Director Jem Garrard talks Cassandra Peterson joining Pumpkinhead 2, her growing partnership with Tubi and how Afraid of Clowns will push Redhaven’s supernatural mythology even further.
R.L. Stine’s world continues to grow at Tubi, with filmmaker Jem Garrard helping transform the mysterious town of Redhaven into a home for new gateway horror stories.
Following R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, which premiered in 2025, Garrard returns with R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2. The sequel follows Sam, played by Bean Reid, and Becka, played by Adeline Lo, as they race to stop a new Pumpkinhead curse before it claims the entire town.
The sequel also expands the supernatural history surrounding Redhaven while introducing horror icon Cassandra Peterson, best known as Elvira, as a mysterious witch named Cassandra.
During our conversation with Garrard, the filmmaker discussed bringing Peterson into the franchise, developing a strong creative relationship with Tubi and setting the stage for the next R.L. Stine movie, Afraid of Clowns.
“I’m so grateful and honored to work with them,” Garrard told Nerdtropolis about Tubi. “They’re genuine fans of the horror genre.”
Pumpkinhead 2 Expands the Supernatural History of Redhaven
Instead of simply repeating the first movie’s formula, Garrard wanted the sequel to reveal more about Redhaven itself.
“Part of what I wanted to do with the sequel is expand on the world of Redhaven,” Garrard said.
The filmmaker approached the town as a place with a much deeper supernatural history than audiences initially realized. Ancient magic, curses, and unexplained events have existed within Redhaven long before the events of the first Pumpkinhead movie.
Cassandra becomes an important part of this expansion. The mysterious witch understands the dark forces threatening Redhaven and the sacrifices that may be required to stop them.
Her arrival also gave Garrard an opportunity to work with one of horror’s most recognizable performers.
Cassandra Peterson Responded to the Pumpkinhead 2 Script
Peterson’s casting creates a natural connection between generations of horror fans. Her decades-long run as Elvira has made her one of the genre’s most recognizable personalities, while R.L. Stine’s work introduced millions of younger readers to horror.
Garrard revealed the character was already named Cassandra when the screenplay was sent to Peterson.
The name served as a playful nod to the actor, but Garrard did not expect the casting to actually happen.
“She really responded to the script,” Garrard said.
Peterson was interested in playing a witch and liked the opportunity to make something for a younger audience.
“When she said yes, it was actually very surreal,” Garrard said. “She turns down a lot of horror.”
Garrard also wants Cassandra’s story to continue beyond a single appearance.
“I would love to do more with her,” Garrard said.
Peterson’s character helps establish Redhaven as more than the location of one monster story. The town now feels capable of supporting an entire collection of supernatural threats, characters, and legends.
Jem Garrard Has Found a Creative Home at Tubi
Pumpkinhead 2 continues Garrard’s growing creative partnership with Tubi.
The filmmaker recently worked with the platform on Buzzkill, a very different horror project that further demonstrates the range Garrard has been able to explore with the streamer.
Garrard credited years of collaboration with Tubi and executive producer Josh Van Houten for creating a strong level of trust.
“We’ve developed such a wonderful relationship now over the past few years,” Garrard explained.
The creative relationship stretches back to earlier projects including Killer High and Vagrant Queen.
Garrard believes Tubi’s genuine interest in horror has made the platform an especially strong creative partner.
“They’re such fans of the genre,” Garrard said. “We’ve got some really kind of fun plans for the future.”
One of those plans has already been revealed.
Afraid of Clowns Is the Next Redhaven Horror Story
The ending of Pumpkinhead 2 teases another supernatural threat heading toward Redhaven, and Garrard confirmed the setup is real.
R.L. Stine’s Afraid of Clowns will become the third movie in Tubi’s growing R.L. Stine collection.
The film follows Frankie after Ringmaster Rollo and his mysterious clown troupe arrive in Redhaven. Their appearance may be connected to a child who disappeared years earlier.
Frankie soon becomes convinced the clowns have targeted her younger brother. She must convince her friends to help uncover the truth and stop the troupe before her brother disappears with them.
The cast includes Frankie Honey, Ava Ferrer, Azriel Dalman, Joe Moore and Jimbo, known for Canada’s Drag Race and winning RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8.
Garrard said the idea grew from searching for another classic gateway into horror after Pumpkinhead.
“When I was asked to think about after Pumpkinhead, kind of what’s that next gateway horror, I was like, ‘Let’s tell the clown story,’” Garrard said.
Clowns also bring an immediate fear factor.
“People are either terrified of them already, or they’re gonna be after watching this one,” Garrard joked.
More importantly, the upcoming movie continues expanding the mythology surrounding Redhaven instead of starting over with an unrelated setting.
R.L. Stine’s World Is a Dream Project for Garrard
Our conversation eventually turned toward the stories Garrard loved growing up and whether another childhood favorite could inspire a future project.
Garrard explained the current R.L. Stine movies already fulfill part of that dream.
“This is a dream project,” Garrard said about building upon Stine’s world.
The filmmaker also mentioned being a huge Gremlins fan and enjoying the current wave of projects bringing back movies and stories from the 1990s.
Garrard’s connection to those stories fits naturally with what Tubi is building around R.L. Stine. The Pumpkinhead movies offer younger viewers an accessible entry point into horror while giving longtime Stine fans something familiar without simply recreating old stories.
Redhaven now appears positioned to become the connective tissue between multiple supernatural adventures.
Pumpkinhead has already cursed the town. Cassandra has introduced a deeper history of magic. Ringmaster Rollo and his mysterious clown troupe are coming next.
Garrard is steadily turning Redhaven into a place where almost anything can be lurking around the corner.
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 premieres October 9, 2026, on Tubi as part of Terror on Tubi. R.L. Stine’s Afraid of Clowns premieres on Tubi in 2027.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
