Smile 3 Officially Moving Forward With The Ritual Director David Bruckner and New Writer

Smile 3 Officially Moving Forward With The Ritual Director David Bruckner and New Writer

The terrifying smiles are returning to cinemas as Smile 3 officially moves forward at Paramount Pictures, although the next instalment will feature a significant change behind the camera.

David Bruckner, the filmmaker behind The Ritual, The Night House and the 2022 reboot of Hellraiser, has been hired to direct the third entry in the successful supernatural horror franchise.

He will replace Parker Finn, who wrote and directed both Smile in 2022 and Smile 2 in 2024.

However, Finn is not abandoning the franchise he created.

The filmmaker will remain involved as a producer and has already developed the initial framework for the third film.

Meanwhile, Nick Antosca, best known for creating the horror anthology series Channel Zero, has been brought aboard to write the screenplay.

The announcement was reported on 28 October 2026, confirming that Paramount intends to continue one of the most commercially successful original horror franchises of recent years.

David Bruckner Will Direct Smile 3

David Bruckner is an interesting choice to take over the franchise, particularly given his experience with psychological and supernatural horror.

His career includes several films that have developed devoted followings among genre audiences.

In 2017, Bruckner directed The Ritual, an adaptation of Adam Nevill's horror novel about a group of friends who encounter a terrifying presence while hiking through a remote Swedish forest.

The film became particularly memorable for its unsettling atmosphere, exploration of grief and disturbing creature design.

He followed that project with The Night House, starring Rebecca Hall.

The psychological horror film follows a grieving widow who begins uncovering disturbing secrets about her deceased husband.

Its combination of emotional trauma, supernatural uncertainty and increasingly unsettling imagery makes it particularly relevant to the themes explored in Smile.

Bruckner subsequently directed the 2022 reimagining of Hellraiser, introducing a new interpretation of Clive Barker's iconic supernatural horror franchise.

His earlier work also includes contributions to horror anthologies such as V/H/S and Southbound.

Across these projects, Bruckner has demonstrated an interest in characters confronting forces they cannot fully understand.

That experience could prove valuable when handling the mysterious entity at the centre of the Smile films.

Who Is Writing Smile 3?

The screenplay will be written by Nick Antosca, another filmmaker with considerable experience in unsettling psychological storytelling.

Antosca created Channel Zero, the acclaimed horror anthology series inspired by internet creepypasta stories.

The programme explored disturbing subjects including childhood fears, mysterious disappearances and supernatural phenomena.

He also co-created Brand New Cherry Flavor, the surreal Netflix horror series starring Rosa Salazar.

His other credits include the 2021 supernatural horror film Antlers and the Hulu drama The Act.

More recently, Antosca has worked on the television adaptation of Cape Fear and the psychological thriller Verity.

His involvement suggests that Paramount is continuing to prioritise psychological horror rather than simply turning the franchise into a conventional supernatural slasher series.

However, the studio has not revealed what direction Antosca's screenplay will take.

Why Isn't Parker Finn Directing Smile 3?

Parker Finn created the franchise with his short film Laura Hasn't Slept, which provided the foundation for the original Smile.

He subsequently wrote and directed the first two feature films.

His work established the franchise's distinctive visual identity, particularly its unsettling facial expressions, disturbing hallucinations and exploration of psychological trauma.

However, Finn is now concentrating on another major horror project.

The filmmaker is directing a remake of Andrzej Żuławski's 1981 psychological horror film Possession.

That production will star Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner and is currently scheduled for release on 11 June 2027.

Rather than attempting to direct both projects, Finn is handing the Smile franchise to Bruckner.

Importantly, he will continue working on Smile 3 as a producer alongside Temple Hill Entertainment.

Finn also developed the initial story framework that Antosca will use when writing the screenplay.

Jonathan Fass is attached as an executive producer.

This arrangement should allow the franchise to retain some creative continuity while introducing a different directorial approach.

