Horror legend Cassandra Peterson is set to star in a new family-friendly horror film for the streaming service Tubi. The 74-year-old actress, best known for her iconic portrayal of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, will play a witch in the upcoming R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead 2.
"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 said in a statement. Josh Van Houdt, Vice President of Tubi's Original Scripted Content, noted that the pairing of Peterson with author Stine "feels both nostalgic and completely fresh."
The film is scheduled to premiere on Tubi on October 9. Peterson's casting has generated excitement among fans, with many expressing anticipation for her performance.
While Peterson is widely recognized for her Elvira persona, she has maintained an active acting career. In recent years, she appeared in Rob Zombie's 2022 film The Munsters and ABC's The Goldbergs in 2021. This new role marks another venture into the horror genre.
In 2021, Peterson publicly shared details about her long-term, private relationship with Teresa Wierson, revealing she had been in a lesbian relationship for 19 years. She discussed the experience of coming out at age 70, describing it as both frightening and relieving. Peterson acknowledged that her openness about her personal life might have surprised some fans, given Elvira's overtly heterosexual and flirtatious on-screen persona.
Peterson and Wierson met in 2002, with Wierson initially serving as Peterson's personal trainer. Their relationship developed after Peterson's divorce from her manager Mark Pierson in 2003. Despite initial concerns about fan reaction to her coming out, Peterson has reported continued support from her fanbase.