Is 'Five Nights at Freddy's' Teasing a Sequel?

Article Summary

William Afton's reappearance in Five Nights at Freddy's hints at his survival and potential return as the antagonist Springtrap. Following his demise, Afton's brother, Garrett, might be manipulating an unidentified animatronic, allowing for the possibility of additional haunted Freddy's establishments in forthcoming installments.

Vanessa, Afton's daughter, survives his attack and potentially plays a crucial role in future attempts to bring down her father. This is hinted at in the credits, where a mysterious voice calls out for someone to "Find Me."

After nearly a decade of anticipation, the film adaptation of the popular video game, Five Nights at Freddy's, has finally hit theaters. Directed by Emma Tammi, the movie was met with great success, grossing $130 million in its opening weekend at the global box office. With such impressive numbers, it would make sense for Blumhouse and Universal to consider developing a sequel.

Fortunately, for the large audience that the film has captivated, there are hints within the story that suggest a continuation of the chilling horrors that unfold within Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. These hints leave the door open for the possibility of a second installment in this exciting new franchise.

Prepare for a heart-pounding adventure in Five Nights at Freddy's. This bone-chilling horror game sensation is now a nerve-wracking cinematic experience brought to you by Blumhouse, the remarkable producer behind M3GAN, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man. Brace yourself as Five Nights at Freddy's takes the leap onto the silver screen. Venture into the story of a troubled security guard embarking on his new job at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. However, as he faces his first night on duty, he quickly realizes that surviving the night shift at Freddy's will be far from a walk in the park.

Release Date October 27, 2023Director Emma TammiCast Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, Mary Stuart MastersonRating PG-13Runtime 110 minutesMain Genre Horror

'Five Nights at Freddy's Leaves the Door Open for William Afton's Return

When the marketing campaign for Five Nights at Freddy's kicked off, Matthew Lillard's portrayal as William Afton, the notorious antagonist from the video game series, stood out. However, in the film, he initially appears as Steve Raglan, a career counselor for Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson). As the protagonist delves into the dark secrets of the animatronics at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, Raglan's true identity as Afton, the person responsible for the long-ago disappearances of numerous children, comes to light.

Discovering the sinister truth about the abandoned pizzeria, Afton is compelled to eliminate Mike and his sister, Abby (Piper Rubio). Donning his yellow rabbit suit once more, he sets out to claim even more lives. The already intense rivalry between Afton and Mike escalates further when Mike realizes that he is battling the man who ended his brother's life decades before. With the assistance of Freddy, Foxy, Chica, and Bonnie, Afton is ultimately defeated, triggering a catastrophic failure of his springlock suit that impales him.

What Happened to Garrett in 'Five Nights at Freddy's?

In the video games that served as the inspiration for the movie, Afton also finds himself trapped inside his suit and somehow manages to stay alive despite the fatal injuries inflicted by the suit. A similar scenario may occur in the film series, with the animatronics forcefully dragging a desperate William away. Given that he is still convulsing and struggling to breathe in his final appearance before the credits roll, there is a strong possibility that the menacing character known as Springtrap will make a return, just as he vowed. William Afton proved to be virtually indestructible in the video games, and it is conceivable that he possesses the same level of resilience in the cinematic adaptations.

Image via Universal Pictures

Mike's entire character development centers around his relentless quest to uncover the identity of his brother's murderer. He believes that by delving into his own memories of the tragic incident while he sleeps, he will be able to unveil the face of the killer. This unique technique eventually enables him to communicate with the spirits inhabiting the animatronics at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, providing insight into their motivation for wanting to take his sister. However, despite his ability to converse with the deceased, Mike never gets the opportunity to connect with his own brother. Considering that Afton abducted and terminated Garrett, it raises the compelling question of whether Garrett now controls a concealed animatronic.

In terms of the source material, the five children who are believed to possess the animatronics were not the only victims left behind by the serial killer. Freddy's, a popular restaurant chain with multiple locations across the United States, had a dark history. While the killer, Afton, was still alive, he took the lives of many children, leaving behind a trail of violence and anger. If future movies choose to follow the same storyline, it is possible that other Freddy's locations could be revealed in a potential sequel, with Garrett's ghost making an appearance in one of them.

It is strange that Mike, whose sole objective is to find closure regarding the tragedy that befell his family before Abby was born, has the opportunity to communicate with other ghosts but not with his own brother. Due to a lack of evidence, William Afton, the killer, was never arrested by the police. Considering the number of years that are hinted to have passed between the original murders and the plot of Five Nights at Freddy's, there is a possibility that there are more abandoned restaurants that hold their own secrets. Mike's search for his brother can continue, and this time, he will not be alone in his journey.

Vanessa Has Family Issues to Take Care Of

Image via Blumhouse

The film adaptation deviates from the games by revealing that police officer Vanessa, played by Elizabeth Lail, is actually William Afton's daughter. Despite helping Mike and Abby in the final showdown against the merciless villain, Vanessa is stabbed without any remorse from her father. By the end of the film, Vanessa finds herself hospitalized, receiving treatment for the injuries sustained during the battle. However, with the possibility of Afton still being alive in his yellow rabbit costume, Vanessa may decide to participate in future efforts to finally bring him down.

Furthermore, both Vanessa and William Afton's survival is hinted at in the credits of Five Nights at Freddy's, where a mysterious voice spells out the phrase "Find Me" before the screen fades to black. Similar messages are conveyed to players through mysterious 8-bit mini-games in the video game, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, urging them to find a way to rescue the trapped children within the robotic characters. However, since the movie adaptation diverges from the game, it remains uncertain who is actually sending these messages. Could it be Garrett? William? Or perhaps an entirely different individual?

The main characters of Five Nights at Freddy's could potentially return for another installment, as a serial killer regains their strength and two fractured families remain entangled in the same conflict. Despite the near-fatal encounter they had, Abby expresses a desire to visit her friends once again. Given their successful track record with franchises like the Halloween modern trilogy, as well as the upcoming sequels to M3GAN and The Black Phone, Blumhouse is well-versed in producing popular film series. Looking at the promising box office results from this weekend, the future appears bright for Five Nights at Freddy's. Currently, the movie can be viewed in theaters and streamed on Peacock.

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Editor's P/S

As a long-time fan of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, I am thrilled at the prospect of a sequel. The first film did an excellent job of capturing the creepy and unsettling atmosphere of the games, and I am eager to see where the story goes next.

There are several unanswered questions that I am hoping will be addressed in a sequel. For example, what happened to Garrett, William Afton's brother? Is he really dead, or is he just waiting for the opportunity to strike again? I am also curious to learn more about Vanessa, Afton's daughter. What role will she play in the future of the story?

Overall, I am very excited about the possibility of a Five Nights at Freddy's sequel. I believe that there is still a lot of potential for this story to be explored, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this franchise.