The theater went quiet the moment the credits rolled, and a handful of fans stayed in their seats, whispering about what comes next. I remember the shift not as a rumor but as a quiet letting go—creator Scott Cawthon stepping back from scripting duties. Now the studio has a new name on the page.
I’ve followed horror writers long enough to spot a deliberate change, and you should care because this one rewrites the franchise’s handwriting. You and I both know a different writer can turn familiar scares into something sharper, or softer.
At a packed screening room a friend nudged me and asked who would steer the next film — and the answer matters
Blumhouse and Atomic Monster have tapped Gary Dauberman to write The ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 3’ Movie. That’s a deliberate shift: Scott Cawthon, who co-wrote the first film with Seth Cuddeback and Emma Tammi and held sole credit on the second, is no longer credited as the scriptwriter. The studio’s move signals a push toward a more conventional horror-screenwriter track.
Who is writing Five Nights at Freddy’s 3?
It’s Gary Dauberman — the writer behind the It movies, The Nun, Annabelle: Creation, and the 2024 Salem’s Lot adaptation. He even has a single non-horror story credit on October’s Street Fighter. Dauberman is a veteran of franchise work, and his name tells you what the studio wants: tight scares and recognizable beats handled by someone who knows the plumbing.
On a couch in a living room I watched an audience flinch at a single jump — and the way a writer builds that moment matters
Dauberman’s résumé reads like a horror blueprint. Where Cawthon brought creator-level intimacy and lore, Dauberman brings procedural expertise: atmosphere, pacing, and a knack for manufacturing dread across sequels. The handoff feels like changing the locks on a haunted house — the door stays the same, but the person behind it has new keys.
Will the original cast return?
Emma Tammi is expected to direct again, but the cast is unsettled. The second film grossed $240 million (€221 million) worldwide despite mixed reviews, yet the story left room to maneuver. Freddy’s 2 ended with Vanessa consumed by the Marionette after Mike and Abby pulled away. That cliffhanger means either Josh Hutcherson (Mike), Elizabeth Lail (Vanessa), and Piper Rubio (Abby) could return, or Dauberman could put new faces under the Marionette’s gaze.
At a weekend market I overheard people arguing about spoilers — and a writer change feeds that conversation
Dauberman writes sequels. He knows how to satisfy ticket-buyers and appease franchise algorithms on platforms like IMDb and Box Office Mojo while keeping genre press—think The Hollywood Reporter or Deadline—busy. This hire also gives Blumhouse and Atomic Monster a safer headline: an experienced horror hand rather than the IP creator alone steering the script.
When will Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 be released?
There’s no official release date yet. The last film arrived in December 2025 and earned the studio a strong box office return, enough to greenlight a follow-up. Given industry timelines and Dauberman’s slate (including obligations like the upcoming projects noted by outlets such as Dread Central), expect development to run several months to a year before production starts.
On the commute home a colleague texted a theory about the Marionette — and that speculative energy is exactly what studios bank on
What to watch now: story control, tonal shift, and marketing. You should watch announcements from Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and press outlets for who’s producing and whether Cawthon keeps a story credit. If Dauberman drafts a more conventional horror script, the film could lean into theatrical jump-scares and franchise-ready set pieces that play well on streaming platforms later.
Dauberman’s style is a loaded flashlight, scanning familiar corners and making you flinch at what was already there. I’ll be tracking casting notices, trade reports, and any hints from Tammi’s team — and I’ll pass them along so you can tell the difference between rumor and the real headline.
Want more behind-the-scenes context? Follow coverage from The Hollywood Reporter and Dread Central, and check trade trackers like Deadline and Box Office Mojo for daily updates.
Who do you want to see survive the Marionette’s next act?