Though the new trailer forFive Nights at Freddy’s 2provided a first look at the upcoming sequel, the inclusion of one tongue-in-cheek reference may have already hinted at the second game’s influence on its live-action adaptation. Although the firstFive Nights at Freddy’sfilm was met with a mixed reception, the sequel could offer the franchise another chance to join the growing number of successful game adaptations, likeA Minecraft Movie,Fallout, andThe Super Mario Bros. Movie. With this in mind,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2could solve the first movie’s issuesby staying true to the second game’s story and gameplay.
Back in 2018, the original developer behindFive Nights at Freddy’s, Scott Cawthon, stated via a Steam post that any prospective sequels would follow the same order as the franchise’s first three games. Thanks to its official trailer,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2has proven as much, showcasing its live-action versions of the game’s “new” animatronics, like Marionette, Balloon Boy, and Mangle. However, this same trailer may have also revealed how faithful the movie will be to the second game after briefly teasing the “Freddy Mask,” a core mechanic inFive Nights at Freddy’s 2that could be one of several set to appear.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’s Gameplay Mechanics Might Have Influenced Its Movie
Even thoughFive Nights at Freddy’s 2may have made one mistakealready, the sequel’s trailer appears to reflect a closer attention to detail and stronger influences from the games this time around. For instance,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’s use of the Freddy Mask to “hide” from certain animatronics could be a key plot point in the film, since Mike Schmidt, played again by Josh Hutcherson, wore it in the trailer. Despite this mechanic potentially presenting a challenge to the movie’s story and filming, its inclusion could be a positive sign thatFive Nights at Freddy’s 2will be as faithful when adapting other gameplay elements.
Marionette’s Music Box Could Factor Into Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Another ofFive Nights at Freddy’s 2’s central mechanics involved winding a music box to prevent Marionette’s attacks. As arguably the most divisive feature among players due to its added difficulty and lore implications, the upcoming film would have faced similar challenges seen with the mask when adapting the music box mechanic. However, with Marionette appearing to be the film’s main antagonist alongsideMatthew Lilliard’s supposed return as Springtrap,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2has hinted it will include the music box mechanic as the trailer first opens playing its song and only stops to tease Marionette’s introduction.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’s Flashlight Could Play Several Different Roles
Unlike the first game,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2substitutes draining “power” for a flashlight’s batteries, meaning it could be the easiest mechanic for the film to adapt, but also the easiest to miss, as dying flashlights are an overused horror trope. But given that animatronics like Balloon Boy, Mangle, and Foxy all feature in its trailer,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2can amp up the horroror offer levity by embracing this particular mechanic. For example, characters could use flashing lights to escape animatronic confrontations, or the movie could even indulge in a bit of fan service by referencing Piemation’s battery-stealing Balloon Boy parody.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Has Even Paid Homage To Its Minigames
The introduction of hidden minigames inFive Nights at Freddy’s 2may have been a first for the series, but it quickly became a long-standing feature in future games that helped reveal various backstories for players. Though this gameplay wouldn’t fit into a film, a “FazTalker"toy could beFive Nights at Freddy’s 2’s potential workaround, with Abby, Piper Rubio’s character, talking to this Speak & Spell-like device that uses a digitized voice from the minigames. So, while the minigames themselves might not factor intoFive Nights at Freddy’s 2’s story, these references suggest the upcoming film has done its due diligence with the series' games.
