I wasn’t much of a “Smile” fan to begin with, so it was a pleasant enough surprise to be, mostly, taken by this year’s sequel, “Smile 2,” which upped the ante with a bigger budget and more creatively inspired choices. Naomi Scott in the lead role was incredible. I just didn’t find it stuck the landing, but really, who cares, the sequel was bigger, better, and more ambitious.
A listing on Production Weekly now has a sequel, “Smile 3,” set to enter production in 2025. No plot details or a cast have been revealed. Finn will return as writer-director for this third instalment.
“Smile” (2022) had a budget of $17M and somehow managed to gross $217M worldwide. It’s clear the budget for “Smile 2” was much higher than $17M, but despite some clunky marketing on the part of Paramount, it still managed to earn $137M worldwide. These films are made cheap, and there was no reason to believe that another one wouldn’t get made.
Finn is now a much sought after filmmaker. Earlier in the year it was revealed that he would direct a remake of the 1981 film “Possession” with Robert Pattinson potentially set to the star. Meetings to acquire the project, between some top-notch studios, including A24, Netflix, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros, took place. Paramount, who own “Smile,” won out.
A real shocker. There are some people you think will live forever, and Sir Patrick Stewart was one of them. The legendary actor has passed away at the age of 86. We’ve lost one of the greats.