Gary Dauberman to Write Next ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Film for Blumhouse Atomic Monster

EXCLUSIVE: Blumhouse’s killer animatronics are getting a major horror upgrade.

Blumhouse Atomic Monster has confirmed that Gary Dauberman is writing the script for the next installment of Five Nights at Freddy’s.

One of horror’s most in-demand screenwriters, Gary Dauberman previously penned It, It Chapter Two, Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle Comes Home, The Nun, The Nun II, and Salem’s Lot, while also making his feature directing debut with Annabelle Comes Home. He did not write either of the first two Five Nights at Freddy’s films, which were written by franchise creator Scott Cawthon, with the first film also crediting Emma Tammi and Seth Cuddeback.

Based on Scott Cawthon’s wildly popular horror video game series, the first Five Nights at Freddy’s hit theaters in 2023. Directed by Emma Tammi, the film starred Josh Hutcherson as troubled security guard Mike Schmidt, who takes an overnight job at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, only to discover the restaurant’s animatronic mascots become murderous after dark. The film became a massive success, earning nearly $300 million worldwide despite debuting simultaneously in theaters and on Peacock.

The franchise returned in 2025 with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, once again directed by Emma Tammi and starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Piper Rubio. Set one year after the original, the sequel follows Mike and his family as a new wave of animatronic horrors emerges, expanding the mythology surrounding Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The sequel also proved to be another box office hit, grossing more than $238 million worldwide.

The Five Nights at Freddy’s films have become one of Blumhouse’s biggest theatrical success stories. While the original remains a landmark hit for the studio, more recent Blumhouse releases Obsession and Backrooms have since surpassed its worldwide box office, further cementing the studio’s dominance in theatrical horror.