Say cheese!
Paramount has released the first trailer for “Smile 2,” the sequel to its 2022 breakout horror hit. In the sequel, releasing October 18, a pop star (Naomi Scott) is driven insane by an evil curse that takes on victims in the form of a creepy smile.
Parker Finn, writer and director of the first “Smile,” is returning with actor Kyle Gallner, who played police officer Joel. The film series follows an evil, ruthless demon who drives his victims to suicide, appearing as a series of humans with sinister smiles on their faces.
The first installment concluded with Joel witnessing the gruesome death of his ex-girlfriend Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) when she set herself on fire due to the mysterious smiling monster. Anyone who witnesses someone else’s death at the hands of this monster becomes its next victim, driven to commit suicide, meaning Joel may soon suffer the same fate.
Other cast members include Lucas Gage, Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan Gelula, Raul Castillo, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley.
Though originally scheduled for a streaming-only premiere on Paramount+, the studio behind the film gave “Smile” a full theatrical release, earning $217 million at the global box office. The first film’s spectacular success undoubtedly convinced Paramount to sign on for a second film. If the latest installment can bring similar results, it could be the start of the latest saga in a long line of classic horror franchises.
Following the release of the first film, Finn spoke briefly about the possibility of a sequel: “I think there’s still a lot of interesting things to explore in the world of ‘Smile’. There are definitely some things I’ve left out in my planning.”
“Smile 2” is set to release on October 18. Watch the trailer below.
