The sequel to Blumhouse’s successful adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s is set to begin filming in November, following an initial plan for October. The production delay comes with promising news about the script, according to star Matthew Lillard. The first Five Nights at Freddy‘s film became Blumhouse’s highest-grossing movie to date, prompting the studio to confirm development of a follow-up with Emma Tammi returning as director and co-writer alongside stars Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard.

In an interview with Collider, Lillard expressed excitement about the upcoming production schedule and shared his thoughts on the sequel’s script. 

“I got a text this morning with my dates,” Lillard said. “My dates are the beginning of November, so we’re going to work. 

“I’m really thrilled. I think the script’s fantastic,” he added. “[Emma Tammi is] great, she’s really lovely. And Josh is great. The whole cast is great, and I think we’re all excited to come back. I think we learned a lot in the first film. I think the second film is going to benefit from those things. We’re all excited about where the movie is at right now.”

The original Five Nights at Freddy‘s faced mixed reception despite its box office success, receiving a 32% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes but an 87% audience rating. Lillard’s comments suggest the team behind the sequel is learning from the shortcomings of the original. The creative direction appears focused on improving the script and enhancing elements that may have lacked in the first movie.

Director Emma Tammi hinted previously that the sequel might adapt parts of Scott Cawthon’s second game, though the creative team may take liberties in merging elements from multiple installments to further expand the movie’s storyline. With the cast and crew returning and enthusiasm building, audiences are hopeful that Five Nights at Freddy‘s 2 will improve upon its predecessor and capture more of the thrills and suspense that fans of the game series expect.

The sequel is currently scheduled for a December 2025 release, and fans are eager to see how it builds on the foundation laid by the first film, addressing areas where improvements can be made while staying true to the beloved horror franchise.