Bruckner to Direct Third Smile Film

Horror director David Bruckner will direct Smile 3, the next entry in Paramount Pictures' hit franchise. This marks a shift in leadership for the series, which has generated over $350 million in global box office receipts.

Bruckner, known for directing the 2022 Hellraiser remake for Hulu, will take over from Parker Finn. Finn created the series and directed the first two films, including 2024's Smile 2. Nick Antosca is writing the screenplay for the third installment.

Finn developed the framework for the new film and pitched it to the studio. He will continue his involvement as a producer, while Jonathan Fass serves as executive producer. Finn signed a first-look deal with Paramount in 2023 and is currently directing the studio's remake of Possession, which stars Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley and is scheduled for release on June 11, 2027.

In a previous interview, Finn discussed the potential direction of the franchise. He stated that there are exciting places for the story to go and liked the idea of future entries becoming bigger and more off the rails. He emphasized that the world could grow larger, but the stories inside it must remain impactful on a human level.

"What's important about Smile is that there is a real human, character-driven, intimate nature to the storytelling," Finn said. He added that even if the scope expands, he wants the narratives to maintain their intimate core.

Bruckner brings several other projects to his current slate. Universal Pictures is producing The Caretaker, an adaptation of Marcus Kliewer's book starring Sydney Sweeney. He is also attached to the horror film Mice for A24 and is writing and developing a remake of The Blob. His earlier credits include The Night House and The Ritual.

The first Smile film was the top-grossing original horror movie of 2022. The series' commercial performance has established it as a major property for Paramount, leading to the development of this third chapter.