Director Provides Insight on Major Lore Changes in Five Nights At Freddy's Movie

Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Five Nights at Freddy's!

Summary

The Five Nights at Freddy's movie remains faithful to the original lore, depicting the animatronics as the vengeful spirits of murdered children. However, a significant alteration involves the inclusion of Vanessa, Afton's daughter, a character who was not properly introduced in the games until Security Breach and does not have any familial connection to the main antagonist of the franchise.

The movie also alters certain elements within the timeline, including Easter eggs that reference more than just the first game, potentially setting the stage for a sequel.

Remaining faithful to the source material as much as possible, Emma Tammi, the co-writer and director, discusses the significant changes in the lore of the Five Nights at Freddy's movie. Adapted from Scott Cawthon's immensely popular video game franchise, the film focuses on a troubled man who is hired as a security guard for the run-down Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a horrifying secret about the animatronics that inhabit the establishment. Leading the ensemble cast of Five Nights at Freddy's are Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Kat Conner Sterling.

In celebration of the movie's release, SlashFilm interviewed Tammi to discuss the highly anticipated Five Nights at Freddy's film. When asked about considering the game franchise's devoted fans during the production process, the co-writer/director acknowledged that the creative team took some liberties with the game's lore in an effort to present something "unexpected and innovative" to all viewers. Take a look at Tammi's explanation below:

I hope that audiences feel the essence and atmosphere of 'Freddy's' deeply integrated within the movie while also delivering on their expectations. Additionally, I hope it brings a sense of surprise, freshness, and distinctiveness. Working closely with Scott [Cawthon] on this project has been a true blessing, as I genuinely trust his instincts in captivating the fans.

How True The Five Nights At Freddy's Movie Is To The Games' Lore

With Scott Cawthon involved as a co-writer and producer, the film adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy's stayed true to the original story. It confirmed that Freddy and the other animatronics were the souls of children who were abducted and killed by the restaurant's founder, William Afton. The main antagonist of the franchise was shown to have committed the murders while wearing the yellow Springtrap bunny suit and eventually getting trapped inside it in the deteriorating restaurant.

Despite its overall faithfulness, there were some significant changes to the lore in the movie. One notable change was the revelation that Vanessa, played by Lail, was Afton's daughter. This character was not introduced properly in the games until Security Breach, where she becomes an antagonist to the player after being persuaded to follow Glitchtrap and become a serial killer. In the games, it was eventually revealed that Mike, played by Hutcherson, was actually Afton's son. In later titles, he searches for his father as part of an unknown plan. The movie also revealed that Afton had kidnapped Mike's younger brother, though the whereabouts of his spirit remain unknown.

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The Five Nights at Freddy's lore underwent another significant change related to the timeline. Tammi had been hinting prior to the movie's release that Easter eggs would not only reference the first game, but also include the Balloon Boy figures. Furthermore, the post-credits scene hinted at the potential introduction of The Puppet in a future installment, moving up their appearances from the games. Despite receiving negative reviews, the initial box office figures indicate that a sequel is highly likely.

Source: SlashFilm