It’s almost time to turn that frown upside down again as Smile 2 casts Lukas Gage alongside Naomi Scott in the sequel.
Smile, Parker Finn’s deliciously creepy horror film, was a bit of an unexpected hit for Paramount back in 2022. Horror has always been a bankable genre; low production costs but decent box office returns is the recipe for success, but Smile was also pretty well received by critics.
A sequel was greenlit almost immediately, because those pesky Hollywood studios like to strike while the iron is hot. Finn is reportedly returning to write and direct the sequel, which doesn’t have an official title yet. Naomi Scott was reported to play the lead and now, as reported by Deadline, Lukas Gage is joining her.
Gage is perhaps best known for his roles in Euphoria, White Lotus, You and Fargo season 5. Gage also went viral in 2020 after he shared a clip from an online audition during which the director insulted his living conditions.
“These poor people live in these tiny apartments. I’m looking at his background and he’s got his TV,” the director, who turned out to be Tristram Shapeero, is heard saying in the clip. Gage posted the clip on his socials with the caption: ““psa if you’re a sht talking director make sure to mute ur sht on zoom mtgings.”
But back to Smile. The original film followed Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), who witnesses a traumatic event involving a patient and is subsequently followed by something supernatural that possesses people around her, making them smile creepily. While Smile offered some gnarly imagery and effective jump scares, the film also explored mental health, an aspect that was both praised and criticised. The ending of the film left things just open enough for a sequel to mine the same premise and perhaps dig even deeper into the entity’s background.
Not too shabby for a film that was originally only meant to be released on Paramount+. The film ended up grossing $217 million during its theatrical run and the success bagged Finn a long-term deal with Paramount. Smile 2 is the first film that Finn will direct under that deal.
Smile 2 is currently slated for release on 18th October, 2024.
