Will Smile Return to Haunt Us? Director Signs Deal Hinting at a Sequel

Director Parker Finn has signed a new studio deal, which has sparked rumors of a potential Smile 2 movie. 

The 2022 horror film starred Sosie Bacon as an emergency room therapist tormented by a frightening entity disguised as smiling people. 

It was based on Finn’s own short film, Laura Hasn’t Slept, and was initially set to be released on Paramount+. 

However, due to positive test screenings, the film was released in theaters, grossing over $200 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing horror film of the year.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Finn has recently signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the Smile release. 

While there are no specific details regarding the agreement, it is noted that Finn will focus mainly on horror projects. The report also hints at the possibility of a Smile sequel being one of the top priority projects.

It’s only logical that Smile would have a sequel, given Finn’s exceptional directorial debut. 

The movie was a commercial and critical success, boasting an impressive 80 percent “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a 77 percent score from audiences.

The problem is that the main entity in Smile is quite efficient, resulting in few surviving characters by the end of the film. 

Therefore, the best choice for the protagonist in the new movie would be Kyle Gallner as Joel, the cop who assists Dr. Rose Cotter, played by Bacon, in defeating the threat. 

Gallner’s enthusiastic reaction to Finn’s announcement suggests that he’s interested in reprising his role.

Nonetheless, Smile 2 has various other paths it could take. 

One possibility is to depict a new character being tormented by the entity, either before or after the events of the original movie. 

Another, more captivating option would be to explore Rose’s nephew, who experienced psychological trauma at his birthday celebration due to the entity’s manipulations. Only time will tell who smiles the most after the next movie of this unique franchise comes out. Stay tuned till then!

About Smile

Smile is a 2022 American psychological horror film written and directed by Parker Finn (in his feature directorial debut), based on his 2020 short film Laura Hasn’t Slept. The film stars Sosie Bacon as a therapist who, after witnessing the bizarre suicide of a patient, goes through increasingly disturbing and daunting experiences, leading her to believe what she is experiencing is supernatural.

Directed by Parker Finn, the film also stars Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Caitlin Stasey, Kal Penn, and Rob Morgan. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised the jumpscares, production values, and Bacon’s performance, though some noted the similarities to other horror media, such as It Follows and The Ring.