Slasher Fans Rejoice: Midnight Is Getting a Long-Awaited Sequel
Four decades after the cult classic, director Dustin Ferguson is reviving the bloody chaos with a new chapter that promises to crank up the scares and nostalgia.
Horror franchises never really die, they just respawn with a new filmmaker at the wheel. Case in point: John A. Russo's gritty 1982 slasher Midnight is getting a fresh sequel from prolific genre director Dustin Ferguson.
So, what is Midnight 3?
Ferguson has announced Midnight 3, a new follow-up to Russo's original film. It is scheduled to shoot in October in Los Angeles and is targeting an early 2026 release across major platforms and retailers. There is also an Indiegogo campaign running to help finish the funding.
Plot details are being kept quiet for now, but Ferguson says he has acquired the sequel rights directly from John A. Russo, who will serve as a producer on this installment. According to the campaign, the money raised will go toward remaining licensing costs, paying cast and crew, and locking locations.
"The original Midnight by Director John A. Russo is one of my all-time favorite films. It has served as inspiration to me for a number of my own films in the past like Wrong Side of The Tracks, Runaway Nightmare, Asylum of the Devil, and Don't Trick-or-Treat Alone! I recently obtained the sequel rights from Mr. Russo, who will be serving as Producer on this installment."
Quick refresher if Midnight rings a faint bell
- 1982: Midnight - Russo's sleazy, low-budget shocker follows a young woman escaping her sexually abusive stepfather; the road trip turns into a showdown with a backwoods Satanic cult after she hitches a ride with two guys.
- 1993: Midnight 2: Sex, Death and Videotape - A surviving member of the devil-worshiping clan records himself murdering women during sex with a camcorder, while the girlfriend of one victim teams with a detective to find her missing friend.
- 2020: Midnight remake - The original was remade, keeping the IP alive after decades of dormancy.
- Coming soon: Midnight 3 - Ferguson's new sequel to the 1982 film, filming in October in Los Angeles, aiming for early 2026.
Why this is a fascinating little lineage
If you like horror history, this one has some fun inside baseball. Back in 1968, George A. Romero and John A. Russo basically rewired pop culture with Night of the Living Dead. They did not even call their flesh-eaters zombies at the time, but the movie redefined the term anyway. Romero went on a run with Dawn of the Dead, Martin, Knightriders, Creepshow, Day of the Dead, and more. Russo's post-Night resume includes having a hand in The Return of the Living Dead and The Majorettes before writing and directing Midnight.
As for Ferguson, he is nothing if not prolific. Along with the upcoming Midnight 3, his credits include a remake of Spider Baby and Witchcraft XVII: The Initiation, plus the projects he name-checks as being influenced by Midnight: Wrong Side of The Tracks, Runaway Nightmare, Asylum of the Devil, and Don't Trick-or-Treat Alone!
The bottom line
Midnight 3 is officially in motion with Russo involved as producer, filming this October in Los Angeles, and an early 2026 rollout planned. If you are into mean, regional horror with Satanic-cult grime and a scrappy DIY edge, keep an eye on this one. The Indiegogo is up now for the curious.