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Paramount hires David Bruckner to direct third Smile franchise installment

David Bruckner will direct Smile 3 for Paramount, taking over leadership of the horror franchise from series creator Parker Finn.

FTMQ Film & TV, written by our newsroom0 views

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Picture: Variety

Paramount has officially begun work on Smile 3, hiring David Bruckner to direct the project and Nick Antosca to write the screenplay, Variety reported. The studio is shifting creative leadership for the horror franchise away from series creator Parker Finn, who pitched the framework for the third installment and will stay attached as a producer. [1]

Reports from World of Reel and iHorror, alongside JoBlo, confirmed Bruckner's attachment to the production. The news marks a complete creative transition for the franchise's direction, with Finn stepping back from his previous role as director while remaining involved behind the scenes. [5][6][7]

Bruckner previously directed the 2022 Hellraiser reboot, the 2017 psychological thriller The Ritual, and the 2020 supernatural horror film The Night House. He also co-wrote and co-directed the 2007 horror feature The Signal and directed the Amateur Night segment in the 2012 anthology V/H/S. [1][9]

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In short

  • Paramount has hired David Bruckner to direct Smile 3.
  • Nick Antosca has been hired to write the screenplay for Smile 3.
  • Franchise creator Parker Finn pitched the framework for the film and will serve as a producer.
  • David Bruckner previously directed the 2022 reboot of Hellraiser.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]‘Smile 3’ Sets David Bruckner to Direct While Franchise Creator Parker Finn Helms ‘Possession’ Remake (EXCLUSIVE)Variety, 6d ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]‘Transplant’ Creator Joseph Kay Sets Overall Deal at NetflixThe Hollywood Reporter, 6d ago
  3. [3]‘Extraction 3’ Wraps Filming in Thailand Ahead of a Huge Year for the Franchise on NetflixWhat's on Netflix, 6d ago
  4. [4]Super Troopers 3 Sets Hulu Streaming Release Date As Broken Lizard Sequel Buzz BuildsComingSoon, 6d ago
  5. [5]Hellraiser’s David Bruckner reportedly set to direct Smile 3JoBlo, 6d ago
  6. [6]‘Smile 3’ Taps David Bruckner to Direct as Parker Finn Exits FranchiseWorld of Reel, 6d ago
  7. [7]‘Smile 3’ Director: David Bruckner Reportedly TappediHorror, 6d ago

Background

  1. [8]Hocus Pocus (franchise) on Wikipedia
  2. [9]David Bruckner on Wikipedia
  3. [10]Gregory Helms on Wikipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 10 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

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Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

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