Paramount Hires David Bruckner to Direct Smile 3, Moving Creator Parker Finn to New Project

Paramount has replaced the creator of the Smile horror franchise with a new director and screenwriter for the third installment. The studio hired David Bruckner to direct the film and Nick Antosca to write the script. This change in leadership comes after the series established itself as a profitable property for the major studio.

Parker Finn, who wrote and directed the first two entries, is stepping back from the directorial chair but remains attached to the project. Finn will produce the upcoming film alongside Temple Hill. He also provided the initial framework for the story. Jonathan Fass is listed as an executive producer. Finn is not leaving the company entirely; he signed a first-look deal with Paramount following the commercial performance of the original 2022 release.

Bruckner brings recent experience in the genre to the role. He directed the 2022 Hellraiser reboot, the 2017 thriller The Ritual, and the 2020 film The Night House. He is currently active on several other projects. These include a reboot of The Blob for Warner Bros. and an adaptation of The Caretaker for Universal, which stars Sydney Sweeney. He is also set to direct Mice for A24.

Antosca has a background in television and film writing. He created the Apple miniseries Cape Fear and co-created Hulu's The Act. His recent screenwriting credits include the 2021 movie Antlers and the adaptation of the novel Verity. No specific plot details for Smile 3 have been released yet.

The franchise has found a formula that allows for standalone narratives. The first film featured Sosie Bacon as a therapist, while the second starred Naomi Scott as a pop singer. Each entry introduced new characters and distinct stories. It remains uncertain which cast members will appear in the third chapter.

The financial performance of the series supports the decision to continue the brand. The original Smile earned $105 million domestically and $217 million worldwide. The 2024 sequel grossed $69 million in the domestic market and $139 million globally. That second film was made on a budget of $28 million. The two films have generated more than $350 million in total worldwide box office revenue.

Finn is currently preparing to remake the 1981 supernatural thriller Possession. That film will star Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 11, 2027.