Like many of our customers, we are bif fans of the Five Nights at Freddy’s games, and have been eagerly waiting for years for a movie adaptation of the popular franchise. But what about the people who have never played the game before? Will they understand or enjoy the storyline? The movie will have to strike a balance between catering to the existing fanbase and introducing the world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza to a new audience.
This challenge is not new for movie adaptations of popular video games, the success of recent movies such as Detective Pikachu, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Mario Movie earlier this year show how it is possible to appeal to both fans and newcomers. Ultimately, the success of the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie will depend on how well it captures the essence of the game and creates a compelling narrative that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of whether they are familiar with the franchise or not. If you or or your friends are interested in going to see the movie in theaters this October, here’s the basic lore you’ll want to know.
What is the plot of the Five Nights at Freddy’s game?
The plot of the first Five Nights at Freddy’s game centers around a security guard who begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, where animatronics such as Freddy, Foxy and Chica entertain children during the day. However, he realizes the night shift is when the animatronics come to life and behave strangely, seemingly with the intent to harm him. Throughout the game, the guard must survive five nights on his shift while dealing with these aggressive animatronics without using up all the power it takes to check through security cameras and keep doors closed.
The games also involves the backstory of William Afton, the creator of the animatronics, who has been linked to a series of disappearances and murders related to the restaurant. The guard must survive the night and uncover the truth behind Afton’s twisted intentions. Overall, the plot of Five Nights at Freddy’s is a thrilling and suspenseful horror story that captivates players with its intricate storyline and terrifying gameplay mechanics.
Who is Mike Schmidt?
While there are multiple different security guards you play as throughout the eight FNAF entries, only the protagonist from the first game seems to be participating in the plot of the movie. The paycheck you receive after surviving the game is adressed to you, “Mike Schmidt” our main character confirmed in the Movie played by Josh Hutcherson. But who is he? FNAF fans have many theories, but it is generally agreed on that Mike is Michael Afton, William Afton’s oldest son under an alias after his father tarnished the family name.
Who is William Afton?
William Afton is a father of 3 and business partner to Henry Emily, who he began Fazbear Entertainment with. Afton had created flawed animatronics with springlock suits for their first location, “Fredbear’s Family Diner”. The “springlock” system involves a robotic endoskeleton that can open up to allow a person inside the suit to perform for children’s birthday parties at the pizza place, then lock back into place to perform idly after employees exit for breaks or other business. This endoskeleton design ended up being very dangerous and prone to failure when exposed to moisture.
His youngest child, is known in the games as “Evan”, “Chris,” or simply “the crying child”. His story is seen in the fourth game, where his older brother Michael taunts him with his fear of the animatronics. On his birthday, Michael and his friends put his head in the mouth of Fredbear, (See Animatronics below) who’s springlocks malfunction from his tears and crush Evan’s head between his robotic teeth.
William is sent into delerium by this first death, and for whatever reason (still debated by the community) begins to explore the idea of spirits haunting his animatronics. He builds the main 4 found in the first game with the intention of trapping children inside. His creations later become more dangerous and deceptive, many of which are found in the fifth game at their sister location.
What animatronics are in the FNAF Movie?
The animatronics in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie include the famous characters from the video game such as Freddy, Chica, Foxy, and Bonnie. It is also rumored that Golden Freddy may make an appearance, but it has not been confirmed by the producers. Vanessa, a new addition to the franchise, is also expected to feature in the movie but her role is also not confirmed as of yet. One animatronic that has been confirmed is Springtrap, who will be portrayed as the antagonist in the film. Spring Bonnie (Springtrap) and Fredbear (Golden Freddy) were the first of Afton’s animatronics that were brought over to storage in the FNAF 1 location after the first restaurant closed due to the incident with his son.
Another animatronic that fans are curious about is Circus Baby, who is known for her eerie presence in the fifth FNAF game, Sister Location. It is expected that the animatronics will look close to their original appearance in the games, but with added details to make them more life-like for the big screen. Fans of the game can’t wait to see these animatronics in action in the upcoming movie.
What’s different about the Movie?
In the games and other collective lore like the books, William’s second child and only daughter is named Elizabeth. She ends up being swallowed by Circus Baby, leaving Michael as William’s only surviving child as a young adult. However, Mike’s sister is called Abby in the movie. Will the “Schmidt” family really be separate from William Afton, and not an alias for Michael when he returned to investigate pizzeria haunted by sentient animatronics? It would make sense as to why Mike is riddled with guilt over a tragedy in his past, being partly responsible for his little brother’s death. Why is Vanessa, a character who didn’t appear until FNAF VR, mentioned as a role in the movie that follow the events of the first game? These are all things fans will have to hold their breath for until it’s release date.
Who is directing Five Nights at Freddy’s?
The movie is being directed by Chris Columbus, known for his work on movies such as Home Alone and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The film’s screenplay has been written by creator Scott Cawthon and newcomer Seth Cuddeback. The production is being managed by Jason Blum with Blumhouse productions, who are known for producing several horror films including the Paranormal Activity franchise.
The movie is being made on a relatively modest budget, which is being put to good use with the creation of practical effects by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Filming began in February 2023 and is already set to come out in October. Emma Tammi is rumored to be directing a spin-off adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s themed around the lunar phenomenon known as the Blood Moon. Overall, it seems that the game creator Scott Cawthon has carefully selected a talented team to bring his creation to life on the big screen.
Who is starring in Five Nights at Freddy’s?
Although there hasn’t been an official announcement of the cast yet, it’s been reported that Matthew Lillard and Josh Hutcherson will star in the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, with Lillard playing the troubled security guard trying to survive the night in the haunted restaurant, and Hutcherson portraying a yet-to-be-revealed character. Mary Stuart Masterson has also been confirmed to play Abby, an employee at the restaurant.
Elizabeth Lail and Piper Rubio are also expected to be part of the cast, with Lail rumored to be playing Mike’s younger sister and Rubio playing another employee. Fans of the game are also hoping to expect popular YouTuber Markiplier in a cameo role, given his tributes to the games success online. While the cast may not be complete, it’s clear that the movie is attracting some big names and has generated a lot of excitement among devotees of the terrifying game franchise fit to show alongside other horror movies
Will there be a sequel?
With the recent teaser, fans are buzzing with excitement towards the possibility of a sequel to what was once just an indie game. Scheduled to release on October 27, everything we know about the game is still shrouded in mystery. However, we can expect to see the return of the notorious animatronic bear, Freddy Fazbear, and his fellow robotic counterparts, who come alive at night to terrorize the unsuspecting security guard as he begins working at the establishment.
Known for its jump scares and eerie atmosphere, Five Nights at Freddy’s has amassed a large following and many are eagerly anticipating what the sequel might have in store. As the release date steadily approaches, speculation and theories continue to swirl within the community. Their devoted fanbase is sure to attract enough profit for a sequel. Whether or not there will be a sequel remains to be seen but one thing is for sure, there is definitely excitement in the air.
Conclusion
Hopefully this brief synopsis of the original game helps manage what we can expect to see in the movie coming this halloween, FNAF fans have definitely been waiting!