Actor Matthew Lillard revealed that he would be in not one but three Five Nights at Freddy’s films.
The excitement has been steadily growing since they announced the long-awaited movie version of the popular game, “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Fans of the game, who have been eagerly waiting to see the famous and dangerous pizzeria on the big screen, might be happy to hear that there are not just one, but three movies planned by Blumhouse. Actor Matthew Lillard, who will be in the film, revealed in a YouTube interview that there are three separate movies based on “Five Nights at Freddy’s” in the works.
The news of a movie adaptation for “Five Nights at Freddy’s” was initially announced in 2015 when the game series was at the height of its popularity. Warner Bros joined the project, and Gil Kenan was brought on as a writer and co-director. However, due to delays, the film encountered obstacles and was put on hold for further development. Kenan and Warner Bros eventually left the project, and in 2017, Blumhouse Productions took over production, with Chris Columbus taking on the role of writer and director. Unfortunately, conflicts between Scott Cawthon and Columbus led to another change in director, leaving the project uncertain once again. After the pandemic, Blumhouse made renewed efforts to move forward, and Emma Tammi joined as the final director, collaborating with Cawthon on the screenplay. Progress seems to be going well under their direction.
The movie casting process has been ongoing, and a few additional actors have been announced. Josh Hutcherson, known for his role in “The Hunger Games,” will portray Mike Schmidt, the well-known security guard who faces the haunted animatronics every night while on duty. Mary Stuart Masterson, recently seen in “Daniel Isn’t Real,” has been cast as an undisclosed villain, potentially one of the animatronic characters. Elizabeth Lail, known for her role in “You,” will portray Vanessa, another security guard introduced in one of the more recent games in the franchise. Several child actors have also been selected to portray both living and deceased children in the film.
Matthew Lillard has landed the significant role of William Afton, the main antagonist in the Five Nights at Freddy’s story. Afton is responsible for many of the tragic events that take place in the haunted pizzeria. Lillard expressed his excitement about the role and shared his thoughts in an interview with WeeklyMTG. During the interview, he mentioned being signed to a three-movie deal with Blumhouse, implying that Five Nights at Freddy’s may become a franchise with multiple films. Lillard will portray William Afton in all three movies. This unexpected news opens up various creative possibilities for Blumhouse as they incorporate characters from different installments in the game series into the films.
The MTGWeekly YouTube interview with Matthew Lillard can be viewed below.
The production of Five Nights at Freddy’s will begin this month in New Orleans and is expected to wrap up in early April. However, there is no official announcement regarding the release date in theaters at this time.
What Could Blumhouse Do With Three FNAF Films?
With Blumhouse Productions planning up to three films for Five Nights at Freddy’s, it opens up possibilities for the direction that Emma Tammi and Scott Cawthon may choose for the story. While the first film has already cast characters from existing games, there is a chance they may decide to explore an origin-focused plot to establish the FNAF universe, introduce the haunted animatronics, and delve into the character of William Afton. This approach would provide a solid foundation for the franchise and allow for further exploration of the story in future films.
Following the establishment of the FNAF universe and the introduction of key characters in the first film, the story could potentially expand to include other locations from the games like FNAF: Sister Location and FNAF: Security Breach. With the extensive array of characters and complex lore that FNAF has developed, it’s challenging to predict the exact direction that Blumhouse has in store. If the first film performs successfully and paves the way for sequels, audiences will have to patiently await further details to see how the story unfolds.
