Paramount has found its new director for Smile 3. David Bruckner will direct the third film in the horror franchise, with Nick Antosca writing the screenplay, according to Variety reporting published October 28, 2026. Series creator Parker Finn, who wrote and directed the first two films, will stay on as a producer after pitching the story framework for the new chapter.
The short answer for fans is this: Smile 3 is officially moving forward, but it does not have a plot, a cast, or a release date yet. What has changed is who is in charge of it — and that change tells you a lot about where Paramount wants the franchise to go next.
Why Finn is stepping back
Finn is not leaving the franchise. He is busy directing something else: a remake of Andrzej Zulawski’s 1981 cult horror film Possession, a project Paramount won in a bidding war against rivals including A24, Netflix, Warner Bros. and Sony, according to reporting on the deal. That remake is reported to be scheduled for release on June 11, 2027, with Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley reported to be in negotiations to star — though casting for that film has not been officially confirmed either.
Finn pitched the initial structure for the third film, according to Deadline’s reporting, which described the framework as “trilogy-completing” — Deadline’s wording, not an official Paramount statement that the series ends here.
Who is taking over
Bruckner is a well-known name in modern horror. His credits include The Ritual (2017), The Night House (2020), and the 2022 Hellraiser reboot, plus segments of the V/H/S franchise and episodes of Creepshow. His schedule — and the final script — will likely shape when Smile 3 can actually start filming.
Antosca, the new writer, created the horror anthology series Channel Zero, co-created Brand New Cherry Flavor, and wrote Antlers (2021) and the 2026 Cape Fear series.
What we know about the story — and what we do not
Almost nothing, officially. No plot details have been revealed, and no casting has been announced. The first two films followed a standalone pattern: each featured new characters facing the same grinning entity, which passes from victim to victim after a traumatic death. Smile (2022) starred Sosie Bacon as a therapist haunted by smiling strangers; Smile 2 (2024) starred Naomi Scott as pop star Skye Riley, whose comeback tour collapses under the same curse.
That anthology approach gives Bruckner and Antosca freedom: they do not have to continue Skye Riley’s story directly, and they can introduce a new lead in a new setting.
Why Paramount is pushing ahead
Money. The first two Smile films have earned more than $350 million worldwide combined, according to Variety’s figures: about $217 million for Smile and about $139 million for Smile 2, which was made for a reported $28 million budget.
Key takeaways
- Director: David Bruckner (Hellraiser 2022, The Night House, The Ritual).
- Writer: Nick Antosca (Channel Zero, Antlers, Cape Fear series).
- Creator Parker Finn stays as producer and pitched the story framework; he is directing the Possession remake instead.
- No plot details, cast, or release date announced yet.
- Franchise box office: more than $350 million worldwide across the first two films, per Variety.
Bottom line: Smile 3 is real, it has a proven horror director, and it has its creator watching over it as producer. Now the wait begins for the two things that will actually decide whether it works: a script and a cast.
