Josh Hutcherson Just Confirmed a 'Five Nights at Freddy's' Sequel
Well, folks–maybe dreams do come true. After a successful box-office run, it sounds like Five Nights at Freddy’s is on track for a sequel. Josh Hutcherson, who starred as Mike Schmidt, suggested there’s another film on the horizon. “I know they’re in the process right now of nailing down the story, and they want to get going as soon as possible,” Hutcherson said, during a press tour for his latest project, The Beekeeper. “Obviously, the fans are amazing and die-hard. For me to be a part of it was so cool and phenomenal.”
In case you missed it, Hutcherson took audiences to a Chuck E. Cheese from hell last October in Five Nights at Freddy’s, which is based on the popular video game of the same name. The movie chronicles Mike Schmidt's brief employment at a defunct pizza-party venue. For five nights, Schmidt guards the premises, but he soon realizes the minimum-wage gig comes at a major price. When the mascots turn into bloodthirsty killers, Schmidt is forced to fight for his life. Naturally, this leads to an hour and fifty minutes of terror at the hands of partially robotic (and partially furry!) killers.
Despite the grisly journey–which features possessed animatronics, among other horrors—fans are eager for more. How could you not be, after watching that post-credit scene? Hutcherson said the glowing reception surprised him. “We hoped it would connect with audiences,” the actor explained. “But I don’t think that anyone, even on our side of things, expected it to really connect the way that it did. I’m dying to get back on set. Emma Tammi, our director, was fantastic, and it was such a fun world to play in. I’m excited to see what they are doing next.”
Hutcherson might be surprised, but I’m not. We’ve been eager to see his next big project since The Hunger Games wrapped in 2015. Some may call this the Hutcheraissance. OK, maybe that’s just me—but even his former costar, Jennifer Lawrence, reached out to congratulate him. “Jen texted me when Freddy’s came out,” Hutcherson said. “She was like, ‘My movie’s #1 on Netflix, and yours is #1 at the box office! Let’s go!’ I was like, ‘I love you!’”
Ahead of the film's debut, Tammi suggested that future installments of Five Nights at Freddy’s hinged on audience turnout. “We’ll see how things go this weekend,” she told Variety. “We’re definitely excited to keep making more movies in this world, should we be lucky enough to do that. This one was tied into the first game, and we would probably focus on tying the second one into the second game, and so on and so forth. But anything could happen. We’ll have to see.”
Months removed, Five Nights at Freddy’s was a certified hit. The film premiered on October 27th and, according to Screen Rant, became the highest-grossing horror movie of 2023. By December, the film made $284.1 million globally and $136.3 million domestically, far outpacing its $20 million budget. While we wait for more good news (fingers crossed), here is everything we know about the franchise's future.
What Will Happen in the Five Nights at Freddy’s Sequel?
If Tammi is correct and the film follows the video game series, then the Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel would actually be a prequel. The second game takes place in the '80s and shows how the animatronics were possessed in the first place. You know what? After seeing a killer mascot bite off a man's face, a little backstory would be much appreciated.
Who Will Appear in the Five Nights at Freddy’s Sequel?
Unfortunately, a prequel means we have to say goodbye to Mike Schmidt. Don’t fret! The prequel features a different—albeit also unlucky—chap, by the name of Jeremy. When good ol’ Jeremy works the graveyard shift at Freddy’s Pizzeria, he answers a phone call from someone who warns the animatronics are up to no good. As expected, chaos unfolds, revealing a cast of new characters, villains, and victims.
When Will the Five Nights at Freddy’s Sequel Premiere?
A sequel could be ready by late this year if things get started ASAP. Five Nights at Freddy’s began filming in February of 2023 and wrapped in April, meaning the production process took around eight months to complete. If all goes well, a sequel could be fast-tracked to the big screen.
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