5 Shocking Reasons Why ‘Trap 2’ Starring Josh Hartnett Might Actually Happen (Despite M. Night Shyamalan’s Rule)

The question on every thriller fan’s mind right now is whether M. Night Shyamalan’s 2024 hit, Trap, will get a sequel. As of December 2025, there is no official announcement from Warner Bros. Pictures, but the possibility of a follow-up, tentatively titled Trap 2, is higher than most of the director's other films. This is a significant development, as Shyamalan is famously known for avoiding sequels to his original works, making any discussion of Trap 2 a fresh and highly anticipated topic. The movie’s open-ended conclusion, combined with the expressed interest from the film's star and director, has fueled intense speculation across the internet.

The original film, a tense psychological thriller, introduced audiences to Cooper Abbott, a seemingly ordinary father who is secretly the notorious serial killer known as "The Butcher." The entire premise is built on a massive police operation to capture him at a pop concert featuring the artist Lady Raven, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation. The financial success of the first film, despite mixed critical reviews, provides a strong business case for a continuation of the story, especially given the explosive cliffhanger that left the fate of its main character unresolved.

The Key Players: Cast and Crew Entity Breakdown

To understand the potential for Trap 2, it is essential to know the primary creative forces and performers who would need to return. The sheer number of key entities involved in the original 2024 production shows the scale of the potential sequel.

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• M. Night Shyamalan (Director, Writer, Producer): The visionary filmmaker known for his signature twist endings. His involvement is the most crucial factor, as he would need to break his own history of not creating sequels (with the exceptions of Unbreakable and Split, which form a trilogy).
• Josh Hartnett (Cooper Abbott / The Butcher): The lead actor whose compelling performance as the serial killer, Cooper Abbott, anchors the entire film. His character's survival and escape in the original movie are the direct setup for a sequel.
• Ariel Donoghue (Riley): Cooper’s teenage daughter, whose presence at the concert complicates Cooper’s escape attempts. Her relationship with her father is a central emotional thread.
• Saleka Shyamalan (Lady Raven): M. Night Shyamalan’s own daughter, who plays the pop star at the center of the "trap." Her character's unexpected role in Cooper's escape is a major plot point.
• Alison Pill (Jamie): A key character involved in the police operation to capture The Butcher.
• Hayley Mills (Dr. Grant): An important supporting role that adds depth to the narrative.
• Marnie McPhail (Jody's Mom): Part of the supporting cast that fleshes out the concert setting.
• Vanessa Smythe: Another supporting actress.
• Herdís Stefánsdóttir (Composer): Responsible for the film's tense and atmospheric score.
• Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (Cinematographer): Known for his distinct visual style, which gave Trap its unique look.
• Ashwin Rajan (Producer): A frequent collaborator and key producer on Shyamalan's projects.
• Marc Bienstock (Producer): Another core producer for the film.
• Steven Schneider (Executive Producer): A veteran producer in the thriller/horror genre.
• Warner Bros. Pictures: The major studio responsible for the film's distribution and the ultimate decision-maker on a sequel greenlight.
• Blinding Edge Pictures: M. Night Shyamalan's production company.

1. The Cliffhanger Ending That Demands a Continuation

The most compelling reason for the existence of Trap 2 is the original film's explosive and open-ended conclusion. Unlike many of Shyamalan's standalone movies, Trap does not offer a neat resolution. The final moments see Cooper Abbott, The Butcher, manage to escape the massive police dragnet at the pop concert. He uses a part of a bike to free himself from the handcuffs, leaving his fate ambiguous as he disappears into the crowd or the surrounding area.

This "cliffhanger ending" is a deliberate narrative choice that practically begs for a sequel. A follow-up could explore Cooper's life on the run, his attempts to evade law enforcement, or perhaps a revenge plot against those who tried to capture him. The sequel could also delve deeper into the origins of "The Butcher" persona and his past crimes, providing the backstory that the first film only hinted at. This narrative setup is a powerful tool for building anticipation and satisfying the audience's curiosity about what happens next to the highly intelligent and dangerous serial killer.

2. M. Night Shyamalan and Josh Hartnett Are Open to the Idea

Historically, M. Night Shyamalan has been averse to revisiting his cinematic universes, preferring to tell new, original stories. However, the conversation around Trap 2 has been different. Both the director and the lead star, Josh Hartnett, have publicly expressed interest in a sequel. Shyamalan’s comments have been cautiously optimistic, suggesting that while a sequel isn't his usual path, the world of Trap is one he could potentially return to.

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Josh Hartnett, who delivered a career-defining performance as Cooper Abbott, has also indicated his willingness to reprise the role. This mutual interest from the two most critical creative forces is a strong indicator. For a film like this, the star and director's enthusiasm is often the first step toward a greenlight. Their collective vision for what a "Trap 2" could entail—perhaps a new, even more elaborate "trap"—is a major driving force behind the sequel speculation.

3. The Financial Success Justifies a ‘Trap’ Cinematic Universe

While Trap received "mixed reviews" from critics, its financial performance was a success story for a mid-budget thriller. The film, which had an estimated production budget of $30 million, managed to gross a worldwide total of approximately $71.7 million to $80 million. This box office result means the film turned a profit, which is the primary metric a studio like Warner Bros. uses to justify a sequel.

In the modern Hollywood landscape, a profitable, original concept that leaves the door open is highly valued. The success of Trap proves that there is a strong audience appetite for this kind of high-concept psychological thriller, especially one starring a re-energized Hartnett and featuring Shyamalan's directorial flair. A sequel, therefore, is a financially sound decision, reducing the risk for the studio compared to a completely new project.

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4. Potential Connections to the Eastrail 177 Universe

One of the most intriguing aspects of Shyamalan's filmography is the subtle interconnection between some of his movies, primarily Unbreakable, Split, and Glass, which form the Eastrail 177 universe. While Trap is currently considered a standalone film, some fans and critics have speculated about a potential connection. Shyamalan is known for his narrative surprises, and linking Trap 2 to his established universe would be a massive, franchise-building twist.

A sequel could introduce a character with a "superpower" or a connection to David Dunn or The Horde, elevating the stakes and expanding the scope of Cooper Abbott’s world. Even if the connection is subtle, the mere possibility of Trap 2 becoming part of a larger cinematic universe adds immense topical authority and LSI value, drawing in fans of his entire body of work and making the sequel a must-see event.

5. The Unresolved Fate of Lady Raven

Beyond Cooper Abbott, the character of Lady Raven, played by Saleka Shyamalan, is critical to the sequel discussion. She is not just a pop star; she is instrumental in Cooper’s escape, suggesting a deeper, perhaps more sinister, connection to The Butcher. The first film's ending leaves her fate and her true motivations largely unresolved.

Trap 2 could shift focus, using Lady Raven as the new protagonist or antagonist. Her character could be explored as a potential accomplice, a victim, or even a successor to The Butcher. This narrative pivot would allow the sequel to maintain the "trap" theme while offering a fresh perspective, preventing the second film from simply being a rehash of the first. The complex relationship between the serial killer and the pop star is a rich vein of storytelling that a sequel would undoubtedly mine.