Five Nights at Freddy’s has got a new furry friend.
Gary Dauberman, who has had a hand in the making of some of the biggest horror franchises of the past decade, has been tapped to write the script for the third installment of Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal’s hit video game horror movie series.
It is the first known creative move on the project since Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 opened in December and grossed $240 million worldwide.
Emma Tammi, who directed the first two movies and co-wrote the first one, is expected to return as director. Scott Cawthon, who created the game, co-wrote the first movie and had sole credit on the second, remains involved as a producer.
It is also unclear whether stars including Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio and Elizabeth Lail will be returning, but many are expected to. The second movie ended with at least two character threads not tied up in bows.
The game and first movie followed a troubled security guard as he begins working at the family-friendly Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza joint.
Fazbear, the pizza joint’s ursine mascot, as well as Bonnie the Bunny, Chica the Chicken and Foxy the Pirate Fox were the lead animatronics in the original game, released in 2014. The first movie, released in 2023, scared up $291.5 million worldwide.
The movies, while big moneymakers, have been criticized for lacking in the script department. It appears that the producers have heard the howls of the fans and have hired a screenwriter with legit horror field experience.
Dauberman penned Warner Bros.’ 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King’s beloved novel It, directed by Andy Muschietti. The New Line film broke box office records including biggest horror opening ever. Dauberman wrote and executive produced the film’s box office-smash sequel, It: Chapter Two
Working in the Conjuring universe, Dauberman wrote Conjuring spinoffs Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home, as well as The Nun, which became the highest-grossing entry of the Conjuring franchise at the time.
He next has a story credit on video game action movie Street Fighter, which opens in theaters Oct. 16. Dauberman is repped by WME, Kathleen Remington and Toczek Suddleson.
Dread Central was first to report the news of Dauberman’s hiring.
