We’re currently in the era of movies and shows adapted from fan-favorite and long-standing video games, and so many fans are here for it. From last year’s big hit The Last of Us starring Pedro Pascal to the most recent Prime Video’s bombshell Fallout, the video game world is currently taking over the modern cinema with never-ending ideas for sequels and following seasons.
Last year was also marked by Five Nights at Freddy’s, another major release based on a popular game franchise, and the overall success was so grand that a sequel didn’t take too long to be announced.
While there’s still nothing to know for sure about the upcoming second film, the nascent franchise still needs to keep in mind some major aspects of the original game to stay afloat on the same level of thriving in the future.
Starring The Hunger Games’ Josh Hutcherson,...
Last year was also marked by Five Nights at Freddy’s, another major release based on a popular game franchise, and the overall success was so grand that a sequel didn’t take too long to be announced.
While there’s still nothing to know for sure about the upcoming second film, the nascent franchise still needs to keep in mind some major aspects of the original game to stay afloat on the same level of thriving in the future.
Starring The Hunger Games’ Josh Hutcherson,...
- 5/11/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
We've got a huge and exciting news announcement to make fresh out of CinemaCon 2024, the highly-anticipated sequel to "Five Nights at Freddy's" will be heading to theaters in 2025. /Film's own Ryan Scott was in attendance when Universal made the announcement, a shocker to absolutely no one considering Blumhouse and Universal were fast-tracking a sequel to Emma Tammi's film adaptation of Scott Cawthon's impossibly popular video game franchise of the same name before the animatronic murder machines had a chance to recharge.
The decision was a result of the film's astronomically huge success at the box office, outperforming every other horror release of 2023, including Blumhouse and Universal's massive legacy film, "The Exorcist: Believer." What's even wilder is that "FNaF" went day-and-date with a streaming release on Peacock, meaning audiences had the opportunity to stay at home and scare themselves silly without having to dig into their pockets for tickets,...
The decision was a result of the film's astronomically huge success at the box office, outperforming every other horror release of 2023, including Blumhouse and Universal's massive legacy film, "The Exorcist: Believer." What's even wilder is that "FNaF" went day-and-date with a streaming release on Peacock, meaning audiences had the opportunity to stay at home and scare themselves silly without having to dig into their pockets for tickets,...
- 4/11/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Josh Hutcherson’s starrer Five Nights at Freddy’s was a surprise hit at the box office last year. The film was released simultaneously on Peacock and in theatres and it still managed to bring fans to theatres to experience the film. The film also has Elizabeth Lail, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Matthew Lillard in pivotal roles.
A still from 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s
The huge success of the film has now led to Blumhouse greenlighting a sequel that will start production this year. The film will see the return of Hutcherson as the lead, including another fan-favorite character that fans have already known to be returning for the sequel.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Bringing Back Matthew Lillard as William Afton
Matthew Lillard is reportedly returning for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s was a big hit for Blumhouse becoming the production company’s highest-grossing film ever.
A still from 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s
The huge success of the film has now led to Blumhouse greenlighting a sequel that will start production this year. The film will see the return of Hutcherson as the lead, including another fan-favorite character that fans have already known to be returning for the sequel.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Bringing Back Matthew Lillard as William Afton
Matthew Lillard is reportedly returning for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s was a big hit for Blumhouse becoming the production company’s highest-grossing film ever.
- 2/25/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
This post contains spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
Matthew Lillard is a man of many talents. He can shapeshift into characters of various tints with ease, oscillating between roles that paint him as a loveable clown (such as Shaggy in "Scooby-Doo") and characters that take on more complex, macabre aspirations. Lillard's presence in the "Five Nights at Freddy's" ("Fnaf") movie adaptation is foundational to the core mystery of the film — although his character, William Afton, only appears in a handful of scenes, Afton's legacy feels pronounced in the film's lore-heavy world. As the co-founder and owner of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics, LLC, Afton always seems to come back in one form or another, fulfilling his troubling vision that dictates the fates of the animatronics that linger in the abandoned spaces brimming with malice.
Lillard imbues Afton with restrained malice when he is first introduced in the...
Matthew Lillard is a man of many talents. He can shapeshift into characters of various tints with ease, oscillating between roles that paint him as a loveable clown (such as Shaggy in "Scooby-Doo") and characters that take on more complex, macabre aspirations. Lillard's presence in the "Five Nights at Freddy's" ("Fnaf") movie adaptation is foundational to the core mystery of the film — although his character, William Afton, only appears in a handful of scenes, Afton's legacy feels pronounced in the film's lore-heavy world. As the co-founder and owner of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics, LLC, Afton always seems to come back in one form or another, fulfilling his troubling vision that dictates the fates of the animatronics that linger in the abandoned spaces brimming with malice.
