Five Nights At Freddy’s will still be adapted for a feature-length film, and the project just gained some serious star power with the addition of Harry Potter producer Chris Columbus. As reported by Deadline and the Blumhouse Productions Twitter account, Columbus will write, direct and co-produce the movie.
Blumhouse posted the picture below Monday afternoon, asking if Columbus was “ready for Freddy.” The image mirrors the director’s chair announcement photo posted when the film officially transitioned from Warner Bros. to Blumhouse last May.
While the early Harry Potter films offer their own unique brand of scares, The Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber Of Secrets are far from Columbus’ only flirtations with the horror genre. He’s also the screenwriter behind iconic films like Gremlins, The Goonies and Young Sherlock Holmes. Obviously not every scene in those films is as terrifying as being chased by bloodthirsty animatronics, but the history is certainly there to make something special. To date, Columbus’ films have generated $4.1 billion at the global box office and have earned numerous Oscar nominations.
Like many game-to-film adaptations, the Five Nights At Freddy’s movie has struggled to gain permanent traction in Hollywood. First announced in 2015 at the height of the series’ popularity, the helmed by Warner Bros. and Poltergeist remake Director Gil Kenan. After what franchise creator Scott Cawthon referred to as “several delays and roadblocks,” the project slowly transitioned to Blumhouse under producer Jason Blum.
While this latest update on the Five Nights At Freddy’s movie is mostly good news, because the film is still in pre-production, there’s a lot that could change by the time it actually releases. The current pairing certainly sounds like a match made in heaven, though, under the wing of Cawthon, multiple experienced filmmakers and the studio behind creepy modern classics like Split and Get Out. If the tone of those films is any indication, Five Nights At Freddy’s won’t be for the faint of heart.
It will be some time before we see any teasers or trailers, but those who want a glimpse of what the movie might be like should take a look at the Five Nights At Freddy’s book series. The first entry, called The Silver Eyes, seems well-suited for the big screen with a fully developed cast of characters and lifelike depictions of Freddy, Foxy, Bonnie and Chica. We’d be willing to bet the books will offer a solid starting point for Columbus, but Cawthon will likely allow his writer to blend that narrative with some of his own interpretations. On the other hand, given how seasoned this new team is, it’s very possible the movie could offer something totally new.
The Five Nights At Freddy’s game series wrapped up in late 2017 with the stealth release of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator. While there are always opportunities for spinoffs or new sagas in that universe, the metaphorical box remains closed for now.
Five Nights At Freddy’s games are available now on PC and mobile devices.
Will Columbus be a good addition to the Five Nights At Freddy’s team? Will this movie ever get made? Tell us in the comments section!
