David Cronenberg has shared his current view on the movie theater experience, describing it as less appealing than it once was. At the same time, he’s expanding his creative participation in genre film—this time not behind the camera, but on screen—by joining the cast of Ready or Not: Here I Come, the upcoming sequel to the 2019 horror-thriller Ready or Not.
Speaking with filmmaker Jim Jarmusch in Interview Magazine, Cronenberg addressed several aspects of watching films today. He noted that he rarely attends public screenings. “I stopped going to the cinema many years ago,” he said. “I only see movies in real theaters every once in a while, mostly at film festivals, and I’ve found that the projection isn’t always so great.”
Cronenberg said he watches everything with subtitles and mentioned practical inconveniences such as parking in Toronto. But his reaction extended beyond logistics. “I don’t find the cinema experience all that great,” he said. “Maybe it’s because I’m older. I don’t feel that communal thing.”
In the same conversation, he recalled an event in Venice, where he was onstage with Spike Lee. “He was talking about the Cathedral of Cinema,” Cronenberg said, referring to Lee’s remarks about the importance of theaters as spaces. “And I said, ‘Spike, I’m watching Lawrence of Arabia on my watch, and there are a thousand camels there. I can see every one of them.’”
He also shared his perspective on technological change in filmmaking. “I don’t miss working with film. The cutting and editing was a nightmare for me. It was very restrictive,” he said. “You have so much more control now. And of course, we are control freaks to a certain extent, if you’re making a film.” Cronenberg said he still feels nostalgia for older movies but doesn’t share the desire to shoot on film that some directors continue to express.
While his views on theatrical presentation have shifted, Cronenberg’s presence in the genre world remains active. He has joined the cast of Ready or Not: Here I Come, the sequel directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The project reunites Samara Weaving with key crew members from the first film and includes new cast additions Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood. Kevin Durand, Shawn Hatosy, and Néstor Carbonell are also attached.
The screenplay is written by Guy Busick, who co-wrote the Scream reboot, and R. Christopher Murphy, known for his work on Castle Rock. Production is beginning in Toronto.
Plot details for the sequel are under wraps. In the 2019 original, Weaving starred as Grace, a bride caught in a deadly game with her new in-laws. Her character was the only survivor by the end, leaving the path open for a wide range of directions in the follow-up.
In a joint statement released with the casting news, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett said they were looking forward to continuing their work with returning crew members and the expanded cast. “We’re thrilled to be returning to the world of Ready or Not with Samara, Brett, Avery, and Andrew, and so excited to work with this immensely talented cast and the incredible artists across every department joining the Ready or Not family,” the directors said.
This marks a rare on-screen appearance for Cronenberg, who remains more widely known for directing films such as Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, and Crimes of the Future. He has acted in select projects over the years, including Star Trek: Discovery and Alias Grace, but rarely appears in mainstream genre releases as a performer.
