The man who helped shape the worlds of Harry Potter, Gremlins and The Goonies is now moving into video game horror. Chris Columbus will write and direct Five Nights at Freddy’s, based on the popular video game series about a security guard battling evil animatronics in a pizza shop.
Image: Google
Blumhouse Productions acquired the rights to the franchise last year after New Line put it in turnaround. Then the studio posted this image on its Twitter today, revealing that the project is moving forward with Columbus.
Mr. Columbus, are you ready for Freddy? #FiveNightsatFreddys pic.twitter.com/4F7QEnw16x
— Blumhouse (@blumhouse) February 12, 2018
Five Nights at Freddy’s is kind of like if Toy Story took place in Chuck E. Cheese, but as a horror movie. The whole thing began as a game franchise and then moved into various other mediums with multiple sequels and spinoffs. It’s one of those rare brand names that is known well by a rabid fan base, but maybe not as well by the mainstream, giving it unique crossover potential for a movie. Then add in the terrifying premise of battling living animatronics in a dark, closed environment, and you can start to see why Blumhouse was so interested and went after a name like Columbus.
Columbus was thought to be working on a new sequel to Gremlins, but with this announcement, it seems unlikely that will be coming any time soon. His last film was the atrocious Pixels, but he has a long history of great work and starting brand name franchises. Hopefully, he can do that with Freddy as well.
[Deadline]
Comments
2 responses to “Chris Columbus Will Direct A Five Nights At Freddy’s Movie For Blumhouse”
Well I’m sure Columbus will pump out something at about the same quality as most of Blumhouse’s catalogue. I’m struggling to think of a scenario where this wont be successful enough to warrant a half dozen low rent sequels.
Can’t wait! I have seen GameTheory cover the FNAF storyline, and honestly they are my favorite gaming theory channel. I know the movie isn’t going to have anything to do with the popular games, but I have a feeling that if Scott Cawthorn is part of the production team, then that genius is going to add a whole new load of lore in the new movie.
I have no interest in playing any of the FNAF games, but I’ve spent hours watching GameTheory coving the story. The games hid the story and made it as cryptic as possible. It turned an average story into excellent lore.
I can’t imagine a film will be able to tread the thin line between the story being weak and the story being convoluted