Fans are ready for 'Five Nights at Freddy's 3' — but one major factor is slowing things down
When 'Five Nights at Freddy’s' was first released in 2023, few could have predicted the phenomenon it would become. Adapted from the video game series of the same name, the popular franchise has been sending chills down fans' spines with its brand of horror. Now, following the success of the second part, released on Friday, December 5, fans are eagerly awaiting updates on the third chapter of the franchise. Fortunately, director Emma Tammi has confirmed that 'Five Nights at Freddy's 3' is very much in development, but there's a major catch.
In an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, celebrating the digital release of 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2,' Tammi addressed the film's cliffhanger ending and the status of a potential third movie. Tammi revealed that she and the creative team are "still processing" the sequel's 2025 release and audience reception, but confirmed that conversations about 'Five Nights at Freddy's 3' are ongoing. She shared, "With the second now about to come out onto home video, which is super exciting, especially for the holidays, we're in talks, and I'm sure we'll know more in the new year, but it's still all a conversation at this point."
Notably, even before the 2025 sequel's release, a third 'Five Nights at Freddy's' film seemed likely, especially after Matthew Lillard confirmed his three-movie contract. Although the production company, Blumhouse, has been cautious about making an official announcement, they have consistently shown interest in expanding the franchise.
Given this approach, Tammi's reluctance to provide concrete updates on 'Five Nights at Freddy's 3' is understandable, as Blumhouse and Universal are still weighing the creative and financial direction of the threequel, particularly since the 2025 sequel cost significantly more and earned nearly $80 million less at the box office than the first film.
In another ScreenRant interview with Crossan, celebrating the film's digital release, Tammi talked about the sequel's box office performance and reception. She described the numbers as "really exciting numbers to read about," noting that the film had already crossed $200 million at the time and has since reached $221 million. Tammi also expressed her gratitude to audiences, saying she was "really excited that the fan base loved it as much as they did" and praised the cast and crew for their work.
Addressing the mixed critical response, Tammi characterised a movie's opening weekend as "a journey" and a "terrifying experience," explaining that a film heads "into the unknown of how something's going to do at the box office or critically." She added that there is "zero control" over how a film is received and that "all you can do is hang on for the ride."
