Actress Cassandra Peterson, best known for portraying horror icon Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, has officially joined the cast of R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead 2 on Tubi.
The 74-year-old actress will play a witch in the family-friendly horror film, which is being released as a Tubi original feature. The project brings together two long-standing figures in the horror and youth entertainment genres, with R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead 2 scheduled to premiere on the streaming platform on October 9.
Peterson expressed her excitement about collaborating with the renowned children's author on the project. "R.L. Stine and I have been in the business of scaring kids for a long time, so joining Pumpkinhead 2 was such a treat," Peterson told Entertainment Weekly in a statement.
Josh Van Houdt, Vice President of Tubi's Original Scripted Content, praised the casting decision. Van Houdt said that pairing Peterson with children's author Stine "feels both nostalgic and completely fresh."
Fan Reactions and Release Date
Horror fans responded with enthusiasm following the casting announcement across social media. "We better see Cassandra Peterson receive a Saturn Award for her performance in this film!" one fan commented, referencing the annual awards presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.
"I love when she does these iconic cameos outside of Elvira!" another fan wrote. A third commentator added, "She's so gorgeous! I'm sure that she'll give an incredible performance."
The upcoming film is set to debut on October 9 as part of Tubi's autumn lineup. Tubi is an ad-supported video-on-demand service owned by Fox Corporation that streams original and licensed movies and television shows.
Recent Screen Roles
While Peterson remains globally recognized for her decades as Elvira, she has maintained an active acting career across television and film in recent years. In 2022, she starred in director Rob Zombie's feature film adaptation of The Munsters, based on the classic 1960s sitcom about a friendly monster family.
The year prior, in 2021, Peterson appeared on ABC's long-running period comedy series The Goldbergs. Despite her busy schedule with guest roles and special appearances, her turn in Pumpkinhead 2 marks a high-profile return to scripted horror comedy.
Memoir and Personal Life
In 2021, Peterson made headlines when she publicly revealed that she had been in a secret long-term lesbian relationship with her assistant, Teresa Wierson, for the previous 19 years. The pair first met in 2002 at Gold's Gym when Peterson was still married to her manager, Mark Pierson.
Wierson initially worked as Peterson's personal trainer before becoming her personal assistant. Following Peterson's divorce from Pierson in early 2003, their relationship developed into a romantic partnership, though they chose to keep it private from the public for nearly two decades.
Reflecting on her decision to come out at age 70 during an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, Peterson described the emotional weight of keeping her personal life hidden. "It feels scary and exciting, but also I'm very relieved, and so is my partner," Peterson told Hall on the syndicated daytime talk show. She added with a laugh, "Holding in secrets all the time, you know, it gives you gas!"
Peterson admitted that many fans were initially surprised by the revelation because of her public image. "I think it's because the character I play. Obviously I appeal to men. It's a super sexy character, that's 'straight,' because she's a bit of a horndog, she's always chasing guys," she explained. "And so I think it's a little shocking, for people to go, 'Her of all people?' I think that's why it's such a big deal right now."
During the interview, Peterson recalled a quote from veteran actor Danny Trejo that had resonated with her: "You're only as sick as your secrets." She noted that "it's not a good feeling keeping that from people," adding, "Of course my closest friends knew, but not the public, I don't think anybody had a clue at all."
Fan Support and Elvira Legacy
Peterson also addressed her initial apprehensions about coming out in her autobiography. "Elvira has always had a thing for men, and men have a thing for her, so I worried that if I announced I was no longer living the 'straight life,' my fans would feel lied to, call me a hypocrite, and abandon me," Peterson confessed in her memoir.
Despite her initial fears, horror fans overwhelmingly rallied around Peterson following her announcement. The legendary performer has retained her massive, loyal fanbase, and her upcoming appearance in R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead 2 on October 9 continues to generate strong anticipation among viewers.
