A Grand Re-Opening
Freddy’s back, and we aren’t talking Kruger. The official trailer for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 appeared on the Universal Pictures YouTube channel on April 2nd, which promises the return of Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games and Journey to the Center of the Earth), Elizabeth Lail (Netflix’s You and The CW’s Gossip Girl), Piper Rubio (Netflix’s Unstable and AppleTV’s For All of Mankind), and Matthew Lillard (Scream, SLC Punk, and Twin Peaks: The Return). Along with the principal cast, Blumhouse (Insidious, The Black Phone, and Get Out), Emma Tammi (The Wind and two installments of Hulu’s Into the Dark series), and Scott Cawthon (the developer behind the FNaF video game series) are also returning as producers, director, and writer, respectively. Wayne Knight (Jurassic Park and Seinfeld), Mckenna Grace (Captain Marvel, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Haunting of Hill House), and Teo Briones (Chucky, Wind River, and the upcoming Final Destination Bloodlines) also appear briefly in the trailer.
Return to the Pit
Although little is known about the plot, prior to the release of the first film, Scott Cawthon commented on the potential for a second film that would follow the events of the second game, which would take place at another Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. This is further confirmed by a glimpse at a new pizzeria in the trailer. According to the franchise’s sprawling mythos, explored over 28 games, 3 novelizations, 4 interactive novels, and 20 short-story anthologies, there are at least 36 Fazbear’s locations. Although the first film’s ending was left somewhat ambiguous, Matthew Lillard’s return means we are not done with William Afton’s terrifying reign. More, Elizabeth Lail’s return—and appearance in the trailer—proves she will have recovered from the coma she was left in at the end of the first film. Although William Afton is not seen donning his Springtrap costume—the battered Spring Bonnie animatronic he wears in the first film—we’re shown the animatronics powering up and stalking through the world with killer intent, which means unfinished business from the ghost children. As a matter of fact, the only hint of Lillard’s appearance comes in the form of a VoiceOver. Lillard, in an interview with the WeeklyMTG podcast clarified that he signed a 3-film deal, meaning this will likely not be the final installment, and we may only get a glimpse of Springtrap in FNaF 2.
Escape the Pizzaplex
Given the first film’s creative liberties regarding story, it would not be a surprise for the second film to pull from other games. Along with a sister location, as presented in the second game, the trailer presents a potential Freddy Fazbear-themed fair. The idea of the animatronics stalking through a fair or carnival harkens back to films like The Funhouse (1981), where the threat hides seamlessly within its surroundings. This could potentially be in reference to Fazbear’s Frights, a horror attraction that appears in the games following the closure of the pizzerias. However, a lack of outright horror iconography suggests it’s more likely that a Fazbear’s Fright-inspired storyline will be used in future films, after the completion of the William Afton saga. Considering the positive response to the first film and Blumhouse’s track record for sprawling franchises, it’s likely we will be seeing a whole lot more of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. The franchise is rife with potential, including but not limited to time-travel, copycat killers, possession, and more creepy kid ghosts.
Get ready to pre-order your tickets because Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on December 5th, 2025. Unlike the first film, there is no word about a potential Peacock release.