Lillard imbues Afton with restrained malice when he is first introduced in the...
- 1/6/2024
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
The Five Nights at Freddy’s movie adaptation proved to be a delightful treat for avid fans of the long-standing game and novel series. It delivered all the evil animatronic scares and clever easter eggs that gamers eagerly anticipated. At the center of it all was William Afton, played by Matthew Lillard in the film. But who exactly is William Afton? Why is he such a big deal? How is he able to control the animatronics? How does it all connect to the games? Read on as we dive into the FNaF lore and explain everything you need to know about William Afton. William...
- 12/31/2023
- by Safwan Azeem
- TVovermind.com
The video game adaptation Five Nights at Freddy’s (read our review Here) quickly became Blumhouse Productions’ highest-grossing movie when it reached theatres and the Peacock streaming service back in October, surpassing the likes of Split, The Invisible Man, The Black Phone, M3GAN, the recent Halloween sequel trilogy, and the Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and The Purge franchises with its haul of $295 million. So we should be hearing a sequel announcement any day now… and cast member Matthew Lillard says he would be excited to come back for another Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Lillard told Syfy Wire he would love to reprise the role of William Afton. “If it does come back, and if I’m lucky to be brought back, sure, yeah. I mean, I barely got to touch him, right? I got to kill my daughter, but we know nothing about him. We know nothing about his history, about his journey.
Lillard told Syfy Wire he would love to reprise the role of William Afton. “If it does come back, and if I’m lucky to be brought back, sure, yeah. I mean, I barely got to touch him, right? I got to kill my daughter, but we know nothing about him. We know nothing about his history, about his journey.
- 12/29/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
From Stu Macher in Scream to Shaggy in Scooby-Doo, Matthew Lillard is no stranger to iconic roles — but the fervent fanbase that accompanied his casting as William Afton in Five Nights at Freddy’s came as a surprise. The wildly popular video game franchise yielded Blumhouse’s highest-grossing film of all-time.
The affable actor knew of the games but hadn’t played them prior to getting the role. “I got a call from my manager saying, ‘I’ve been working on this project for a while, and I’ve set up a meeting for you and the director, and if it goes well, the part’s yours.’ For me, every time that happens, the movie’s pretty shitty,” he chuckles.
“I read it, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know why they want me to play this part.’ There wasn’t a lot in the original script for me to do,...
The affable actor knew of the games but hadn’t played them prior to getting the role. “I got a call from my manager saying, ‘I’ve been working on this project for a while, and I’ve set up a meeting for you and the director, and if it goes well, the part’s yours.’ For me, every time that happens, the movie’s pretty shitty,” he chuckles.
“I read it, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know why they want me to play this part.’ There wasn’t a lot in the original script for me to do,...
- 12/15/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
A new theory may have revealed the true identity of Mike's father in the Five Nights at Freddy's (Fnaf) movie.
Mike Schmidt is a major character from the Fnaf games, and he is played by Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) in the live-action movie.
In the video game the hit film was based upon, Mike's father is William Afton (aka Fnaf's big bad). However, in the movie, it was revealed that this wasn't the case, leading many to speculate about his dad's identity.
Read full article on The Direct.
Mike Schmidt is a major character from the Fnaf games, and he is played by Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) in the live-action movie.
In the video game the hit film was based upon, Mike's father is William Afton (aka Fnaf's big bad). However, in the movie, it was revealed that this wasn't the case, leading many to speculate about his dad's identity.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 11/18/2023
- by Aeron Mer Eclarinal
- The Direct
"Five Nights At Freddy's" is a global phenomenon. There is a reason why this particular video game franchise, created by Scott Cawthon, still inspires endless "Let's Play" videos on YouTube, while its expanding lore is subjected to dedicated scrutiny and theory-crafting. So, when a Blumhouse-produced "Fnaf" movie was first announced, fans were over the moon, and for good reason. For one, director Emma Tammi chose to adapt a property that is a treasure trove for eccentric horror storylines that would not only translate well onto the big screen, but would also double as the perfect getaway to horror for younger audiences invested in "Fnaf" to various degrees.
Despite some fandom misgivings about whether the film would be able to successfully capture the essence of everything that makes "Fnaf" so unique, "Five Nights At Freddy's" managed to get almost everything right. The film wastes no time setting up its intriguing premise...
