Dread Central can confirm that a third Smile is in the works, but will franchise creator and director Parker Finn […]
Dread Central can confirm that a third Smile is in the works, but will franchise creator and director Parker Finn return to direct?
Not according to regular insider Jeff Sneider, who responded to a rumor that Finn was likely to return, countering that he had heard he’s unlikely to get back behind the camera for the third installment. We’ve heard the same. Finn is a hot filmmaker atm and has been in the mix on several major projects, one of which I’m praying comes to fruition.
Smile, released in 2022, follows a psychiatrist who begins experiencing terrifying and unexplainable events after witnessing a patient die by suicide, leading her to believe a supernatural curse is stalking her. The film starred Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, and Caitlin Stasey, and grossed about $217M worldwide.
The sequel, Smile 2 (2024), centers on a pop star who begins experiencing disturbing supernatural events tied to the same curse while preparing for a major tour. The film starred Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, and Kyle Gallner, and earned roughly $138M globally.
Even the $138M was wildly successful, even if it showed diminishing returns from the viral breakout Smile, which was initially slated for a Paramount+ release prior to extremely positive test screenings.
