Gary Dauberman, known for his work on horror films like Annabelle and It, has been announced as the writer for Five Nights at Freddy's 3. This marks a shift from the previous installments, where series creator Scott Cawthon took on writing duties. Cawthon served as a co-writer for the first film and the sole writer for its sequel.
Dauberman brings considerable experience in the horror genre to the project. His recent credits include writing the script for the upcoming Until Dawn movie adaptation and consulting on the story for this year's Street Fighter film. While Cawthon will not be writing the script, he is expected to remain involved in the production of Five Nights at Freddy's 3 as a producer.
Details regarding the plot of the third film, as well as the potential return of cast members from the previous movie such as Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard, have not yet been revealed. Similarly, a release date for Five Nights at Freddy's 3 has not been set by Universal Pictures. However, the hiring of a writer and the anticipated return of director Emma Tammi suggest that the film is moving closer to production.
The Five Nights at Freddy's film franchise has achieved success at the box office, with both prior films performing well commercially. Critically, however, the films have faced mixed reception. Some reviews, including one from Polygon regarding the second film, have described the narrative as convoluted for audiences unfamiliar with the game's lore. The involvement of Dauberman may signal an effort to streamline the storytelling for a broader audience.