Slasher villains tend to reappear, and the emerging horror icon John Carver could become a recurring threat, much like Jason Voorhees. The first film’s explosive ending didn’t rule out a sequel, as Carver seemed to survive, typical of horror antagonists.

Not long after the sequel was confirmed, stars Nell Verlaque and Rick Hoffman hinted at returning characters and story details for Thanksgiving 2. The surprise hit by Eli Roth was quickly green-lit for a sequel after its November 2023 release. When asked about their characters, the actors not only confirmed their return but also mentioned that the sequel would directly continue the story.While the sequel’s full cast hasn’t been confirmed, many characters from the original survived John Carver’s terror and could return. Verlaque and Hoffman have hinted that their characters, Jessica and Thomas, will be back, suggesting more familiar faces might also return. The most anticipated return is that of the masked villain John Carver, revealed to be Patrick Dempsey’s Sheriff Eric Newlon.