Horror icon Cassandra Peterson joins the Halloween sequel as a mysterious witch, while Sam and Becka return to save Redhaven from another terrifying curse.
Halloween is about to get a little more wicked as Cassandra Peterson brings her legendary horror legacy to R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2.
Tubi has unleashed the official trailer for its upcoming Halloween sequel, which reunites Bean Reid and Adeline Lo while introducing Peterson, famously known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, as a mysterious character named Cassandra.
The new film continues the supernatural nightmare that began in the original movie, bringing another dangerous curse to the seemingly quiet town of Redhaven. This time, the stakes are considerably higher as the terrifying force threatens the entire community.
Pumpkinhead 2 Brings Another Terrifying Curse to Redhaven
Sam (Bean Reid) and Becka (Adeline Lo) are returning to face another supernatural threat after surviving the horrors of the original film.
A new Pumpkinhead curse has awakened in Redhaven, putting the entire town in danger. With the nightmare spreading, the two must uncover a way to stop the dark forces before everyone becomes a victim.
The sequel promises to expand the supernatural mythology established in the first movie while introducing Cassandra, a new character played by Peterson.
The casting brings together two recognizable names in horror, combining Stine’s talent for creating terrifying stories for younger audiences with Peterson’s decades-long legacy as one of the genre’s most recognizable personalities.
With Halloween approaching, Redhaven’s residents are once again facing a nightmare that threatens to change their lives forever.
Cassandra Peterson Brings Elvira’s Horror Legacy to Pumpkinhead 2
Few horror personalities are as instantly recognizable as Cassandra Peterson.
The actress and performer became a pop culture phenomenon after introducing audiences to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, on the television horror program Movie Macabre in 1981.
With her signature black beehive hairstyle, gothic wardrobe, quick wit, and playful approach to horror, Elvira transformed the traditional horror-host format into something entirely her own.
The character eventually became a cultural icon, expanding into movies, television appearances, merchandise, and live entertainment. Peterson also co-wrote and starred in the 1988 cult comedy Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, followed by Elvira’s Haunted Hills in 2001. Her involvement in Pumpkinhead 2 introduces that decades-long horror legacy to a new generation of viewers.
Rather than appearing as Elvira, Peterson is stepping into the role of Cassandra, a character she describes as a perfect fit for her horror background.
“R.L. Stine and I have been in the business of scaring kids for a long time, so joining PUMPKINHEAD 2 was such a treat. Playing Cassandra was the perfect ‘witchy’ role for me,” Peterson said in a statement.
Her casting is particularly fitting for a Halloween release, bringing together two entertainers who helped generations of fans discover horror through very different forms of entertainment.
R.L. Stine’s Horror Legacy Goes Beyond Goosebumps
While Cassandra Peterson introduced countless viewers to horror through late-night television, R.L. Stine built an enormous literary career by turning childhood fears into unforgettable stories.
The author is widely recognized for creating Goosebumps, the bestselling children’s horror franchise that introduced readers to haunted masks, terrifying monsters, cursed objects, and the notorious ventriloquist dummy Slappy.
His Fear Street books brought darker mysteries and supernatural terror to teenage audiences, eventually inspiring a series of Netflix horror films.
Stine’s work also extends to The Haunting Hour, a collection of frightening short stories that inspired the television anthology R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series.
The Pumpkinhead films draw inspiration from The Haunting Hour, allowing Tubi to explore another corner of Stine’s horror catalog outside the more familiar Goosebumps universe.
Josh Van Houdt, vice president of original scripted content at Tubi, discussed the significance of bringing these two horror personalities together.
“Elvira and R.L. Stine each gave me a completely different way to experience horror growing up – Elvira through her unforgettable late-night movie presentations, and Stine through twisty, page-turning novels. Bringing them together in one film feels both nostalgic and completely fresh, which is exactly the kind of surprising combination we love creating for Tubi audiences,” Van Houdt said.
What Happened in the First R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead Movie?
The original R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead premiered exclusively on Tubi in October 2025, introducing audiences to Redhaven and the horrifying secrets hiding beneath its seemingly peaceful appearance.
The story follows Sam, a teenager struggling to adjust after moving to a new town with his family. However, his problems take a terrifying turn when his brother, Finn (Seth Isaac Johnson), mysteriously disappears.
Even more disturbing, nobody remembers Finn ever existed. Not even their own mother. With Halloween approaching, Sam teams up with Becka and Rusty (Matty Finochio), the town’s eccentric outsider, to investigate the disappearance.
Their search uncovers a dangerous harvest curse threatening to erase Finn permanently. The group must confront Redhaven’s supernatural secrets before time runs out.
Written and directed by Jem Garrard, the original film starred Reid, Lo, Johnson, Kevin McNulty, Bob Frazer and Finochio. It established the characters, eerie small-town setting and supernatural mythology that now serve as the foundation for the sequel.
The first film introduced a self-contained Halloween nightmare while leaving room to explore the unsettling history of Redhaven and the mysterious forces connected to its annual traditions.
For fans looking to catch up before the sequel, the original movie is available to stream for free on Tubi.
It is also worth noting that Stine’s Pumpkinhead is unrelated to the 1988 cult horror film directed by Stan Winston and starring Lance Henriksen. The two properties share a name but feature entirely different stories and characters.
Pumpkinhead 2 Continues Tubi’s Halloween Horror Lineup
The arrival of Pumpkinhead 2 gives Tubi another original horror release for its annual Terror on Tubi celebration. The streaming service has continued expanding its horror catalog with original films and a growing collection of established genre favorites, offering audiences a free, ad-supported destination for Halloween entertainment.
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 premieres October 9, 2026, exclusively on Tubi.
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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.
