Scott Cawthon is not involved in the writing of Five Nights at Freddy’s 3.

We’ve finally got the scoop on who will be penning the script for Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, the next installment in the chilling movie series based on the beloved horror game franchise. In a twist, it won’t be series creator Scott Cawthon taking the reins this time.

On June 26, it was announced that Gary Dauberman will be the one writing the script for the third film. Dauberman has a solid background in horror, having crafted scripts for the Annabelle series and the It films. Recently, he’s also ventured into video game adaptations, working on the upcoming Until Dawn movie and consulting on the story for this year’s Street Fighter film.

While it’s intriguing to see an experienced horror writer at the helm, it’s notable that Cawthon, who has been integral to the franchise since its inception in 2014, isn’t writing this one. He co-wrote the first film and was the sole writer for its sequel. For Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, he will still be involved as a producer and will receive credit.

As of now, details about the plot for the third movie remain under wraps, and it’s unclear whether Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, and other cast members from the second film will reprise their roles. Additionally, there’s no release date set for Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 on Universal Pictures’ upcoming schedule. However, the hiring of a writer and the expectation that Emma Tammi will return as director suggest that production is on the horizon.

It’s no surprise that Universal Pictures and Blumhouse are keen to keep the Five Nights at Freddy’s film franchise alive, given the box office success of the previous films. However, they haven’t received the best critical reception. Some reviews have pointed out that the story can be confusing for those not already familiar with the series. Perhaps bringing in a new writer will help clarify the narrative.