Behind the Mask II Begins Production in Illinois
Scott Glosserman's sequel to Behind the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon is now filming, following a crowdfunding campaign earlier this year.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Horror
Production is underway on Scott Glosserman's sequel to Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon, with Nathan Baesel reprising the role of Leslie Vernon and Ben Pace returning as Doug. The sequel followed a successful crowdfunding campaign earlier in 2026, and filming is taking place on location in Illinois.
Why it matters
The project returns to the mockumentary horror world of the 2006 original, with the cast and filmmakers reuniting two decades after the first film. Its funding through crowdfunding and its on-location shoot in Illinois mark a production effort built outside traditional studio backing.
The original film was released in 2006, and the sequel is targeting a 2027 release, about 20 years later. The sequel's budget and distribution plans have not been disclosed.
The players
Scott Glosserman
Scott Glosserman is the filmmaker who directed the original Behind the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon and is directing this sequel.
Paper Street Pictures
Paper Street Pictures is an independent production company led by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns that is producing the sequel.
Robert Englund
Robert Englund is an actor best known for playing Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and he returns here as Doc Halloran.
The details
Robert Englund is reprising his role as Doc Halloran, and Angela Goethals returns as Taylor Gentry alongside Baesel and Pace. David J. Stieve is writing the script, David Howard Thornton joins in a key role, and Paper Street Pictures, led by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns, is producing with Adam F. Goldberg as executive producer.
Timeline
2006 — Original Behind the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon is released.
Earlier in 2026 — Crowdfunding campaign for the sequel concludes successfully.
Weekend before November 11, 2026 — Ben Pace announces production start on Instagram.
2027 — Sequel is targeted for release.
Legacy Continues
The sequel revisits the 2006 original, a mockumentary that treated the slasher-villain archetype with self-aware satire, and it brings back the film's lead cast for a continuation two decades later. Its crowdfunded route echoes the independent-horror model that has grown as traditional studios have reduced mid-budget genre releases.
Fans will have to wait for the 2027 targeted release, and no streaming platform, theatrical distributor, or ticket plan has been announced. Viewers should watch for distribution details as production continues.
The takeaway
Independent horror continues to find audiences through direct fan funding, as this sequel's crowdfunded path shows. Readers following the franchise can track its progress as the 2027 release window approaches.
Further reading
Explore more horror film coverage for context on independent genre productions.
