Mason Gooding, Emily Rudd Join 'Crawl' Sequel

Paramount is moving forward with a sequel to its 2019 alligator attack thriller Crawl, and the studio has found its new leads. Mason Gooding, known for his roles in the Scream franchise, and Emily Rudd, who starred in One Piece, have signed on to headline the project, according to sources familiar with the deal.

The follow-up is being described as a standalone continuation of the original film's premise, which centered on a daughter and her estranged father trapped in their flooded Florida home during a Category 5 hurricane, fighting for survival against a pack of apex predators. Details on the plot for this new installment remain under wraps, but the casting signals Paramount is aiming to build a new chapter around a younger pair of protagonists. The project is currently in development, with no director, release date, or runtime attached at this time.

Gooding has become a familiar face in horror circles over the past few years. He appeared in both Scream VI and the 2022 Scream reboot, carving out a niche as a reliable presence in high-stakes genre fare. Rudd, meanwhile, broke out internationally with her starring role as Nami in Netflix’s live-action One Piece, and she recently wrapped production on other genre projects. Neither actor has publicly commented on the casting.

The original Crawl, directed by Alexandre Aja and written by Michael and Shawn Rasmussen, was a modest box office success upon its release in July 2019. Produced on a reported budget of roughly $13 million, it grossed over $91 million worldwide, making a sequel an attractive proposition for the studio. The film starred Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper, with the action confined almost entirely to the crawlspace of a suburban home as floodwaters rise and the alligators close in. Critics largely praised the film’s tense, single-setting structure and its efficient creature feature thrills, and it holds a strong reputation among fans of modern B-movie horror.

The news of a sequel has been simmering for some time. As early as 2020, Aja expressed interest in returning, though the project remained in limbo as the industry faced production shutdowns and shifting studio priorities. Now, with Gooding and Rudd attached, the film appears to have found fresh momentum. The choice to anchor the sequel with newer faces suggests Paramount may be looking at this as a launching point for a potential franchise, rather than a direct continuation of Scodelario and Pepper’s story.

The involvement of Gooding is particularly notable given his recent string of bookings. Following his turn in Scream VI, he appeared in the romantic comedy I Want You Back and the action thriller The Contractor. Rudd, who hails from the world of television and streaming, has been rising steadily since her breakout role, and this marks one of her first major studio feature commitments. Both actors bring a youthful energy that could broaden the film’s appeal beyond the original’s core horror audience.

The original film’s success was largely attributed to its simplicity. Aja, known for his work on High Tension and The Hills Have Eyes remake, kept the scope tight, focusing on claustrophobic tension and practical effects. Whether the sequel will maintain that minimalist approach or expand the setting remains to be seen. Given the lack of a director and script details, it is too early to say if the new film will follow the same single-location formula or if it will widen the canvas to include a larger cast and more expansive set pieces.

Paramount has not yet announced a production start date, nor has the studio commented publicly on the project. The film will be produced under the same team behind the original, with Craig J. Flores and Andrew Rona serving as producers through their Picture Company banner. Sam Raimi, who produced the first film, is also expected to remain involved in some capacity, though his exact role has not been confirmed.

The Crawl sequel is just one of several horror-adjacent projects in Paramount’s pipeline, as the studio continues to lean into genre fare that can be made efficiently and deliver strong returns. With a proven low-budget model and a built-in title recognition, the sequel has clear commercial logic. The casting of Gooding and Rudd, both of whom have demonstrated genre appeal and social media followings, is a deliberate move to attract younger viewers who may not have seen the original in theaters.

As of today, the film remains untitled, with no logline released. The absence of a confirmed director leaves room for a wide range of tonal possibilities, but the core premise of humans versus alligators in a desperate environment will likely remain intact. Fans of the first film can expect more of the same visceral, survival-driven thrills, albeit with a new set of characters and a fresh dynamic at the center of the story.

For now, the project is officially moving forward. Casting is often the first major step in pre-production, so a director announcement and a production timeline could follow in the coming weeks. Until then, the sequel exists as a promising but quiet development in Paramount’s genre slate, with two rising stars attached and no shortage of audience interest. The original Crawl remains available for streaming, though Paramount has not announced any tie-in promotions or re-release plans in connection with the sequel news.

More updates are expected as the project takes shape.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter