Director Behind “Skillful” & “Fright-Filled” Forgotten Horror Flick Teases a Long-Awaited Sequel

David F. Sandberg, the director behind films like *Shazam!* and *Annabelle: Creation*, has spoken about the possibility of a sequel to his 2016 horror hit, *Lights Out*. The film was a big success, earning $149 million and receiving surprisingly positive reviews – it was even labeled “Certified Fresh” with a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While Warner Bros. initially announced plans for a sequel, it never happened. However, Sandberg suggests that *Lights Out 2* could still become a reality.

The director recently spoke at Midnight Fest about his future projects, including a new film in the *Amityville* series. According to *Bloody Disgusting*, he also discussed the possibility of a *Lights Out 2*. He revealed that a sequel had been considered, but he wouldn’t revisit the original concept if he were to make one now, due to the original actor’s age. He also directed this year’s video game version of *Until Dawn*.

You know, there’s a possibility we might get another film! Honestly, I’m not sure how much I can reveal right now, because things are still up in the air and it *could* actually happen. It’s exciting, but I’m trying to be careful about what I say.

We previously developed an idea for a sequel, but it wouldn’t really work now. Some elements might be usable, but the original story happened soon after the first film. Now that the main character, Martin, has aged, a new sequel would need to be set about ten years later.

While Sandberg didn’t directly say if *Lights Out 2* is happening, his recent comments suggest there’s still hope. The director of *Until Dawn* mentioned he’s eager to work on a sci-fi project, but one that’s more realistic and focuses on horror, similar to the movie *Event Horizon*, rather than large-scale space battles. He’s looking for a new, original story, not a sequel or adaptation of existing material.

‘Lights Out’ Was Inspired By the Viral Short of the Same Name

Back in 2013, a short horror film called *Lights Out* became a huge online hit. Though it was only three minutes long, it was incredibly effective at creating a spooky atmosphere (you can watch it above!). The film follows a woman who feels like she’s being watched. Even after getting into bed, she’s still uneasy, so she covers herself up—only to have the lights suddenly switched off.

Sandberg made the film as part of a horror challenge, where he won an award for directing. After he shared it online, it quickly became popular, with fans worldwide appreciating his fresh take on familiar horror themes. This attention caught the eye of people in Hollywood, including James Wan, the director of *The Conjuring*. Wan was impressed after hearing Sandberg’s ideas for a longer film and agreed to help produce it through his company, Atomic Monster. A few years later, *Lights Out* was released, launching Sandberg’s career in Hollywood.

2025-10-14 15:55

‘Lights Out’ Was Inspired By the Viral Short of the Same Name

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