Smile 2 is an upcoming American psychological supernatural horror film written and directed by Parker Finn. The sequel to Smile (2022), the film stars Naomi Scott as a pop singer who begins to experience a series of increasingly disturbing events as she is about to go on tour. It also features Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson in its supporting cast, while Kyle Gallner reprises his role as Joel from the first movie.

Smile 2
Theatrical release poster
Directed byParker Finn
Written byParker Finn
Based onCharacters
by Parker Finn
Produced by
  • Marty Bowen
  • Wyck Godfrey
  • Isaac Klausner
  • Parker Finn
  • Robert Salerno
Starring
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • October 18, 2024 (2024-10-18)
Running time
121 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

In March 2023, following the commercial success of the first film, Finn signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to develop additional horror projects. In April 2023, it was announced that a sequel to Smile had entered pre-production, with Finn returning as writer and director. Principal photography took place from January to March 2024 throughout various locations in New York.

Smile 2 is scheduled to be released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on October 18, 2024.

Premise

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Pop sensation Skye Riley begins to experience a series of increasingly disturbing and daunting events as she is about to go on a new world tour and is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.[2]

Cast

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Production

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Parker Finn, writer and director of Smile (2022), intentionally left portions of the first film ambiguous, with various plotlines unresolved, to create the opportunity to explore those details in a sequel.[4] He noted that while additional installments may explore the backstory of the entity, he would like to keep its mysterious nature intact, adding that a follow-up film would be notably different from the first as he believed "there is still a lot of interesting stuff to explore in the world of Smile. ... I'd want to make sure that there's a new, exciting, fresh way into it that the audience isn't anticipating."[4][5][6]

In March 2023, following the commercial success of Smile, Finn signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to develop additional horror projects.[7] The following month at 2023 CinemaCon, Paramount announced that a sequel to Smile was green-lit and entered pre-production, with Finn returning as writer and director.[8] In December 2023, Naomi Scott was cast in a leading role.[9] In early 2024, Lukas Gage, Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan Gelula, Raúl Castillo and Miles Gutierrez-Riley joined the cast.[10][11][12] Kyle Gallner reprised his role as Joel from the first film.[13]

Principal photography took place from January to March 2024 throughout Hudson Valley, New York, with primary locations in Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, Albany and New York City.[14][15] In September 2024, it was revealed that Drew Barrymore would appear as herself in the film.[16]

Music

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On June 8, 2024, the @SkyeRileyNation Instagram account began teasing a new era of a popstar named Skye Riley.[17] On June 13, Bloody Disgusting spotted promotional billboards of Skye Riley, promoting a new album titled Skye Is Limitless.[18] on June 18, a song titled "Blood on White Satin" was released through Interscope Records, and was featured in the first trailer of the film.[19] The second single "Grieved You" is set for release on September 13.[20]

Release

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The film is scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on October 18, 2024.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Smile 2 – Official Runtime for October's Horror Sequel Is Just Over 2 Hours". Bloody Disgusting. August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Synopsis". Smile 2 official website. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Johar, Vritti (June 18, 2024). "Smile 2 Release Date, Trailer, Cast & Plot". ComingSoon. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Davids, Brian (December 9, 2022). "How Parker Finn's 'Smile' Went From Streaming to Theatrical in a Single Night". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Kaye, Don (December 2, 2022). "Smile Director: Ending 'Purposefully' Leaves Room for Sequel". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Nichols, Tyler (November 27, 2022). "Smile Interview: Parker Finn (writer/director)". JoBlo. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (March 15, 2023). "Smile Filmmaker Parker Finn Signs First-Look Deal With Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Peralta, Diego (April 27, 2023). "Smile Sequel in the Works at Paramount". Collider. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 13, 2023). "Naomi Scott To Star In Next Installment In Paramount's Smile Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 9, 2024). "Lukas Gage Boards Smile Sequel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Grobar, Matt (February 12, 2024). "Smile Sequel Adds Dylan Gelula To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Cordero, Rosy (February 14, 2024). "Raúl Castillo & Miles Gutierrez-Riley Round Out Casting For Smile Sequel From Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (January 11, 2024). "Rosemarie DeWitt and Kyle Gallner Round Out Untitled 'Smile' Sequel Cast Exclusive". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Boris (January 24, 2024). "Hollywood Film Crew Takes Over Newburgh Brewing Company Taproom". WPDH. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Hermanns, Grant (March 9, 2024). "Smile 2 Gets Surprising Filming Update From New Horror Movie Star". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Squires, John (September 3, 2024). "'Smile 2' – Open Wide and Watch the Official Trailer for Paramount's Horror Sequel". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  17. ^ "First Teaser Trailer for SMILE 2 Reveals Naomi Scott's Popstar Character Skye Riley". GeekTyrant. June 18, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  18. ^ Squires, John (June 13, 2024). "Viral Marketing Campaign for 'Smile 2' Already Underway?". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  19. ^ Zemler, Emily (June 18, 2024). "Naomi Scott Is a Pop Star Pursued by Evil in 'Smile 2' Trailer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "Home". Skye Riley. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 22, 2023). "Smile 2 Sets Release Date, One Love Moves". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
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