Could the sequel to The Woman in Black spawn a franchise?

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

We've known for a while that a sequel to 2012's THE WOMAN IN BLACK was coming our way, learning in April that Jeremy Irvine (the lead in Steven Spielberg's WAR HORSE) and Phoebe Fox ("Switch") had landed the two lead roles with the news that “Ripper Street’s” Leanne Best and “Penny Dreadful’s” Helen McCrory had joined the cast in November. If you are one of the many that are looking forward to THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH you may be excited to learn that it isn't the only sequel planned.

Hammer CEO Simon Oakes recently spoke with Total Film about the upcoming sequel and the potential to expand the films into a franchise, sharing…

If your second's successful, then your third, then you've got a franchise. I just don't believe in the notion that you can press a button and create a franchise, but, I mean, I'm definitely planning 3 and 4…"

I'm certainly looking forward to ANGEL OF DEATH and think there's plenty of tales that can be told within the WOMAN IN BLACK world. Here's the synopis for the Tom Harper-directed sequel:

As bombs rain down on London during the Blitz of World War II, a group of school children are evacuated with Eve, their young and beautiful schoolteacher, to the safety of the English countryside. Taken to an old and empty estate, cut off by a causeway from the mainland, they are left at Eel Marsh House.

One by one the children begin acting strangely, and Eve, with the help of local military commander Harry, discovers that the group has awoken a dark force even more terrifying and evil than the city’s air raids. Eve must now confront her own demons to save the children and survive The Woman in Black.

Original WOMAN IN BLACK author Susan Hill conjured up the story for ANGEL OF DEATH, which was writen by Jon Croker. THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH will be released in the UK in February 2015.