Ever since their acclaimed work on the 2025 smash hit Final Destination: Bloodlines, Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein have become the toast of Tinseltown and one of the most sought-after filmmakers in the business. In the time since the film’s release, the duo signed a generous first-look contract with Sony, who have also hired them to direct an animated feature (their first) centering on the Marvel villain/anti-hero Venom, as well as helming the long gestating live action adaptation of the legendary video game franchise Metal Gear Solid.
As if their slate isn’t already packed, Lipovsky (who hails from Vancouver) and Stein are now in talks to direct an adaptation of the 1996 Stephen King novel Desperation, which will be produced by none other than Sam Raimi. The novel’s story, which has previously been adapted in a 2006 made-for-TV film starring Ron Perlman and Tom Skerritt, focuses on a group of people travelling across the United States who are kidnapped by the local sheriff of the fictional titular town of Desperation. It eventually becomes clear that the sheriff is possessed by an evil entity named Tak, that needs to move from one host to another in order to survive, so the group resolves to escape before figuring out a way to defeat Tak once and for all.
Lipovsky and Stein’s involvement is not a given yet since they are in the negotiating stages, and as such, even if they do sign on to direct the project, given their packed schedule, it is very difficult to say exactly when their adaptation of Desperation will be released, but the involvement of Raimi and King (who also serves a producer) is certain to be quite incentivizing for the duo.
What you can be sure of, though, is that Freaks Part II, the sequel to their criminally underrated feature film debut Freaks, will be hitting theatres sooner rather than later as the third directorial feature of the pair’s careers, having already marked its world premiere at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival on August 2nd. Much like the original 2018 science fiction thriller, the sequel’s shoot in 2025 was intentionally low-key and maintains the original film’s low-budget indie roots despite Lipovsky and Stein’s breakthrough into the commercial Hollywood system, which is undoubtedly what fans of the first entry – myself included – want to hear.
While there is a teaser trailer made for Freaks Part II, it has yet to be released to the public, but on the official webpage for Fantasia Fest, it boldly states that the film features “inventive gore—the most we’ve seen in a Canadian film in years,” which is sure to be highlighted in any future trailers.
The story for Freaks Part II picks up years after the end of its predecessor, where the powerful mutant telepath Chloe (played by Lorelei Olivia Mote, who replaces the excellent Lexy Kolker) is now a teenager on the run from the Abnormal Defence Force with her mother and fellow mutant, Mary (Amanda Crew). Despite this, Mary is actively seeking revenge upon the officer who killed her other child years earlier, Erica Lang (Lili Taylor), who is herself chasing down the mother and daughter as one of the ADF’s most decorated agents. All the while, Mary must also manage the whims of an immensely powerful teenage telepath who is experiencing visions of a mysterious girl that leads them into even more danger, as well as the answers to the secrets of Mary’s past.
Although it has made its world premiere, there is still no word on when a wide theatrical release can be expected for Freaks Part II, but the distribution rights were acquired by Paramount Pictures last month, so a 2027 release is most likely. However, we should hopefully see a trailer for the film before the year’s end.