I think we’re all looking forward to seeing Ethan Hawke break bad in The Black Phone, particularly after the extremely positive reaction it received following its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. Well, we’re going to have to wait a little longer (but not too much) as Universal Pictures announced today that they’re pushing The Black Phone release from January 28, 2022 to February 4, 2022.
The new release date will The Black Phone directly facing off against Roland Emmerich’s latest helping of disaster porn, Moonfall, as well as Jackass Forever, the fourth installment of the Jackass franchise. The Black Phone takes place in a suburban Colorado town in the 1970s where five children have gone missing. Finney Shaw is soon to become the sixth victim when he is kidnapped by a serial killer (Ethan Hawke) and put inside of a soundproof basement. Finding a disconnected phone, Shaw discovers its ability to transmit the voices of the killer’s previous victims, who try to help him escape. Based upon the short story by Joe Hill, The Black Phone has been directed by Scott Derrickson, who also co-wrote the script alongside C. Robert Cargill.
Our own Chris Bumbray first caught a glimpse at The Black Phone earlier this summer at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Bumbray was pretty impressed with what was on display, saying that the film looked badass and scary with Ethan Hawke coming across as absolutely evil. Ethan Hawke has previously said that he’s always tried to stay away from playing bad guys, but it’s clear that he’s breaking that rule in a big way for The Black Phone. I can’t wait! Following The Black Phone, Ethan Hawke will next be seen in Robert Eggers’ The Northman on April 8, 2022, and he’s also part of the ensemble cast of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 2.