Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Smile 2!
The future of theSmilefranchise is a bit uncertain afterSmile 2, but the film does set up an exciting follow-up that isn’t a prequel, sequel, or spinoff. The wildtwist ending ofSmile 2has left a lot of the franchise’s fans wondering what is coming next, as the ending of the secondSmilefilm seemingly makes it incredibly difficult to continue the story of the horror franchise. While the nextSmilefilm may not take the form that many are expecting, there is a clear path forward afterSmile 2.
Smile 2continues the story of the Smile Curse, following the supernatural force as it leavesJoel after the ending of the originalSmileand makes its way to pop star Skye Riley. After dealing with the Smile Curse for most of the film, the Smile Entity finally kills Skye Riley at the very end ofSmile 2in a shocking way. While in front of a concert audience, Skye Riley bashes a microphone through her head. Since the Smile Curse gets passed on to anyone who witnesses one of the suicides, this means that all of the fans in attendance may now have the curse.
Smile 2’s Ending Sets Up The Perfect Smile Anthology Movie
After Skye Riley’s Concert Death
WhileSmile 3may not be the best path forward, the ending ofSmile 2perfectly sets up aSmileanthology movie. By the end ofSmile 2, a few problems have arisen for the franchise. Firstly, now that thousands of characters in theSmileuniverse have the Smile Curse, there is no clear protagonist for a third movie. On top of that, most of the world is now aware of the Smile Curse due to the death of Skye Riley, ridding the franchise of the mystery and paranoia that has been at the center of every movie.
Smile 2: What Was Real & What Scenes Didn’t Really Happen
The Smile entity went to new lengths to haunt its host in Smile 2, completely erasing the lines between what was real and what was a hallucination.
These two aspects in conjunction may make a sequel difficult,but it makes an anthology movie the perfect option.Rather than picking just one story to focus on, aSmileanthology movie could follow multiple members of Skye Riley’s audience, showing how each one is affected by the Smile Curse. The film could even explore doctors and government officials who are attempting to investigate the Smile Curse, moving away from focusing on those who are possessed by the Smile Entity.
How A Smile Anthology Movie Would Be Different From A Direct Sequel, Prequel Or Spinoff
It Still Follows The Events Of Smile 2
BothSmilemovies so far have followed the linear chain of victims of the Smile Entity, with each one occurring one at a time. However, this potentialSmileanthology film would not do this. Instead, it would bounce around the world ofSmile, exploring different stories and showing the various directions in which the Smile Entity continues to spread. It most likely wouldn’t have returning characters fromthe cast ofSmile 2or the original film, with it instead focusing on an all-new cast.
However, theSmileanthology also wouldn’t be a prequel or spinoff. Unlike a prequel,theSmileanthology movie would follow up on the events ofSmile 2, exploring the aftermath of Skye Riley’s death. Unlike a spinoff, the anthology would take place in the same universe as the main films, with it being canon to a potentialSmile 3.
A Smile Anthology Movie Repeats The Best Change In Smile 2
It Continues The Legacy Of Skye Riley
Another major benefit of aSmileanthology movie is that it would repeat the best change fromSmile 2. Despite being a direct sequel to the originalSmile,Smile 2is wildly different from its predecessor. Tonally and stylistically,Smile 2does not feel like the originalSmile, with this mostly being due to the massive changes in locations and character types. This allowedSmile 2to stay fresh despite telling a story that is similar to the originalSmile, something that could be repeated multiple times over in aSmileanthology movie.
Smile 2’s Voss Water Obsession Hides A Dark Reality For Skye
Smile 2 sees the entity haunting Skye Riley, who was constantly chugging bottles of Voss water, but this hides a tragic reality for her.
Focusing on multiple different stories set in theSmileuniverse would allow the anthology to focus on multiple sets of original stories, with there being limitless potential for what kinds of stories can be told. The film can highlight the Smile Entity’s activities in different locations with different types of people, allowing the franchise to be fleshed out even further after the Earth-shattering ending ofSmile 2.
Smile 2
Cast
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
