Smile 3 officially confirmed with one major change

Blockbuster Smile 3 is underway. But there is one major change, as original writer-director Parker Finn is standing aside, with David Bruckner set to direct from a screenplay by Nick Antosca.

Finn created the first two instalments of the horror trilogy, but will only return in a producing capacity for the next entry. As per Variety, he is also said to have pitched the framework for the third film.

Bruckner is no stranger to directing horror hits, including the 2022 reboot of Hellraiser, the psychological thriller The Ritual and the supernatural horror movie The Night House.

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And his list of sought after projects now include the remake of the iconic horror film The Blob, for none other than Warner Bros. He is also set to take on the Universal adaptation of The Caretaker, which will star Sydney Sweeney.

Meanwhile, screenwriter Antosca is perhaps best known for helming Apple TV's Cape Fear, and also wrote the screenplay for psychological thriller Verity starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway.

Currently, details of the plot for Smile 3 still remain unknown. The first film garnered a loyal following as it followed a therapist Rosie Cotter (Sosie Bacon) who becomes haunted by hallucinations when she witnesses the death of a patient.

The sequel saw Naomi Scott play pop artist Skye Riley, who also starts to suffer from a host of worrying events while embarking on a tour. The supporting cast included Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage and Dylan Gelula.

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In a chat with Starburst Magazine, Finn discussed the making of the original film, noting: "I love films that have a sense of mystery to them, like peeling back the layers and discovering what the movie actually is.

"I really think that it's part of the theme within the film, it's what it is to be afraid of the unknown, that's a very universal fear, and I wanted to capture that both in the plot elements, but also in the thematic elements as well."

Smile 3 has no release date.

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