Despite some fandom misgivings about whether the film would be able to successfully capture the essence of everything that makes "Fnaf" so unique, "Five Nights At Freddy's" managed to get almost everything right. The film wastes no time setting up its intriguing premise...
- 11/13/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Five Nights at Freddy's (Fnaf) director Emma Tammi said that she "would love to see where [the characters] go" in a potential sequel.
Peacock's Fnaf movie ended with William Afton's Yellow Rabbit suit turning on him and stabbing him as he was dragged away by the other killer animatronics.
This ending set up a possible Fnaf 2 movie focused on Afton's revenge that could directly adapt other storylines from the games.
Read full article on The Direct.
Peacock's Fnaf movie ended with William Afton's Yellow Rabbit suit turning on him and stabbing him as he was dragged away by the other killer animatronics.
This ending set up a possible Fnaf 2 movie focused on Afton's revenge that could directly adapt other storylines from the games.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 11/12/2023
- by Aeron Mer Eclarinal
- The Direct
Matthew Lillard is in his Renaissance era.
His latest film, Five Nights at Freddy’s, is smashing box office and streaming records, he has a new improv show premiering on Amazon’s Freevee next week, his Quest’s End whiskey sold out its first drop, and he runs a luxury gaming company, Beadle & Grimm’s, with four of his close friends.
“This is a really lovely little comeback moment for me,” Lillard tells The Hollywood Reporter, before reconsidering that sentiment. “I sort of want to quote LL [Cool J], ‘Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.'”
Lillard is no stranger to a successful franchise, of course, having starred in Scream and Scooby-Doo — but the overwhelming success of the film adaptation of a popular video game about a haunted restaurant called Freddy Fazbear’s isn’t lost on him.
Freddy’s scared up an astounding $80 million at the...
His latest film, Five Nights at Freddy’s, is smashing box office and streaming records, he has a new improv show premiering on Amazon’s Freevee next week, his Quest’s End whiskey sold out its first drop, and he runs a luxury gaming company, Beadle & Grimm’s, with four of his close friends.
“This is a really lovely little comeback moment for me,” Lillard tells The Hollywood Reporter, before reconsidering that sentiment. “I sort of want to quote LL [Cool J], ‘Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.'”
Lillard is no stranger to a successful franchise, of course, having starred in Scream and Scooby-Doo — but the overwhelming success of the film adaptation of a popular video game about a haunted restaurant called Freddy Fazbear’s isn’t lost on him.
Freddy’s scared up an astounding $80 million at the...
- 11/11/2023
- by Ashley Cullins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This post contains spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
It took eight years for the film to finally hit the big screen, but the live-action adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is making bank at the box office, almost guaranteeing a film series for the already massively popular franchise based on the video game of the same name. With 13 games (and more on the way) and over 30 books of lore to choose from, there was no shortage of ideas for the film's story.
And yet, the film wisely chose not to directly copy the lore of the video games, instead crafting a script that borrows from some of the most well-known elements and creating an alternate universe in the process. Since the movie's release, there have been countless reports of adults lamenting the lore-dumping the little humans in their lives have been doing to try to explain the differences between...
It took eight years for the film to finally hit the big screen, but the live-action adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is making bank at the box office, almost guaranteeing a film series for the already massively popular franchise based on the video game of the same name. With 13 games (and more on the way) and over 30 books of lore to choose from, there was no shortage of ideas for the film's story.
And yet, the film wisely chose not to directly copy the lore of the video games, instead crafting a script that borrows from some of the most well-known elements and creating an alternate universe in the process. Since the movie's release, there have been countless reports of adults lamenting the lore-dumping the little humans in their lives have been doing to try to explain the differences between...
- 10/31/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Here are four changes between Matthew Lillard's take on William Afton compared to the original version from the Five Nights at Freddy's (Fnaf) video game.
William Afton is the owner of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics, LLC, serving as the big bad of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise. The character is a serial killer who slaughtered innocent children and hid their bodies inside animatronics.
Afton is voiced by Pj Heywood in the game while Lillard portrayed the character in the 2023 Fnaf movie.
Read full article on The Direct.
William Afton is the owner of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics, LLC, serving as the big bad of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise. The character is a serial killer who slaughtered innocent children and hid their bodies inside animatronics.
