Stephen King's 1408: Sequel starring John Cusack is reportedly in the works
Samuel L. Jackson is also expected to return for the second installment
The horror film "1408" is reportedly set to get a sequel. The 2007 original is based on the eponymous short story by bestselling author Stephen King. The sequel is set to feature the return of the original lead actors, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. In addition, Mikael Håfström is said to be back on board to direct the second installment as well. This is according to insider Daniel Richtman. Whether "Room 1408 2" will actually come to fruition remains to be seen, however. At the moment, none of this has been officially confirmed.
The original film centers on Mike Enslin, played by John Cusack. The author investigates places rumored to be haunted. Enslin himself is skeptical of supposed paranormal phenomena. When he receives a warning not to enter Room 1408 at New York's Hotel The Dolphin, he chooses that very room – and experiences a series of strange, terrifying events.
Notable stars
In addition to John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, the film's cast also included Mary McCormack and Tony Shalhoub. Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, and Larry Karaszewski wrote the screenplay. Directed by Mikael Håfström, the film grossed $132 million worldwide at the box office on a budget of $25 million.
With John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson in the lead roles, "Room 1408" features two renowned stars who have portrayed numerous characters over the course of their long careers. Among Cusack's best-known films are the romantic comedy-drama "High Fidelity" by Stephen Frears and Roland Emmerich's disaster film "2012." Jackson made a splash in Quentin Tarantino's cult classic "Pulp Fiction," among other films: The role of Jules Winnfield earned him, among other accolades, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He has also left his mark on major film franchises. For example, Jackson appeared as Mace Windu in the "Star Wars" universe and as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Stephen King as a source of inspiration
Stephen King's works consistently serve as a source of inspiration for horror film adaptations. Many of these adaptations are considered celebrated cinematic classics, including Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" with Jack Nicholson, Frank Darabont's "The Shawshank Redemption" with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Rob Reiner's "Misery" with Kathy Bates, and Brian De Palma's "Carrie" with Sissy Spacek. The latter film is based on King's 1974 novel of the same name. The story is currently generating buzz once again. The reason: the new "Carrie" series.
In showrunner Mike Flanagan's reimagining, Summer H. Howell plays the protagonist, Carrie White. At her high school, she faces a merciless environment. On top of that, the outcast develops telekinetic powers. Other cast members of the "Carrie" series include Samantha Sloyan, Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder, and Matthew Lillard. All eight episodes of the first season of "Carrie" have been available on Prime Video since October 7, 2026.
Carrie series: Season 2 is a done deal
As Flanagan revealed to the website Collider, he would like the series to span a total of three seasons. Whether a third season will actually happen remains to be seen. However, a second season of "Carrie" is already a done deal: Amazon has officially announced that the series will continue on Prime Video. Flanagan is back on board as showrunner. Together with Stephen King, he will also once again serve as executive producer. However, it has not yet been determined when Season 2 of "Carrie" will premiere.
