Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 Just Made a Biggest Change That Could Improve the Franchise!
The Five Nights at Freddy franchise could finally be heading in a new direction. Although the first two movies became major box office successes, they received mixed reviews from critics. Now, a major creative change behind the scenes could help the third installment deliver a stronger horror experience.
Full Story Breakdown
According to star Skeet Ulrich, the upcoming sequel has added an acclaimed horror filmmaker to write the screenplay. As a result, many fans are feeling more optimistic about the franchise’s future.
Five Nights at Freddy Adds an Acclaimed Horror Screenwriter
During a recent interview, Skeet Ulrich revealed that filmmaker David Robert Mitchell is currently writing the screenplay for Five Nights at Freddy’s 3.
Ulrich said:
“We’re waiting on the third script to make the third film. The guy who wrote It Follows is writing it right now.”
Mitchell is best known for writing and directing the critically acclaimed 2014 horror film It Follows. In addition, he directed Under the Silver Lake. His newest project, The End of Oak Street, is also set to arrive in theaters on August 14, 2026.
Because of his strong reputation in the horror genre, Mitchell’s involvement has quickly become one of the sequel’s most exciting updates.
The Franchise Is Taking a Different Creative Approach
Scott Cawthon has remained closely involved with the film series since the beginning. He co-wrote the first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie alongside Seth Cuddeback and Emma Tammi.
Later, Cawthon wrote the screenplay for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 by himself. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether he will collaborate with Mitchell on the third film.
Meanwhile, Emma Tammi directed both previous movies, giving the franchise a consistent creative vision. If Mitchell and Cawthon ultimately work together, the third installment could benefit from a balance between the original creator’s knowledge of the games and Mitchell’s experience crafting acclaimed horror stories. Even if Mitchell is writing independently, his involvement signals that the studio is willing to bring fresh ideas into the franchise.
Box Office Success Didn’t Win Over Critics
The Five Nights at Freddy’s movies have performed exceptionally well at the global box office. The first film earned an impressive $297 million worldwide against a production budget of just $20 million following its 2023 release.
Meanwhile, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 collected approximately $239 million worldwide in 2025. Therefore, the franchise has continued attracting large audiences despite its critical reception.
However, critics have responded far less positively. The original movie currently holds a 33% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the sequel sits at only 17%. Consequently, many viewers believe the series still has room to improve its storytelling, pacing, and horror elements.
Even so, the strong financial performance demonstrates that the franchise has built a loyal fanbase. Many viewers have embraced the films because of their connection to the popular video game series. Nevertheless, stronger writing could help future installments appeal to both longtime fans and audiences unfamiliar with the games.
Why This Could Be Great News for Five Nights at Freddy?
David Robert Mitchell has built a reputation for creating suspenseful and atmospheric horror films. Therefore, many fans believe he could bring a fresh perspective to the franchise.
Instead of relying mainly on references for longtime gamers, the third film could deliver a more intense and emotionally engaging horror story. As a result, it may attract both dedicated fans and general moviegoers.
Although the screenplay is still in development, this creative decision already feels like one of the franchise’s most promising changes.
The Five Nights at Freddy franchise has already proven its popularity with audiences worldwide. Nevertheless, stronger critical reception has remained out of reach.
Now, with David Robert Mitchell reportedly writing the screenplay for Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, the series has a real opportunity to improve its horror storytelling. If the film successfully combines its established fan appeal with Mitchell’s horror expertise, the next installment could become the franchise’s strongest entry yet.
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