Afton is voiced by Pj Heywood in the game while Lillard portrayed the character in the 2023 Fnaf movie.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 10/31/2023
- by Aeron Mer Eclarinal
- The Direct
This post contains spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
Matthew Lillard is a horror legend and we don't say it enough. We know him and we love him from films like "She's All That," "Slc Punk," "Without a Paddle" ... any "Love's Labour's Lost" fans out there? But the man got his start in horror and his irrepressible comic spirit and fearless willingness to switch to pitch-black menace on a dime have made him an extremely effective and underrated horror star, as you can see in films like "Scream," "Scooby Doo," and "Thirteen Ghosts."
Lillard has just added another glinting badge to his vest in the form of "Five Nights at Freddy's." We meet him as Steve Raglan, the career counselor that our hero, Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), is sent to after he beats up a dad in front of his son while on the job. Mike is a man of few words,...
Matthew Lillard is a horror legend and we don't say it enough. We know him and we love him from films like "She's All That," "Slc Punk," "Without a Paddle" ... any "Love's Labour's Lost" fans out there? But the man got his start in horror and his irrepressible comic spirit and fearless willingness to switch to pitch-black menace on a dime have made him an extremely effective and underrated horror star, as you can see in films like "Scream," "Scooby Doo," and "Thirteen Ghosts."
Lillard has just added another glinting badge to his vest in the form of "Five Nights at Freddy's." We meet him as Steve Raglan, the career counselor that our hero, Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), is sent to after he beats up a dad in front of his son while on the job. Mike is a man of few words,...
- 10/29/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
The limelight in the film Five Nights at Freddy’s has been stolen by the character of Abby played by Piper Rubio. She has done justice to the well-rounded character of Abby, the younger sister of Mike and Garrett Schmidt. Despite being considered strange by her classmates and aunt, she has a creative mind. Abby attracts the evil eyes of the antagonist when her brother, Mike, jumps in and saves Abby, as depicted by Emma Tami, is shown to be an imaginative character who has a liberal spirit. Will Abby manage to escape the evil grasps of the antagonist? Is she supernaturally gifted? Let us find out!
Spoilers Ahead
Why Was Abby A Loner?
Abby is considered strange by everyone, including her classmates and her aunt, making her an outcast. She spends a lot of time alone and is seen painting a lot of pictures. She is also seen talking...
Spoilers Ahead
Why Was Abby A Loner?
Abby is considered strange by everyone, including her classmates and her aunt, making her an outcast. She spends a lot of time alone and is seen painting a lot of pictures. She is also seen talking...
- 10/29/2023
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
The character of Mike Schmidt is played by American actor Joshua Ryan Hutcherson in the film Five Nights at Freddy’s. He plays the role of a young security guard who is currently employed at the infamous Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. Seeing the animatronics come to life, which are haunted by the spirits of little children, Mike is alarmed by the impending danger to his sister, Abby’s life. He tries to resolve a childhood trauma, only to find that the pizzeria had something to do with it. Mike’s character has been portrayed efficiently by the director, Emma Tami. Will Mike be able to overcome his childhood trauma? Will he finally be able to save his sister? Let us find out!
Spoilers Ahead
What Childhood Trauma Did Mike Have?
Mike had undergone a serious childhood trauma that kept coming back to him almost regularly in his dreams. This had caused...
Spoilers Ahead
What Childhood Trauma Did Mike Have?
Mike had undergone a serious childhood trauma that kept coming back to him almost regularly in his dreams. This had caused...
- 10/29/2023
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
This article contains spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
Whenever someone says "I hate horror movies," there's a high probability that what they're really saying is "I hate jump scares." Of course, any good genre historian knows that there's far more to a horror film than a jump scare, but by and large, folks who don't enjoy horror films typically don't enjoy the sensation of feeling scared above all else. That rush of adrenaline can be a thrilling impression for many, but deeply uncomfortable for others. Enduring that feeling is often part of the allure — a means to test the limits of body and mind without having to put yourself in any real danger.
It's this very feeling that helped catapult the indie video game "Five Nights at Freddy's" into a cultural phenomenon. The first "FNaF" game is simple in its execution -- players watch security camera screens and conserve...
Whenever someone says "I hate horror movies," there's a high probability that what they're really saying is "I hate jump scares." Of course, any good genre historian knows that there's far more to a horror film than a jump scare, but by and large, folks who don't enjoy horror films typically don't enjoy the sensation of feeling scared above all else. That rush of adrenaline can be a thrilling impression for many, but deeply uncomfortable for others. Enduring that feeling is often part of the allure — a means to test the limits of body and mind without having to put yourself in any real danger.
It's this very feeling that helped catapult the indie video game "Five Nights at Freddy's" into a cultural phenomenon. The first "FNaF" game is simple in its execution -- players watch security camera screens and conserve...
