Much to the surprise of everyone, 2022’s Smile became a runaway hit at the box-office, taking in an eye-watering $217 million worldwide. Given that the film was originally meant to be released solely to Paramount+, such returns are stellar. Smile would go on to become the first standalone horror film since 2016 to hold the top spot at the box-office two weeks in a row. Now it seems Paramount have shown their gratitude to writer-director Parker Finn
News broke last week that the filmmaker has signed a “lucrative” first-look deal with Paramount Pictures and that a sequel to Smile is “one of the priorities.”
Of the deal, details are sparse, but Paramount president and CEO Brian Robbins couldn’t hide his delight in a statement confirming Finn’s signing.
“Smile’s breakthrough success is a testament to Parker’s unique and fresh filmmaking, and we are thrilled that he will make Paramount his home.”
It is currently unclear whether a sequel to Smile will be Finn’s next project or if he will cook up some new frights for Paramount before crafting a sequel.
Finn’s signing to the studio continues Paramount’s growing reputation as a horror focused studio, as they now own the distribution rights to the Scream franchise. It all seems like a very full circle moment for the studio, as they were front and centre in the 80s slasher boom with their almost yearly Friday the 13th movies.
No fixed dates have been given for Parker Finn’s next project or a Smile sequel, but we can’t wait to see what this promising director has up his sleeve in the near future.
