Return to Silent Hill Star Breaks Down Her “Daunting” Experience on the Sequel Film

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Director Christophe Gans first adapted the popular video game Silent Hill for the big screen in 2006. Now, twenty years later, he’s returning with Return to Silent Hill, a sequel aiming to be even more frightening. This new movie is based on the original Silent Hill 2 game and stars Jeremy Irvine as James Sunderland and Hannah Emily Anderson as Mary Crane.

Janet Leigh plays Mary Crane in the film, but she also skillfully portrays several other characters, such as Angela and Maria.

TopMob recently spoke with Hannah Emily Anderson about her role as Mary Crane and what it was like working on Silent Hill, a popular and enduring horror franchise.

Anderson admitted she was initially intimidated by playing several characters in the film. She said it was a completely new experience for her, but ultimately very liberating, allowing her to fully express herself and explore different facets of her personality.

She described the entire experience as consistently challenging, stating she never truly felt comfortable because she was constantly being pushed to improve. Anderson emphasized that this project required more from her than anything she’d worked on before.

As a horror fan, I have to say Hannah Emily Anderson was perfectly cast in Return to Silent Hill. She actually saw the first film, directed by Christophe Gans, when she was just a teenager – around 15 or 16 – and it genuinely scared her senseless. When she signed on for the sequel, she told me she immediately felt that same chilling fear, almost like she was reliving that initial, terrifying experience.

You can find more of Hannah Emily Anderson’s conversation with Russ Milheim from TopMob below. The movie Return to Silent Hill will be released in theaters on January 23, 2026.

Return to Silent Hill Was a Daunting Challenge for Hannah Emily Anderson

“I’ve Never Done Anything Like This.”

  • TopMob: “You also get to play multiple characters in this film. What was it like bringing something unique to each of them and making sure they felt separate?”

Hannah Emily Anderson found the role initially intimidating, as she’d primarily worked in horror and this was a completely new experience. However, she quickly discovered it was liberating, allowing her to fully express herself and use her imagination like never before. She especially enjoyed the physical transformation – the hair, makeup, and costume. As an actor, she usually builds a character from within, so having the external elements added at the end was incredibly helpful and enjoyable, particularly the prosthetics.

  • TopMob: “How familiar with the games and this world were you before boarding the project?”

I saw the first ‘Silent Hill’ movie, directed by Christophe, when I was 15 or 16 in the cinema. It really scared me, and the images stuck with me. So, when I auditioned for the remake, it brought me right back to feeling that same fear.

I honestly didn’t know the project was based on a game when I first saw it – I only figured it out after getting involved. I did try playing the game a little, but I’m not very good at video games. I struggle with the controls! So, when I was preparing for my audition, I mostly just watched some gameplay footage to understand the game’s world and learn a bit about Mary’s history. That was pretty much all I did to prepare.

  • TopMob: “As an actor, you tend to put yourself into your roles. So for Mary, what do you feel like you added to that character that maybe wasn’t originally on the page when it was first pitched to you?”

I’m a very sensitive and emotional person, and I really channeled that into portraying Mary. I believe Mary has a lot of emotional depth and resilience, and I drew on my own experiences to create that. I explored a full range of intense emotions – from anger and rage to deep love – and I think any actor in this role would inevitably bring their own personal background to the character.

  • TopMob: “Was there ever a point on set that it maybe felt a little too real, or it was just pretty creepy?”

Okay, so let me tell you, the atmosphere in this movie is intense. The filmmakers really built out this creepy, immersive world, and there are moments that genuinely stuck with me. The scene where you’re running down a pitch-black hallway, being hunted by those nurses? Forget about it! Those nurses were terrifying in the original film – I distinctly remember watching it with my hands over my eyes, completely freaked out – and they brought that same fear factor here. It’s a really effective scare tactic.

There were definitely times during the process that were really tough emotionally. As an actor, I always aim to make my performance feel as authentic as possible – not necessarily through method acting, but by genuinely connecting with the character’s feelings. When you delve into those deeply emotional and difficult places, it can be challenging to move past them. I think we all experienced that on this project, and it took a bit of emotional resilience to navigate it.

  • TopMob: “Are there any particular creatures in that world that you had the best time filming with?”

Hannah Emily Anderson described working with Julia, the actress who played the armless creature, as a really enjoyable experience. She said Julia was a beautiful, incredibly talented dancer, and very funny. Anderson recalled Julia being playful and joking between takes, and amazingly flexible – often casually lifting her leg in the air. It was a stark contrast to the serious character she portrayed. Robert, who played Pyramid Head, also noted how amusing it was to see the actor relaxing between scenes with a cup of coffee.

  • TopMob: “Were there any fun deleted scenes or references that you know of that maybe were filmed or talked about that just didn’t make the cut?”

I was laughing remembering that at one point, the script included a sex scene. It was surprisingly choreographed, almost like a dance, but they kept delaying filming it. Jeremy and I were both relieved, because it felt like we didn’t have to shoot it on any given day!

After filming in Serbia and arriving in Munich, we found out individually that our scene had been removed. We were relieved and immediately texted each other, celebrating with plans to go out for drinks.

  • TopMob: “Making a film is a very challenging experience. There are a lot of road bumps and things to learn. With ‘Silent Hill,’ compared to everything you’ve done in the past, what is the most unexpected challenge that you faced on that film that you really hadn’t seen before?”

Honestly, the whole experience was challenging. I never really felt completely at ease, and I was constantly wondering how things would work out and what I’d need to do. I even did many of my own stunts, which was a first for me. It pushed me further than anything I’ve ever done before, physically and mentally.

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2026-01-23 01:07