- 10/29/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
"Why do kids like 'Five Nights at Freddy's' so much?" This is a question I've gotten a lot over the last few months, as many adults rightfully see the uncanny horrors of killer animatronics. Meanwhile, younger fans are begging for Freddy Fazbear stuffies and one of the over 80 different Funko Pop releases. As frightening as they are, there's something weirdly cute and comforting about these mechanical monsters, because the innocence of what's inside the animatronics creeps through the terror.
The lore of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is pretty twisted, with the villainous William Afton murdering children and stuffing their corpses inside the animatronic machines. This means that as Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy shuffle around the pizzeria, they're doing so with the remnants of dead children. But in a heartfelt turn, the live-action adaptation has allowed the animatronics to maintain...
"Why do kids like 'Five Nights at Freddy's' so much?" This is a question I've gotten a lot over the last few months, as many adults rightfully see the uncanny horrors of killer animatronics. Meanwhile, younger fans are begging for Freddy Fazbear stuffies and one of the over 80 different Funko Pop releases. As frightening as they are, there's something weirdly cute and comforting about these mechanical monsters, because the innocence of what's inside the animatronics creeps through the terror.
The lore of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is pretty twisted, with the villainous William Afton murdering children and stuffing their corpses inside the animatronic machines. This means that as Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy shuffle around the pizzeria, they're doing so with the remnants of dead children. But in a heartfelt turn, the live-action adaptation has allowed the animatronics to maintain...
- 10/28/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is here.
The long-in-development video game adaptation has been released into theaters (where it has already made more than $10 million) and onto Universal’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform Peacock. It follows a down-on-his-luck security guard named Mike (Josh Hutcherson) who takes a gig watching an abandoned pizza-arcade with a sinister past and rumors of the animatronic figures coming to life and murdering intruders. You know. That old chestnut.
But Mike’s search for the truth – about the pizzeria and about a slew of local children who went missing – eventually leads him to a shocking revelation, which we will dive into below with the help of director/co-writer Emma Tammi.
Spoiler warning, obviously! If you don’t want to be spoiled, turn back now.
Matthew Lillard is the bad guy
If you’ve seen the trailers you know that Matthew Lillard is in “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” playing...
The long-in-development video game adaptation has been released into theaters (where it has already made more than $10 million) and onto Universal’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform Peacock. It follows a down-on-his-luck security guard named Mike (Josh Hutcherson) who takes a gig watching an abandoned pizza-arcade with a sinister past and rumors of the animatronic figures coming to life and murdering intruders. You know. That old chestnut.
But Mike’s search for the truth – about the pizzeria and about a slew of local children who went missing – eventually leads him to a shocking revelation, which we will dive into below with the help of director/co-writer Emma Tammi.
Spoiler warning, obviously! If you don’t want to be spoiled, turn back now.
Matthew Lillard is the bad guy
If you’ve seen the trailers you know that Matthew Lillard is in “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” playing...
- 10/27/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
This article contains major spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
Michael Myers is the embodiment of evil. Freddy Krueger is a vengeful dream demon. Jason Voorhees is killing at the behest of his mother. And Freddy Fazbear is ... well, why are Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the Bunny, Foxy the Fox, and Chica the Chicken (with Mr. Cupcake) so hellbent on killing people? "Five Nights at Freddy's" is a horror franchise spawned off of the popular video game series from Scott Cawthon, now entering the world of live-action adaptation with a feature film from Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures.
"FNaF" boats a fandom that rivals any of the icons of horror's yesteryear, and contains a sprawling lore across 13 games and over 30 books. For those not in the know, "Five Nights at Freddy's" is known as "that game where Chuck E. Cheese-like animatronics come to life and kill you," but few outside of...
Michael Myers is the embodiment of evil. Freddy Krueger is a vengeful dream demon. Jason Voorhees is killing at the behest of his mother. And Freddy Fazbear is ... well, why are Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the Bunny, Foxy the Fox, and Chica the Chicken (with Mr. Cupcake) so hellbent on killing people? "Five Nights at Freddy's" is a horror franchise spawned off of the popular video game series from Scott Cawthon, now entering the world of live-action adaptation with a feature film from Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures.
"FNaF" boats a fandom that rivals any of the icons of horror's yesteryear, and contains a sprawling lore across 13 games and over 30 books. For those not in the know, "Five Nights at Freddy's" is known as "that game where Chuck E. Cheese-like animatronics come to life and kill you," but few outside of...
