Emma Tammi Will Direct Five Nights at Freddy’s Film; Blumhouse Sets Mid-2023 Production Beginning

The long underway feature adaptation of the hit video game Five Nights at Freddy’s has tracked down a director and is headed toward “an early 2023 production start,” as per a declaration from Blumhouse, which is producing.

Emma Tammi (The Wind, Blood Moon) will direct the film, based on the work of franchise maker Scott Cawthon. Cawthon’s game follows a night security guard as he starts working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night at work, he understands the gig will not be so easy as the animatronic animals that entertain kids during the day play their own sinister games around evening time.

“Stepping into the rich, terrifying world of Freddy’s alongside Scott Cawthon, Blumhouse and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop is beyond thrilling. I cannot wait for audiences to immerse themselves in the wild and wonderful playground we are creating,” said director Tammi.

There have been eight games in the mainline Freddy’s franchise, the latest being Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach in 2021. There have been six spinoff games as well as five fan-made games supported by Cawthon and many novels and graphic novels in view of the series.

Considering all that IP, it’s justifiable why Blumhouse — which has a long track record of progress with genre franchises — would stay with a movie that, seven years ago, was set to be directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House), then, at that point, went to Blumhouse in 2017, with Chris Columbus tapped to direct in 2018, and presently Tammi in the driver’s seat with a beginning date in sight.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s is more consistently asked about than any other film I’ve ever worked on, and I’m thrilled to confirm it’s finally happening! With Emma Tammi at the helm, we’re committed to making Scott’s vision of the movie come to life. Rest assured, it will be and is worth the wait,” said Jason Blum, Blumhouse CEO and founder.

“In meeting with Emma, I felt she had a great understanding of the franchise, and really felt that she could craft something that would please the fanbase and keep people on the edge of their seats,” said Cawthon.

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will be working close by Blumhouse to bring the game’s unnerving bears and different animals to life. The innovative Oscar and Emmy-winning impacts shop has previously started dealing with animatronics.

Blum talked about the project earlier this year saying it was “dangerously close” to happening.

Five Nights at Freddy’s was written by Cawthon, Tammi, and Seth Cuddeback. The film will be produced by Blumhouse in relationship with Striker Entertainment. Cawthon and Blum will create the film. Russell Binder is an executive producer.

Tammi is represented by CAA, Atlas Artists and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner and Klein.