Five Nights at Freddy's 3 Enlists It and Annabelle Writer for Its Script
Five Nights at Freddy's 3 is reportedly enlisting Gary Dauberman, the writer behind It and Annabelle, to craft its script. According to reports from Dread Central (via The Hollywood Reporter), Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal are making their first major move toward another installment in their video game-to-movie adaptations. This suggests not only that development on the next FNaF film is underway but also that the team is aiming to inject new life into the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza franchise.
Dauberman's filmography includes notable works such as the 2017 It reboot, its sequel, and the 2014 film Annabelle. He has also contributed to writing The Nun and last year's Until Dawn movie. He is currently attached to the upcoming Street Fighter and Helldivers films. This move could signal a shift in the FNaF movie series, potentially bringing a fresh perspective to the horror genre.
The first Five Nights at Freddy's film, which premiered in 2023, was co-written by creator Scott Cawthon and director Emma Tammi. Its sequel, released in 2025, was written by Seth Cuddeback. It remains uncertain whether Dauberman will write the new script independently or in collaboration with others as Blumhouse and Universal attempt to reinvigorate the franchise with Five Nights at Freddy's 3.
While Five Nights at Freddy's 3 has not been officially announced, it wouldn't be a surprise if it receives the green light. The first two films were commercial successes, with the first becoming Blumhouse's highest-grossing film at the time and the sequel delivering a solid opening. According to Box Office Mojo, Five Nights at Freddy's 1 grossed $291.5 million globally, while Five Nights at Freddy's 2 earned $238.5 million.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emma Tammi, who directed the first two films, is expected to return if development on Five Nights at Freddy's 3 moves forward. Scott Cawthon is also anticipated to be involved as a producer. Although stars like Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, and Elizabeth Lail have not officially signed on for another installment, the site reports that "many are expected" to return as well.
Despite the box office success, the FNaF films have received mixed reviews from critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the first film has a 33% critic score and 85% audience score, while the second film has a 17% critic score and 82% audience score. IGN gave FNaF 1 a 4/10 and FNaF 2 a 3/10.
Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal may be hoping to improve these ratings with Five Nights at Freddy's 3, as Dauberman brings his expertise to the franchise. For more on the most critically panned films of 2025, readers can check out our dedicated article.
