The first game in the franchise from Scott Cawthon was released in 2014 and became a multimedia franchise nobody expected. The film rights were snapped up in 2015 and there have been multiple books, graphic novels, and universe-expanding games over the years. With the film in development for so long and moving closer to being finished let’s take a look at everything we know so far about the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
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What Is Five Nights at Freddy’s About?
The original Five Nights at Freddy’s game was released in 2014. A simple resource management game with extreme jumpscares, the game was picked up by several big YouTubers, most famously Markiplier, and exploded in popularity almost overnight. In the game, you play as new security guard Mike Schmidt working the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. On your first night, you are called by “Phone Guy” advising you to monitor the cameras and keep an eye on the animatronics who alarmingly have a habit of wandering around at night.
The main antagonists of the initial games are the eponymous Freddy Fazbear, Chica the hungry chicken, Bonnie the rabbit, and Foxy the pirate fox. As the player, the objective is to manage the battery power that runs the cameras, doors, and lights while keeping the animatronic menaces out of the security office by strategically closing the doors. If the power goes out before 6 am, the animatronics pounce and it’s game over and the night has to be replayed. After surviving 5 nights, a pay cheque is issued and Mike Schmidt is presumably free to get a better job. However, this is just the surface of the games as there is an almost endless well of lore surrounding the world of Freddy Fazbear.
The lore itself is hard to pin down 100% because it continues to change with each entry and there are still many holes to fill. Fazbear Entertainment is cofounded by William Afton who also runs Afton Robotics LLC and Funtime Animatronics. As the game series expanded it became clear that the animatronics are possessed by the souls of children that Afton had murdered. Afton became also known as “The Purple Guy” as his appearance in the games was often as a withered purple man. He committed his crimes while wearing the suit of the animatronic Springtrap, which ultimately malfunctions and kills him, although this doesn’t end his reign of terror or the neverending reach of the Fazbear brand.
Who Is Directing Five Nights At Freddy’s?
For the longest time, Chris Columbus had been attached to direct the film adaptation of the franchise but back in October 2022, Jason Blum from Blumhouse Productions announced that the movie would now be directed by Emma Tammi from a screenplay from her, Seth Cuddeback, and Cawthon. Tammi has previously directed episodes of the Blumhouse show Into the Dark on Hulu and supernatural horror The Wind. While Tammi doesn’t have the extensive resume that Chris Columbus does, she does have a previously existing working relationship with Blumhouse Productions, and considering the high-profile nature of the film and the existing franchise she must be more than up to the task.
Also revealed late last year is the fact that Jim Henson’s Creature Shop has been tasked with creature creation for the upcoming film. Blum revealed a picture of the shop with a sculptor working on a preliminary scale model of what appeared to be Freddy Fazbear on his Twitter feed in August. The involvement of the legendary practical effects creature house has only intensified expectations for the movie, if nothing else, the animatronics are sure to be spectacular. Take a look at the original tweet below.
Who Is Starring In Five Nights At Freddy’s?
Blum stated that filming on Five Nights at Freddy’s is expected to begin in February 2023, and casting news has only just been revealed. In December it was announced that veteran actor Matthew Lillard (Scream, Scooby Doo, Hackers) would be taking on the role of William Afton AKA Purple Guy. Actor Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, Detention, Tragedy Girls) has been tapped to play Night Security Guard Mike Schmidt, while Piper Rubio has been cast as Mike’s younger sister Abby.
Also on the cast list is Mary Stuart Masterson (Benny and Joon, Fried Green Tomatoes, Daniel Isn’t Real) who is currently billed as an unnamed female villain. While it’s unclear who this villain could be, there is a possibility that she could be voicing an appearance by Circus Baby or appearing as Vanny, a villain from later expanded universe books and the recent Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach game.
When Is Five Nights At Freddy’s Coming Out?
As of now, filming has yet to begin on the feature, although it is still currently slated to begin in February 2023. Back in March 2022, Blum said the film could be released in 2023 but no updates have been made since then. Considering that filming has yet to begin, it is much more likely that audiences will have to wait until at least early 2024 for their Fazbear frights.
MORE: Five Nights At Freddy’s Lore: The Story So Far
