in 2027. His character in Behind the Mask II is unknown at this time, though it's likely he'll play a major role.
Terrifier's writer/director Damien Leone has said it will be the final film in the franchise. It'll also take place during New Year's Eve.
We'll continue to share news about Behind the Mask II and the Terrifier franchise as we receive it.
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