Unveiling the Unexpected Link between Vanessa and William in Five Nights at Freddy's

Five Nights at Freddy’s has finally become accessible to everyone, and for certain enthusiasts, a surprising alteration to a significant bond has emerged. Derived from the video game series with the same title, the film narrates the story of a distressed security guard who commences employment at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. During his initial night on duty, he quickly discovers that surviving the graveyard shift at Freddy’s will not be a walk in the park.

The movie creators, including director Emma Tammi and producer Jason Blum, have expressed their desire for a sequel, as the film has already recouped its expenses even before its release. Despite staying true to the Five Nights at Freddy's game adaptation, there have been some alterations throughout the process.

Five Nights at Freddy’s director explains the father-daughter connection

Speaking to Dexerto, Five Nights at Freddy’s director Emma Tammi explains the decision to reframe Vanessa and William Afton as father and daughter.

"Scott [Cawthon] had underscored the significance of this connection even before I became involved in the project. It was already an integral part of the original script I was tasked with rewriting. We were well aware that this would be the narrative we were conveying. Therefore, it truly originated from Scott."

The decision to depict security officer Vanessa as William Afton's daughter offers a fresh perspective to the storyline, but it isn't completely unexpected for fans. Throughout the history of the video game franchise, there have been ongoing speculations about the true relationship between Vanessa and William. In the beginning, William's daughter is portrayed as Elizabeth, a character that players only witness as a young child. Subsequently, she takes over Circus Baby's entity after being fatally attacked by the animatronic.

Meanwhile, the character Vanessa from the video game becomes corrupted and becomes a follower of Glitchtrap, a virus introduced in the Help Wanted game. As a result, she transforms into a notorious serial killer known as Vanny, who exclusively wears a white rabbit costume. Additionally, Vanessa is introduced as Vanessa A, which may suggest a potential connection to William Afton.

Is the creator Scott Cawthon planning more surprises for future films? Only time will tell. For a more comprehensive analysis of the divergence between the movie and game lore, you can find further details here.

Interview conducted by Britanni Johnson.

Five Nights at Freddy’s is out now, while for more on the movie, check out the below articles: