The Smile franchise is moving forward with a new director. David Bruckner, the filmmaker behind The Night House and Hellraiser, has been tapped to direct Smile 3 for Paramount Pictures, while franchise creator Parker Finn shifts his attention to the remake of the cult horror film Possession.
According to Variety, Nick Antosca will write the screenplay for the third Smile instalment, working from a story framework developed by Finn. Although Finn will no longer direct the sequel, he will remain involved as a producer alongside Temple Hill Entertainment. Jonathan Fass is executive producing.
The change marks a new chapter for the horror franchise, which Finn launched with the 2022 original and continued with 2024’s Smile 2. Both films turned a disturbing supernatural curse into commercially successful theatrical releases.
David Bruckner Takes Over Smile 3
Bruckner brings substantial horror experience to the project. His credits include The Ritual, The Night House and the 2022 reimagining of Hellraiser. He has also contributed to horror anthologies, including V/H/S and Southbound.
His filmmaking background makes him a fitting choice for a series built around psychological dread, unsettling imagery and a supernatural presence that pushes its victims toward terrifying extremes.
The first Smile followed therapist Rose Cotter, played by Sosie Bacon, after she witnessed a patient’s disturbing death. In Smile 2, Naomi Scott played pop star Skye Riley, whose increasingly frightening experiences unfolded as she prepared for a major tour.
Neither the third film’s plot nor its cast has been announced. Given that the first two movies centred on different protagonists, it remains unclear who will lead the next chapter.
The franchise has generated more than $350 million worldwide across its first two films, giving Paramount a strong commercial reason to continue the series.
Parker Finn Moves to Possession
While Bruckner takes charge of Smile 3, Finn is directing Possession, a remake of Andrzej Żuławski’s unsettling 1981 psychological horror film.
The new version stars Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner, with Paul Dano and Diego Calva also among the cast. Paramount has scheduled its theatrical release for June 11, 2027.
The original Possession, starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, became known for its intense performances, disturbing imagery and unconventional exploration of a marriage falling apart. Reimagining such an influential film presents a different creative challenge for Finn, whose work on Smile established him as a prominent contemporary horror filmmaker.
For fans, the projects offer two distinct reasons to watch Paramount’s horror slate: Bruckner’s interpretation of the expanding Smile mythology and Finn’s attempt to revisit a cult classic.
With no release date yet announced for Smile 3, further details about its cast and story remain the next major developments to watch.