How Successful Have the Smile Movies Been?

The original Smile arrived in cinemas in September 2022 and became one of the year's biggest horror surprises.

Starring Sosie Bacon as psychiatrist Rose Cotter, the film followed a woman who begins experiencing increasingly disturbing events after witnessing a traumatic death.

What initially appears to be a psychological breakdown gradually develops into a confrontation with a terrifying supernatural entity.

The film was originally developed for a streaming release before Paramount decided to distribute it theatrically.

That decision proved extremely successful.

Produced on a relatively modest budget, Smile earned approximately $217 million worldwide.

Its commercial performance quickly established the property as a valuable new horror franchise.

A sequel followed in October 2024.

Smile 2 shifted the story to Skye Riley, a successful pop singer portrayed by Naomi Scott.

The sequel expanded the franchise's exploration of trauma, celebrity culture and psychological manipulation while introducing increasingly elaborate horror sequences.

Although it earned less than the original, Smile 2 still generated approximately $139 million worldwide.

Combined, the two films have earned more than $350 million at the global box office.

Those figures help explain Paramount's decision to continue the franchise with a third instalment.

What Will Smile 3 Be About?

For now, the storyline remains a mystery.

Paramount has not released an official synopsis, and there have been no confirmed character or casting announcements.

The first two films followed different protagonists, each becoming entangled with the supernatural curse associated with the entity.

That structure has allowed the franchise to introduce new characters while maintaining an underlying connection between its stories.

It would therefore be possible for the third instalment to follow another character encountering the same terrifying force.

However, this has not been confirmed.

Parker Finn previously discussed the possibility of expanding the franchise's mythology while preserving the emotional intensity that made the earlier films successful.

Speaking about potential future instalments, he suggested that the story could explore new directions without losing its focus on personal horror.

That approach leaves considerable room for Bruckner and Antosca to develop something different.

Whether the third film will directly follow the events of Smile 2, introduce an entirely new protagonist or explore more of the entity's origins remains unknown.

Will Naomi Scott Return for Smile 3?

There is currently no confirmation that Naomi Scott will return.

Scott received considerable praise for her performance as Skye Riley in Smile 2, delivering a portrayal of a performer struggling with fame, personal trauma and increasingly terrifying supernatural experiences.

However, Paramount has not announced any returning cast members.

Sosie Bacon, who starred in the original film, has likewise not been confirmed for the third instalment.

Given the franchise's established approach to introducing different protagonists, audiences should not assume that either actress will appear.

Until casting announcements are made, any claims about returning characters should be treated as speculation.

When Will Smile 3 Be Released?

Smile 3 does not currently have an official release date.

Paramount has confirmed its new director and screenwriter, but the studio has not announced when filming will begin.

There is also no confirmed production schedule or theatrical release window.

With Parker Finn concentrating on Possession and Nick Antosca now responsible for developing the screenplay, the project remains in its early stages.

Any suggested release year would therefore be speculative.

There is also no official teaser trailer, poster or footage from the third film.

A New Creative Direction for the Smile Franchise

Changing directors after two successful films always introduces an element of uncertainty.

Parker Finn established a recognisable approach to supernatural horror that helped distinguish Smile from other contemporary franchises.

However, David Bruckner brings considerable experience of his own.

His work on The Ritual and The Night House demonstrates an ability to create psychological tension while exploring characters affected by grief, fear and emotional trauma.

Meanwhile, Nick Antosca's work on Channel Zero suggests a willingness to experiment with disturbing imagery and unconventional storytelling.

Together, they could bring a fresh perspective to the franchise without abandoning the ideas that made the first two films successful.

Finn's continued involvement as a producer should also help maintain a connection with the original creative vision.

For now, the biggest development is that Paramount has assembled an experienced horror filmmaking team to continue the series.

Smile 3 is officially moving forward with David Bruckner directing, Nick Antosca writing and Parker Finn producing. Plot details, casting and a release date remain unannounced.