Christopher Landon and Jessica Rothe Finalized Sequel Story
The creative duo has completed the story development for Happy Death Day 3, pending studio approval.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Horror
Live Poll
If a third Happy Death Day movie is produced, would you plan to watch it?
Director Christopher Landon and star Jessica Rothe have finished the story outline for the third installment of the Happy Death Day franchise. The project remains stalled pending formal production and financial approval from the studio.
Why it matters
The sequel has faced significant delays since 2020 due to studio hesitation following the box office decline between the first and second films. Landon and Rothe continue to advocate for the project to reach production.
The original Happy Death Day earned $125 million against a $4.8 million budget, while the sequel grossed $64.6 million against a $9 million production cost.
The players
Christopher Landon
He is a filmmaker known for his work in the horror and thriller genres including the Happy Death Day franchise.
Jessica Rothe
She is an actress who starred in the films Imposters, River, and Beware Boiúna in 2026.
The details
Christopher Landon and Jessica Rothe met over coffee to map out the narrative for the third entry. The pair is currently awaiting the necessary financial backing from the studio to move forward with the production.
Timeline
The original Happy Death Day was released in 2017.
Happy Death Day 2U arrived in theaters in 2019.
Development for the third film first began in 2020.
Jessica Rothe held a Reddit AMA in late September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The production pause reflects the industry-wide challenge of maintaining financial momentum across horror sequel installments. This case highlights how studios balance franchise legacy against the diminishing returns often seen when expanding low-budget genre hits.
Fans currently have no theatrical release date for the film as it remains in development limbo. Access to the movie depends on the studio granting formal production approval to transition the story from paper to the screen.
The takeaway
The continued advocacy by the creative team shows that story development is often the first step in reviving dormant franchises. Fans of horror sequels should monitor studio updates as the only definitive indicator of a project moving toward production.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in the genre, visit the /entertainment/film/horror/ section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Movieweb.
Live Poll
If a third Happy Death Day movie is produced, would you plan to watch it?
