WithSmile 2still playing in theaters and making audiences afraid of expressions of happiness everywhere, directorParker Finnis already talking aboutSmile 3, a possible sequel that executives at Paramount Pictures must also be thinking about right now as well. Finn has revealed that he could make a thirdSmile movie, but he will do so on his own terms.
Smile 2 lays the groundwork for more movies, that’s for sure. And we’re not talking about formulaic iterations of the same story. The sequel, which features a great performance from Naomi Scott, is more abrasive with regard to gore and really expands the scope of the story – which makes sense when your lead is a pop star with millions of fans.
In the second Smile, Skye Riley (Scott) is a very successful pop star who has just gone through a horrific accident in which she lost her boyfriend. Recovering from drug addiction, Skye is afraid to request painkillers, so she’s forced to go undercover and ask her former dealer. That’s how she gets in contact with the demonic entity whose curse spreads like wildfire. Skye becomes the Smiler’s latest victim, and all signs point to her world tour being postponed.
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Speaking to Collider, Finn addressed the possibility of making another sequel, which he’ll only do if he can continue telling “really intense and hopefully thoughtful character stories.” Based on the two movies he has made already, we’re thinking that we should trust him. Said Finn:
“Well, I will say this, I think there are a lot of interesting roads that any future
Smile
could go down. For me, I love all the stuff that goes bump in the night, and all the really frightening things of the big concept of
Smile
and the Smiler.But really, for me,
Smile
is a vehicle to tell really intense and hopefully thoughtful character stories , and so I’d wanna make sure, regardless of if more than one person might have it, that we still find a way to really invest intimacy into the storytelling . That’s super important to me. But I think there are some really interesting tricks still up the sleeves of
Smile
.”
How Smile 2 Differs From the First
Finn could have gone for something easier, and made Smile 2 another version of Smile with similar characters. Paramount would have been OK with that since the first film made $217.4 million with a relatively simple original story. Nevertheless, Finn has used the opportunity to heighten his concept. Smile 2 is a slicker, more ambitious version of the story. With a central character who has more to lose than the first one, and with her trauma being more tangible.
Smile 2 has yet to break $100 million at the box office, but at the time of this writing, things are looking good. After only two weeks of release, the sequel has earned $86.1 million at the box office. But more importantly, Smile 2 is a hit with critics. The sequel remains at 85% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes, which means critics have connected with the sequel more than they did with the first movie of the franchise. If Paramount takes this as an early sign, Smile 3 could be approved soon. However, let’s not forget Finn has something to do first: a remake of Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession starring Robert Pattinson, and that is something we should all be smiling about.
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
- Release Date
- October 18, 2024
- Director
- Parker Finn
- Main Genre
- Horror