EXCLUSIVE: James Ransone will return to his Sinister role alongside Shannyn Sossamon (Wayward Pines) to lead the cast of Blumhouse Productions and eOne’s Sinister 2, which is heading into production next week in Chicago. The 2012 microbudget sleeper hit from director Scott Derrickson starred Ethan Hawke as a man who finds mysterious home movies in his new house that place his family in danger. Ransone will reprise his role in the sequel as a concerned local sheriff’s deputy, opposite Sossamon as a protective mother who moves with her 9-year-old twin sons into a rural house that’s marked for death.

Related: Ciaran Foy To Direct ‘Sinister’ Sequel

Ciaran Foy (Citadel) is at the helm directing from a script by Derrickson and his Sinister co-scribe C. Robert Cargill. Jason Blum is again producing for Blumhouse with Derrickson, and Charles Layton, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and eOne’s Xavier Marchand and Patrice Theroux are exec producing. Focus has set a release for August 21, 2015.

Related: ‘Sinister’ Sequel Brewing As Blumhouse Eyes Hat Trick Of Micro-Budget Franchises

The first Sinister grossed $82 million worldwide on a $3 million budget for distributor Summit. Now at Focus alongside its Insidious franchise, Sinister 2 marks the third Blumhouse horror franchise to land at Universal which also distributes the Purge films. Focus is also set to release Blumhouse and eOne’s currently filming Insidious: Chapter 3.

Related: Focus Inflicting ‘Sinister 2′ On Theaters Next Summer

Ransone, a Blumhouse regular who also stars in its upcoming Western In A Valley Of Violence, is repped by UTA, Management 360, and attorney Alek Kohner. Sossamon is represented by APA, Radius, and Bloom Hergott.