- 10/27/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
There's no hiding that Hollywood is in arguably its most IP-obsessed era in entertainment history. It seems like everything -- and I mean everything -- hitting the theaters these days is based on an easily recognizable brand, character, franchise, book, or historical event. As of publication, the three highest-grossing films at the 2023 box office (so far) are "Barbie," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," all films based on characters that have been around for at least four decades. But adapting these legitimately iconic characters is no easy task, and there's always the risk of falling into what I call "The 'Resident Evil' Fandom Problem." Meaning, a franchise has gotten so big and covered so much ground across so many generations of fans that it becomes impossible for everyone to be on the same page with what they want out of an adaptation.
The latest...
The latest...
- 10/27/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
This article contains major spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
Blumhouse and Universal's live-action adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is finally here, and it certainly feels like the start of the next big horror movie franchise. The story about possessed animatronics attacking humans after hours is scary enough on its own, but learning that the killer robots run on the souls of murdered children makes it a recipe for nightmare fuel. And even still, Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the Bunny, Foxy the Fox, Chica the Chicken, and Mr. Cupcake are not the scariest characters in the film. No, that title belongs to Steve Raglan aka William Afton who becomes — as of the end of the film — Springtrap.
William Afton is the co-founder of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics, LLC., and a serial child murderer. He's spent the last few years posing as a career counselor to send unsuspecting security...
Blumhouse and Universal's live-action adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is finally here, and it certainly feels like the start of the next big horror movie franchise. The story about possessed animatronics attacking humans after hours is scary enough on its own, but learning that the killer robots run on the souls of murdered children makes it a recipe for nightmare fuel. And even still, Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the Bunny, Foxy the Fox, Chica the Chicken, and Mr. Cupcake are not the scariest characters in the film. No, that title belongs to Steve Raglan aka William Afton who becomes — as of the end of the film — Springtrap.
William Afton is the co-founder of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics, LLC., and a serial child murderer. He's spent the last few years posing as a career counselor to send unsuspecting security...
- 10/27/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The long-awaited cinematic adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is due out on October 27, 2023, and fan speculation is well underway. Is Matthew Lillard's Steve Raglan actually franchise baddie, William Afton? Is Elizabeth Lail's Vanessa going to be revealed as the villainous Vanny? And what's the deal with Mary Stuart Masterson's Aunt Jane? As heads swirl with questions and theories, fans can at least take solace in knowing ahead of time that "FNaF" will proudly feature cameos from some of the most popular gamers responsible for helping introduce Scott Cawthon's creepy survival game featuring possessed animatronics to the masses.
As has been confirmed by the trailer and from public acknowledgments, YouTubers 8-Bit Ryan, Baz, Razzbowski, FusionZGamer, and Dawko are all shown on Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria's "Employee of the Month" board. However, the biggest cameo appearance comes from CoryxKenshin, who plays the role of a cab driver.
As has been confirmed by the trailer and from public acknowledgments, YouTubers 8-Bit Ryan, Baz, Razzbowski, FusionZGamer, and Dawko are all shown on Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria's "Employee of the Month" board. However, the biggest cameo appearance comes from CoryxKenshin, who plays the role of a cab driver.
- 9/26/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The highly-anticipated "Five Nights at Freddy's" (Fnaf) movie adaptation is gearing up to subvert expectations by incorporating lore that diverges from in-game canon, while also being a possible period piece set in the '90s. There's ample speculation surrounding the approach that the Blumhouse-backed adaptation will take, especially when it comes to picking and choosing the franchise's abundant lore to tell an effective, streamlined tale of terror. As most "Fnaf" experiences are short and sweet, functioning as frenzied adrenaline rushes that intensify terror in brief bursts, the movie will undoubtedly have to adopt a different formula to satisfy expectations that accompany signature "Fnaf" experiences. Perhaps it already has.
Franchise creator Scott Cawthon is intimately involved with the movie adaptation, having co-written the screenplay alongside director Emma Tammi (and writer Seth Cuddeback). Cawthon's involvement makes the adaptation truly special, as it is expected to carry the trademark brand of absurd, nightmarish terror that "Fnaf" embodies.
Franchise creator Scott Cawthon is intimately involved with the movie adaptation, having co-written the screenplay alongside director Emma Tammi (and writer Seth Cuddeback). Cawthon's involvement makes the adaptation truly special, as it is expected to carry the trademark brand of absurd, nightmarish terror that "Fnaf" embodies.
