Get ready, horror fans, because the most terrifying little girl in cinema is making a comeback! We have exciting news straight from the set of Orphans, the next installment in the chilling saga centered around the perpetually youthful-looking menace, Esther. If you were wondering how an adult could continue playing an adult posing as a child, the last movie used VFX technology to de-age her. We assume they will do so again.
The big headline? Filming has officially wrapped on the new movie! Isabelle Fuhrman, who first freaked us all out as the “little girl” with a very, very big secret back in 2009, is returning to reprise her iconic role. And if that’s not enough to make you shiver, the folks at Republic Pictures have just scooped up the U.S. distribution rights!
A Bloody Good Time on Set!
While we anxiously wait for a release date—which is currently looking like it might be sometime in mid-to-late 2026—we did get a little teaser to tide us over. A glimpse behind the scenes showed a bloodied Isabelle Fuhrman! It looks like our favorite killer kid/adult has been very busy. This movie promises to take the saga in “bold and unexpected ways,” so get ready for a deep dive into Esther’s messed-up past.
Who’s Behind the Madness?
The creative team behind the successful second film, Orphan: First Kill, is largely back to torment us again. William Brent Bell (who also directed The Boy) is directing the prequel, Orphans. The script comes from David Coggeshall, who penned Orphan: First Kill and the spooky The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia. They clearly know how to maintain the chilling atmosphere!
The cast joining Fuhrman in this twisted tale includes some fantastic talent: Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”), Susanne Wuest (Goodnight Mommy), and Simon Man (“Westworld”).
Wild, Crazy, and Next-Level Terrifying
For those who need a reminder, Esther first appeared in Jaume Collet-Serra’s 2009 masterpiece, Orphan. Isabelle Fuhrman returned in 2022 for the prequel Orphan: First Kill, which gave us the backstory on how Esther escaped from a psychiatric facility in Estonia.
So what can we expect from the third movie? According to the star herself, it’s going to be absolutely bonkers! Isabelle Fuhrman previously teased that this third chapter will be “wilder and crazier” than anything we’ve seen before. Considering the sheer audacity of the last film, that’s saying something!
Stay glued to your screens, because we will bring you the trailer, posters, and any other spine-tingling updates on Orphans as soon as they drop. Please see Isabelle Fuhrman’s post below.
ORPHANS is wrapped! 👧🏻🔪 Congrats to @isabellefuhrman @WmBrentBell @NormanGolightly and the rest of our amazing cast and crew! pic.twitter.com/tuWa3XmyzW
— David Coggeshall (@DavidCoggeshall) December 12, 2025
