In an exciting development for fans of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, Blumhouse Productions has shared a tantalizing behind-the-scenes tease for what appears to be the upcoming sequel film.
The horror powerhouse, which produced the hit 2022 adaptation of the popular video game series, posted an image on social media showcasing the work happening at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. This renowned special effects company was responsible for bringing the sinister animatronic antagonists to life in the first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
“Jim Henson’s Creature Shop is working their magic again! We aren’t sure what they’re working on, but we know it will be great,” Blumhouse teased in the caption.
The mysterious image quickly sparked speculation among Five Nights at Freddy’s devotees. Many believe the creature being crafted at the Henson workshop could be none other than Mangle, a fan-favorite character from the Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 video game.
Jim Henson’s Creature Shop is working their magic again! We aren’t sure what they’re working on, but we know it will be great! pic.twitter.com/29u4bYfxzx
— Blumhouse (@blumhouse) April 9, 2024
In that installment, Mangle was a redesigned version of the iconic Foxy animatronic, intended to be a more kid-friendly attraction placed in the “Kid’s Cove” area of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. However, due to constant abuse and dismantling by the children, Mangle’s appearance became quite disturbing, with a fully visible endoskeleton and a hand instead of a foot.
“I’m willing to bet anything this dude is making Mangle, who first appeared in FNAF 2,” said JoBlo’s Mike Conway, a self-professed Five Nights at Freddy’s superfan.
The first Five Nights at Freddy’s film, released in 2022, proved to be a major box office and streaming hit for Blumhouse. Starring Josh Hutcherson, the movie followed a security guard working the night shift at the iconic Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, where he soon discovers the murderous animatronic characters come to life after dark.
With the surprise success of the initial adaptation, a sequel was all but inevitable. Hutcherson previously indicated the creative team was “nailing down the story” and eager to get the next chapter into production.
The involvement of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, renowned for their innovative and unsettling creature effects, suggests Blumhouse is pulling out all the stops to ensure the Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel lives up to the terrifying reputation of the video game franchise. And if the potential inclusion of Mangle is any indication, fans are in for another nightmarish ride.
While Blumhouse has yet to officially announce details about the Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel, this latest behind-the-scenes tease has the fanbase buzzing with anticipation. With the pedigree of the first film and the legendary Henson workshop on board, the next chapter of this horror saga could be the stuff of nightmares – in the best possible way.