Nell Verlaque, star of the horror film “Thanksgiving,” is eagerly anticipating the sequel to the surprise box office hit. Her character Jessica was one of the lucky few who survived the first Turkey-time holiday slasher film directed by Eli Roth. Verlaque has already read parts of the follow-up script and Roth has shared some exciting new ideas with her.
During the premiere of Benito Skinner’s new Prime Video comedy series, “Overcompensating,” Verlaque expressed her desire to be covered in blood and even tortured in the sequel. She mentioned that she finds the boundary-pushing work of Roth to be more fun as an actor, and the crazier the role, the better for her.
The original “Thanksgiving” film centered around a serial killer dressed as a 17th-century pilgrim terrorizing residents of Plymouth, Mass., during the holiday season. Inspired by a fake movie trailer Roth directed for 2007’s “Grindhouse,” the film grossed $46 million worldwide against a $15 million budget and featured a star-studded cast including Patrick Dempsey, Milo Manheim, and Gina Gershon.
The sequel, confirmed to take place during Thanksgiving, will see the return of Verlaque’s Jessica character along with other survivors from the first film. Roth hinted at the possibility of expanding the franchise to include other holidays but emphasized the importance of focusing on the sequel first.
Verlaque has set her sights on shooting “Thanksgiving 2” sometime this year, with the goal of continuing the thrilling story. In the meantime, she can be seen in “Overcompensating,” where she plays a role alongside Benito Skinner as they explore themes of identity and self-discovery.
Reflecting on her audition for the series, Verlaque shared a quirky experience of crawling on the floor and purring, which ultimately landed her the role. Her willingness to go all out in auditions paid off, and she is excited to see where her acting journey takes her next.
As fans eagerly await the release of “Thanksgiving 2,” Verlaque’s dedication to her craft and willingness to embrace challenging roles promises an exciting continuation of the horror franchise. Stay tuned for more updates on the sequel and Verlaque’s upcoming projects.