- 9/24/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
The first "Five Nights at Freddy's" game sees players taking on the role of security guard Mike Schmidt, who is tasked with monitoring the strange happenings at a closed-down pizzeria and family entertainment center where the animatronics come to life after dark and attack unsuspecting victims. "FNaF" has since expanded into a full-fledged multi-media franchise, but for those who haven't followed the lore of the games, this is where the general population's knowledge starts and ends. It was expected that the upcoming film adaptation from Blumhouse and Universal would focus on Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson)'s first five nights at the pizzeria, but fans were shocked to see another familiar franchise face in the mix — Vanessa A., played by Elizabeth Lail.
Lail is arguably most well known for her turn as Anna (of "Frozen" fame) on ABC's "Once Upon a Time," but she's not quite reached the status of a household name.
Lail is arguably most well known for her turn as Anna (of "Frozen" fame) on ABC's "Once Upon a Time," but she's not quite reached the status of a household name.
- 9/23/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Did you know that the "Five Nights at Freddy's" trailer features more than one version of Freddy Fazbear? That's right. The Freddy that is shown on stage ready to sing with Bonnie, Foxy, and Chica is not the same Freddy shown in the back seat with Abby Schmidt (Piper Rubio). That Freddy is known as Golden Freddy and is a completely different character with different motivations. I know, unless you've dedicated years of your life to making sense of the lore, this might not be the easiest thing to follow. The best way I can explain it is that Golden Freddy is like ... a limited edition version of Freddy Fazbear.
He looks similar to the original character, but he's not the original character, nor is he controlled by the same child's soul. Yeah, those animatronics are controlled by the ghosts of dead kids, in case you didn't know. The games...
He looks similar to the original character, but he's not the original character, nor is he controlled by the same child's soul. Yeah, those animatronics are controlled by the ghosts of dead kids, in case you didn't know. The games...
- 9/17/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Is there a word for becoming so obsessed with dissecting "Five Nights at Freddy's" that you slowly lose your mind? Fred-obsessed? Fazbear-pilled? Well, whatever it's called, I most certainly have it. The lore of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is convoluted at best and downright confusing the rest of the time, with plenty of questions left unintentionally answered so fans can spiral out of control with theories and become walking examples of the Pepe Silvia meme from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." At the beginning of September, I pointed out how the trailer for the film adaptation from Universal and Blumhouse depicted Mr. Cupcake (aka Carl) attacking a young vandal who broke into Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a game mechanism that didn't show up until "Five Nights at Freddy's 4."
The character is played by Joseph Poliquin, and according to IMDb, is named "Carl." This is already a cute homage to the...
The character is played by Joseph Poliquin, and according to IMDb, is named "Carl." This is already a cute homage to the...
- 9/17/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Spooky season is well underway, which means now is the time when people start consuming anything with even a hint of pumpkin spice flavoring, marathoning horror movies, and preparing for the upcoming new horror releases. After over eight years of waiting, Universal and Blumhouse are finally debuting the film adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's," the Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard-starring horror film based on Scott Cawthon's massively popular video game franchise of the same name. Those unfamiliar with the series might assume the game is just "Chuck E. Cheese or ShowBiz Pizza Place, but make it horror," but there is so much more to this terrifying world.
For one thing, the animatronics are walking around and causing chaos because they're inhabited by the souls of murdered children. For another, there are well over 1,000 characters in the entire "FNaF" series, and there are multiple variations of the main four characters.
For one thing, the animatronics are walking around and causing chaos because they're inhabited by the souls of murdered children. For another, there are well over 1,000 characters in the entire "FNaF" series, and there are multiple variations of the main four characters.
- 9/16/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
We're reaching a point where movie studios are willing to invest a little more in video game adaptations, leading to big-budget tentpoles like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Uncharted," "Gran Turismo," and the TV series "The Last of Us." Video game flicks have always existed, dating back to 1993's poorly received "Super Mario Bros." with Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo. Still, this new phase feels different, like producers have finally caught wind of the massive audiences behind these titles.
Hence, the reason for the "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie.
Based on the popular video game of the same name, itself a YouTube sensation, "Freddy's" arrives with plenty of talent attached, notably producer Jason Blum and a cast that includes Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard. Despite its immense success, however, plenty of moviegoers are likely not familiar with "Freddy's" and its creepy lore. To get viewers acclimated and ensure...
Hence, the reason for the "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie.
Based on the popular video game of the same name, itself a YouTube sensation, "Freddy's" arrives with plenty of talent attached, notably producer Jason Blum and a cast that includes Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard. Despite its immense success, however, plenty of moviegoers are likely not familiar with "Freddy's" and its creepy lore. To get viewers acclimated and ensure...
