Henry Thomas, who starred in The Haunting of Hill House, is returning for The Haunting of Bly Manor. Thomas is the third actor to return for the second season of Netflix’s horror anthology, along with Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Victoria Pedretti.

The Haunting of Hill House premiered in 2018. Loosely based on the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name, the story centered on a family that moves into Hill House with the goal of renovating it and then selling it in order to build and design their own home. These plans are delayed, and the family are forced to stay in the house longer than intended, beginning to experience supernatural occurrences which build to a tragic loss and lingering memories. Years later, with the children of the family now estranged adults, they are forced to face to confront the tragedies of their past. The series, comprised of ten episodes, was heavily praised for the performances as well as for the distinction of being genuinely scary. A second season was announced in February, based on the Henry James classic The Turn of the Screw.

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Now, according to series creator Mike Flanagan, actor Henry Thomas will be back for more frights. In the first season, Thomas played the younger version of Hugh Crain. Crain is the patriarch of the family; the one who decides to move into Hill House and renovate it. Although his character in Bly Manor is not yet known, it has been revealed Pedretti will play a governess that’s hired to look after two very unusual children. Jackson-Cohen’s character is a little less clear, described simply as a charming fellow who will interact with the governess.

Bly Manor is slated to premiere in 2020. The initial run of episodes, intended as a standalone according to Flanagan, was something of a cultural sensation. Inspiring a rapid following, while creating a trail of shocking twists and ending explainers, none other than Stephen King was effusive in his praise. A master of horror and, like many, a fan of Shirley Jackson, he regarded Hill House as being close to a work of genius.

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It remains to be seen if that level of success will be maintained. While it’s easy to point out the flaws of a limited series stretched beyond its natural conclusion, Netflix’s horror anthology has the advantage of starting fresh. American Horror Story was initially presented as one thing, only to reveal itself as an anthology later on. Asylum, its second season, is still held up by viewers as that show’s standout effort. The Haunting of Bly Manor may achieve a similar distinction.

Source: Mike Flanagan

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Abdullah Al-Ghamdi
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Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019, focusing on movie and television news. In January of the same year, he wrote a 3500+ word piece on why Primo Colón is underrated. He considers it his finest work. When he’s not arguing for the merits of his favorite wrestler, he can be reached at: [email protected].

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