'Halloween' Reboot Casts Diverse Actor as Michael Myers, Breaks 47-Year Tradition

For nearly 48 years, Halloween has been one of horror’s most enduring franchises. And across 12 films, “bogeyman” Michael Myers has passed through a long line of performers.

Nick Castle starred in the original, followed by Dick Warlock (1981’s Halloween II), George P. Wilbur (Halloween 4 and 6), Don Shanks (Halloween 5), Chris Durand (H20), Brad Loree (Resurrection), Tyler Mane (Rob Zombie’s two remakes), James Jude Courtney (David Gordon Green’s latest reboot trilogy), and Airon Armstrong (the 1978 flashback in Kills).

Every generation has brought a new interpretation, yet the silent physicality and deliberate movement of the character has remained the constant anchor of the series.

Next year, “The Shape” will return, but this time, two performers will bring him to life. “Halloween: The Game” — currently scheduled for release on September 8, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, and Epic Games Store — will be shared by the original 1978 actor Nick Castle and stunt-coordinator/actor TJ Storm.

Not only is this the first time Michael will be performed in motion capture, but it’s also the first time he’s being performed (in part) by an actor of color. So far, across 12 Halloween films, the character has been portrayed exclusively by White actors. Storm, however, who has previously provided motion capture performances in Tron: Legacy, Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, and as Godzilla in the Monsterverse franchise, is of mixed ethnicity.

Watch the official gameplay reveal trailer for the game below:

Related: ‘Halloween’ Reboot Will Likely Reimagine Michael Myers as Female

“The folks creating the game wanted the character [Michael] to be as authentic as possible and I did my best to capture the original movements,” Castle told the Halloween Team, per the official website for the game. “It was fun to do and I had a great time with the team.”

When asked about what it was like to work with actor and stunt performer TJ Storm, Castle said that he was a “real sweetheart,” and a professional who “takes his job seriously.”

The upcoming game, developed by Illfonic (“Friday the 13th: The Game”), is an asymmetrical experience, meaning you can take on the role of a Haddonfield civilian, scrambling for weapons, working together, and trying to survive the night in an online multiplayer mode, or as Michael himself in an offline, story-focused campaign, where you’ll get to see how he escaped Smith’s Grove, as only partially revealed in John Carpenter’s original film, and add many more Haddonfield residents to the original 1978 murder spree.

Here’s the official synopsis for the game:

“Boogeyman or Hero: The Boogeyman is out. Team up in a 1v4 asymmetrical horror showdown on everyone’s favorite night of the year. Choose to save the quiet town of Haddonfield from bloodshed as a Hero of Haddonfield or stalk and terrorize the residents as Michael Myers.”

You’ll also be able to “Shape Jump” in the game, which is the developers’ fun and creative way of explaining how Michael Myers is able to move around in the films so quickly.

A new trailer also showcases one of the maps you’ll be able to explore, whether you’re the bogeyman or one of his victims:

Related: New ‘Halloween’ Movie (2025): Full Review and Where To Stream

Whether the upcoming Halloween TV series that’s reportedly still in development at Miramax will cast a diverse actor into the role of Michael Myers remains to be seen. If it does, it will break a decades-long tradition of the character being played exclusively by White actors. Of course, such diverse casting would likely result in backlash from some fans, but it looks like “Halloween: The Game” is already making progress that’s perhaps long overdue.

Are you excited about “Halloween: The Game”? Let us know in the comments!