- 9/16/2023
- by Jeff Ames
- Slash Film
If you're not familiar with "Five Nights at Freddy's," you'd be forgiven for thinking that the titular FredBear animatronic was the big baddie of the series. Similarly, those unfamiliar with the "Saw" films might see Billy the Puppet as the ultimate villain; after all, his spiral-cheeked face is the one unsuspecting victims see on their video tapes instructing them how to survive a Saw trap. However, in both "Five Nights at Freddy's" and "Saw," there is a proverbial (or literal) human puppet master behind all of the carnage that is the true villain of their respective franchises. There are rumors that there will be at least three "Five Nights at Freddy's" films, which means there's potential that "Five Nights at Freddy's" could be the next major horror franchise if the first film performs as well as Blumhouse and Universal hope it does.
For decades, horror franchises were often built around a singular character,...
For decades, horror franchises were often built around a singular character,...
- 9/13/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
With 13 games and over 30 books/graphic novels as part of the franchise, the lore of "Five Nights at Freddy's" is pretty rich and expansive. All of the animatronics have backstories and different variants that have their own, separate origins, as do all of the human beings that interact with them. Even the location of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza has a backstory, as do all of the sister locations and related spin-off entertainment centers. Between fan breakdowns and timeline analyses, large swaths of information exist to tell the full story of "FNaF," so when rumors began circulating that the film adaptation from Blumhouse and Universal was going to have a three-hour runtime, some folks didn't even think twice.
In order to complete all of the main objectives of the first "FNaF" game, players have to dedicate about two and a half hours to see it through. Completionists, however, would need to spend...
In order to complete all of the main objectives of the first "FNaF" game, players have to dedicate about two and a half hours to see it through. Completionists, however, would need to spend...
- 9/11/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie is still months away from release, but that isn't stopping fans from going frame by frame and picking apart the film's trailer looking for clues. All of the lore of the "FNaF" games is admittedly convoluted at best and confusing at worst, with tie-in books expanding storylines and in some cases, fan theories eventually becoming canonized by franchise creator, Scott Cawthon. Some of the smallest, most nothingburger moments in "Five Nights at Freddy's" canon have been later revealed as extremely important to the game's bigger picture, which is why it's odd that we've yet to actually see the pivotal event known as the "Bite of '87."
There are two major "Bites" in "FNaF" lore, one in 1983 and another in 1987. Before the "Bite of '87," animatronics were permitted to walk around the premises of Freddy Fazbear Pizzerias on their own, a key component to the...
There are two major "Bites" in "FNaF" lore, one in 1983 and another in 1987. Before the "Bite of '87," animatronics were permitted to walk around the premises of Freddy Fazbear Pizzerias on their own, a key component to the...
- 9/6/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Freddy Fazbear of may be the leader of the animatronic nightmare party from "Five Nights at Freddy's," but Chica the chicken has always been my favorite. She's the lady of the group and her singing is a treat, but keep an eye on your pizza 'cuz she's a bird who likes to eat! Donning a "Let's Eat!" bib and a beak filled with teeth for maximum noshing, Chica's adorably terrifying appearance makes her the strongest designed member of the crew. But Chica isn't alone, as she comes with an often buck-toothed companion, an animatronic cupcake sitting on the plate she holds. Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria is a pretty popular place for children's birthday parties, so it's fitting that one of the characters would be in permanent celebration mode.
The Cupcake, aka Mr. Cupcake, aka Carl, is present with all forms of Chica, save for the 1980s Glamrock Chica, whose cupcake...
The Cupcake, aka Mr. Cupcake, aka Carl, is present with all forms of Chica, save for the 1980s Glamrock Chica, whose cupcake...
- 9/1/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
When Universal and Blumhouse announced that Matthew Lillard had joined the cast of "Five Nights at Freddy's" as a "human antagonist," it was assumed that he was playing the twisted franchise villain, William Afton. However, the trailers and official press releases all list him as "Steve Raglan" a career counselor who helps Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) find his job as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. But "FNaF" fans aren't stupid, and the fandom is one of the most dedicated out there. You can't fool us, we know that man is William Afton.
It's assumed that "Steve Raglan" is just another pseudonym for Afton, and director Emma Tammi all but confirmed it as much to be true in the latest issue of Empire Magazine. "The human antagonist was the number one role that we really had the fan base in mind for," Tammi said. "What Matthew brings to all...
It's assumed that "Steve Raglan" is just another pseudonym for Afton, and director Emma Tammi all but confirmed it as much to be true in the latest issue of Empire Magazine. "The human antagonist was the number one role that we really had the fan base in mind for," Tammi said. "What Matthew brings to all...
- 8/31/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.