T MRC and Lionsgate are teaming up for a thrilling sequel to the hit horror-comedy film “The Blackening” by Dewayne Perkins and Tracy Oliver.
Summary
• MRC and Lionsgate are teaming up to create a sequel to Dewayne Perkins and Tracy Oliver’s hit horror-comedy film, “The Blackening”.
• Directed by Tim Story, the low-budget movie earned an impressive $18 million at the box office.
• Opening over Juneteenth weekend, the film made an impressive debut of $2.5 million on its first day with a production budget of just $3 million.
• Oliver expressed her excitement about the success of “The Blackening,” noting that it proves there are opportunities for Black filmmakers to secure funding without relying solely on major studios.
• Perkins envisions “The Blackening” becoming a franchise, much like the “Scary Movie” series, introducing new characters alongside the original cast which included Antoinette Robertson, Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Jermaine Fowler, Yvonne Orji, and Jay Pharoah.
• The film was produced by Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, E Brian Dobbins, Oliver ,Story,and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett with Perkins as co-producer and Vicky Story as
After the low-budget movie earned an impressive $18 million at the box office, MRC and Lionsgate are now discussing with Perkins, Oliver, and producer E. Brian Dobbins to create a follow-up film.
Directed by Tim Story and co-written by Perkins and Oliver, “The Blackening” tells the story of a group of college friends who come together for Juneteenth weekend, only to be hunted by a killer who challenges them to uncover who is the “Blackest” among them, cleverly mocking the stereotype of Black characters being the first to die in horror movies.
Originally conceived as a sketch for Perkins’ comedy troupe 3Peat, the project evolved into a short for Comedy Central before Oliver took it upon herself to turn it into a full-length feature.
Premiering at the 2022 TIFF Midnight Madness, the audience enthusiastically received ” The Blackening ” and secured a lucrative distribution deal with Lionsgate. Opening over Juneteenth weekend, the film made an impressive $2.5 million on its first day, ultimately grossing $6 million in its opening weekend. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering the film’s modest production budget of just $3 million.
In an interview, Oliver expressed her excitement about the success of “The Blackening,” noting that it proves there are opportunities for Black filmmakers to secure funding without relying solely on major studios. She hopes the film’s success will inspire other Black creatives.
While details about the sequel’s plot have yet to be revealed, Perkins envisions “The Blackening” becoming a franchise, much like the “Scary Movie” series, with a fresh cast added to the original group of characters. He believes that introducing new blood will add an extra level of excitement to the story.
“The Blackening” features a talented ensemble cast including Antoinette Robertson, Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Jermaine Fowler, Yvonne Orji, and Jay Pharoah. The film was produced by Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, Dobbins, Oliver, Story, and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, with Perkins as a co-producer and Vicky Story as an associate producer.