Killer Toy Returns in New ‘Robert the Doll’ Horror Revival

A decade after a haunted doll first stalked its way through the British independent horror scene, Robert the Doll is heading back in front of the cameras. Producers have announced that a reboot of the long-running franchise is now in production in Scotland, reviving one of the UK’s most recognisable low-budget horror properties and introducing a new interpretation of the infamous killer toy.

The new film is being produced by Shepka Productions and Flickering Myth in partnership with IMP Studios and 4Digital Media. The project represents the latest collaboration between Shepka Productions and Flickering Myth following The Baby in the Basket and the forthcoming thriller Death Among the Pines, which is scheduled for release later this year.

The original Robert debuted in 2015 from writer-director Andrew Jones, drawing inspiration from the reportedly haunted doll housed in Key West, Florida. Jones would go on to build the property into a five-film series comprising Robert, The Curse of Robert the Doll, The Toymaker, The Legend of Robert the Doll and Robert Reborn. The final entry arrived in 2019 and marked the last instalment in the franchise before Jones’ death in 2023.

This latest chapter, currently titled Robert Returns, is being written and directed by Nathan Shepka, whose recent credits include The Baby in the Basket, Dead Before They Wake, Lock & Load and Death Among the Pines. Although Shepka has worked across action and thriller projects, the reboot places him in charge of one of British horror’s more unusual modern franchises.

Leading the cast is Elle O’Hara, known for her work in The Baby in the Basket and Wuthering Heights: House of the Damned. She is joined by 10-year-old newcomer Iona McGill, alongside Annabelle Lanyon, Stephen Kerr, Nathan Shepka and franchise veteran Lee Bane, one of the few performers with a direct connection to the original run of films.

Production duties are being shared by Nathan Shepka and Flickering Myth’s Gary Collinson, while Tony Taglienti and Sally Wood represent 4Digital Media as executive producers alongside Robert Graham of IMP Studios and Emmy Award-winning producer Kira Reed.

The reboot arrives at a time when established horror properties continue to find new life through reimaginings and relaunches. Whether Robert Returns follows the mythology established across the previous five films or charts a completely fresh path has not yet been disclosed. For now, cameras are rolling in Scotland, and one of British horror’s most persistent dolls is preparing for another comeback.