Five Nights at Freddy’s, the Halloween horror sensation that recently took the box office by storm, has left its critics and fans alike eager to find out what’s next.
Directed by the talented Emma Tammi, the live-action film adaptation of Scott Cawthon’s iconic video game series has not only garnered a massive following but also raked in an impressive $130 million globally on its opening weekend. To put that in perspective, that’s a six-fold return on its modest $20 million production budget.
Now, with such a roaring success, the question on everyone’s mind is: Will there be a sequel? If so, what can we expect? It’s no secret that when horror films hit the jackpot, sequels are almost always in the pipeline, and with Five Nights at Freddy’s, it’s no different.
Given the franchise’s extensive lore, spanning 13 video games and multiple books, there’s no shortage of material for it to draw from. Universal would be missing a trick if it didn’t capitalize on this potential goldmine.
While there’s no official confirmation yet, the signs are definitely promising. In a recent interview with Variety, Tammi (who apparently didn’t know anything about the franchise before she came aboard) hinted at the possibility of a sequel aligning with the second game in the series.
If this sequel will ever materialize, it could introduce fans to new characters such as Puppet and Balloon Boy. Moreover, Matthew Lillard, who portrayed the sinister William Afton, has signed on for a three-film contract. Although contracts don’t guarantee sequels, given the film’s smashing success, it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing more of Afton in the near future.
The original game’s sequel got a rather lukewarm reception when it made its debut, but it’s evident that the franchise’s success isn’t tied to critical acclaim. Fans adore it, and that’s what counts.
With the film’s remarkable achievement, we can certainly see a new annual release trend forming, similar to the Saw series, especially around Halloween. However, the ongoing actors’ strike might throw a wrench in those plans, at least for the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, since the writers’ strike was resolved, a script could be ready to roll once the actors have been paid their dues, as they deserve to.
The future looks bright for Five Nights at Freddy’s. Though we might have to play the waiting game, at least for a while, one thing’s for sure: Freddy Fazbear and his animatronic friends are here to stay.
