Smile 2 Release Date, Cast, Director, And More Details

When "Smile" made its way to theaters in the fall of 2022, it did so behind a truly bone-chilling trailer and one of the more unsettling, if undeniably clever marketing campaigns of the modern era. Even still, the trauma-fueled creeper felt like it was flying decidedly under the radar. That changed when "Smile" finally debuted, with the film scaring up heaps of critical praise and a seriously impressive box office haul to boot.

As for the story, moviegoers clearly enjoyed writer/director Parker Finn's caustic tale of a trauma-devouring entity stalking the unsuspecting victims subjected to its horrific endgame. Few could argue Finn and his cast didn't find new and disturbing ways to twist audience expectations, and they did with a perfectly demented smile on their collective faces. In the wake of the movie's horrifying finale, the bosses at Paramount Pictures wasted little time in green-lighting a sequel, officially announcing "Smile 2" in April 2023. Here's everything we know so far about the follow-up.

As it was, the theatrical release of "Smile" was a bit of a surprise in 2022, with the film initially eyeing a release on the Paramount+ streaming platform. However, a better-than-expected test-screening changed that plan, with Paramount surprising even Parker Finn with the pivot towards theatrical. The rest, as they say, is history.

And everyone involved in the making and marketing of "Smile" is surely hoping history repeats itself when "Smile 2" finally makes its way to theaters. Though we don't yet know what that crew has in store for the horror-loving masses with the sequel, we do know that Paramount bosses are wisely positioning the film for a prime spooky season premiere. According to a recent report from Deadline, "Smile 2" will begin tormenting audiences mere days before Halloween, with a release scheduled for October 18, 2024.

The runaway success of "Smile" was, perhaps, all the more unexpected due to the fact that the film boasted no major stars among its ensemble cast. Said ensemble was, however, fronted by rising star Sosie Bacon, who made the most of the moment with a star-making turn as Rose Cotter, the tormented psychiatrist at the dark heart of "Smile." Unfortunately for Bacon, given the way the film ended, it's highly unlikely she'll be back for round two.

The same can obviously be said for several of Bacon's "Smile" co-stars, though the film was actually pretty conservative in its overall body count. Of the characters who survived the wrath of the film's trauma beast, the one that seems best fit for a return would be Rose's detective ex-boyfriend Joel, played by Kyle Gallner, as his fate is far from settled by the film's end. It seems Gallner is more than game to take that journey, with the actor telling /Film, "If they want me back as Joel to jump into that sandbox, I'm more than happy to come in and play."

However, we do know one new star has joined the cast. In December 2023, it was announced that Naomi Scott would play in "Smile 2." Disney fans will no doubt recognize Scott for her turn as Princess Jasmine in the live-action "Aladdin," and she's also been in movies such as 2019's "Charlie's Angels" and 2017's "Power Rangers."

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While little is known about where "Smile 2" will go from the original's unshakeable finale, the good news is that Parker Finn will be back to write and direct the sequel. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Finn has promised that the upcoming horror flick will go in new directions, so don't expect a repeat of the first film. 

"I do think that there is still a lot of interesting stuff to explore in the world of 'Smile,'" the filmmaker explained to the trade. "There are certainly stones that I left unturned by design. And then there are other things that I, at one point or another, wanted to put in the movie, but they didn't end up int he movie for whatever reason. ...  I would never want to just repeat myself or retread the same ground. I'd want to make sure that there's a new, exciting, fresh way into it that the audience isn't anticipating. I also want to find some new ways to scare them and unnerve them."