Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s 2019 hit Ready or Not and latest offering Abigail already shared some similarities, what with both films featuring deadly chases through stately mansions, copious amounts of blood, and the supernatural.
However, the two horror-comedies' connection actually runs deeper than this as the filmmakers have now confirmed that they take place within the same universe.
"There is a portrait in the background of one of the scenes [in Abigail] of Henry Czerny's [character from Ready or Not]," Bettinelli-Olpin explained to Collider. "There is a little bit of a tied universe to Ready or Not within the movie."
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Ready or Not sees Czerny play wealthy Le Domas patriarch Tony, whose family attempts to hunt down and kill Samara Weaving's character Grace after she marries into the family.
However, Gillett added that the man in Abigail's portrait is actually a distant ancestor of Tony Le Domas.
"It would be a grandfather. A great, great, great, great grandfather," he said.
Abigail follows a group of criminals – played by Dan Stevens, Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, and the late Angus Cloud – as they kidnap the ballerina daughter (Alisha Weir) of a powerful figure for ransom.
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However, they soon find themselves in a fight for survival when they discover that the little girl is actually a centuries-old, blood-sucking vampire.
Recently discussing this "different" aspect of Abigail compared to other vampire movies, Weir told Digital Spy: "What I think is so funny and what makes Abigail so different is at the start, you just think she's a little girl, but she's been living centuries and been doing this all the time.
"I think that's what makes Abigail so different and special and so amazing to get to play her."
Abigail is out now in cinemas.
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Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
