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‘Smile 3’ Sets David Bruckner to Direct While Franchise Creator Parker Finn Helms ‘Possession’ Remake (EXCLUSIVE)
Confirmed
In Short: Bruckner, known for his work on films like 'The Ritual,' 'The Night House,' and the 2022 'Hellraiser' reboot, will take over from franchise creator Parker Finn, who directed the first two films.
Paramount Pictures has officially confirmed that David Bruckner will direct 'Smile 3,' the third installment in the 'Smile' horror franchise.
Finn will remain involved as a producer for 'Smile 3,' alongside Jonathan Fass as executive producer.
'Smile 2,' released in 2024, was a commercial success, grossing approximately $140 million worldwide from a $30 million budget.
The first 'Smile' film, released in 2022, became a breakout hit, grossing $217 million globally and setting the stage for the franchise's continued success.
Despite the change in director, the 'Smile' series has maintained its momentum, with the franchise's global gross exceeding $350 million.
Finn's new project, a remake of the 1981 cult horror film 'Possession,' is set for release on June 11, 2027, starring Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley.
The 'Smile' franchise's rapid success has been noted by industry analysts, with few modern horror franchises moving as quickly from viral marketing to a legitimate studio property.
While details of the plot for 'Smile 3' have not been revealed, the standalone nature of each film suggests a new cast and story will be introduced.
Finn's transition from director to producer for 'Smile 3' indicates a continued involvement in the franchise's creative direction.
The success of 'Smile 2' has critics and fans alike eagerly anticipating what Bruckner will bring to the table for 'Smile 3.'
Background
Smile 2 is a 2024 American supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by Parker Finn. A sequel to Smile (2022), the film stars Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, a pop star who begins to experience a series of increasingly disturbing events just as she is about to embark on tour.
What's confirmed
- Finn signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures in 2023.
What's still developing
- Smile 3 is officially a go, but with a new creative team at the helm, according to Variety.
- Brucker is known for horror films like The Ritual, The Night House, and Hellraiser (2022), while Antosca is behind series like Channel Zero, Cape Fear, and Brand New Cherry Flavor.
- Smile and Smile 2 each saw their protagonists unravel after witnessing a traumatic event resulting in the death of someone bearing a sinister grin.
- Foreign media outlet Nexus Point News reported that Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley were in negotiations to star, while Pattinson would remain solely behind the scenes.
- What remains unclear is how much of Finn’s fingerprints will stay on the next ‘Smile.’ Variety’s report frames him as the franchise creator stepping aside from the director’s seat, but it does not suggest the series is leaving his orbit entirely.
- Despite Finn’s absence after writing and directing the first two films, he developed and pitched the framework for the trilogy-completing film, on which he serves as a producer with Temple Hill.
- Our own Chris Bumbray found Smile 2 to be a bigger and better improvement over its predecessor.
- And he’s also worked on multiple installments of the V/H/S franchise.
- Bruckner got his start directing in horror anthology films like “V/H/S,” “Southbound,” and the 2007 Sundance film “The Signal.” His most recent films include “The Night House,” which was released by Searchlight in 2021, and a reimagining of Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser,” which was released by Hulu in 2022.
- Premiering at Fantastic Fest, “Smile” became a breakout horror hit in the fall of 2022, grossing $217 million worldwide — the most of any original horror film that year — and spawning a 2024 sequel that grossed $138 million.
- Finn wrote and directed 2022’s “Smile” and the 2024 sequel “Smile 2.” The original film — commissioned for streaming before pivoting to a theatrical release — became a sleeper hit, with $105 million domestically and $217 million globally.
- Since each “Smile” movie has functioned as a standalone sequel, with a separate story and new stars, it’s unclear who will appear in the threequel.