Smile was a smash hit upon release in 2022, earning a stellar $217 million at the global box office. The intense horror feature quickly spawned a sequel, 2024’s Smile 2, which bucked the trend of lackluster follow-ups and proved just as terrifying as the first film. Even with a slightly higher budget, Smile 2 earned a respectable $138 million worldwide. Since the release of the sequel, a third film in the horror franchise has been said to be in development. However, while fans wait for the next movie, the franchise is expanding in a different direction.
Courtesy of IDW Publishing (via Dread Central), Smile fans are getting a prequel comic book series. Smile: For the Camera was first announced a few months ago, with genre fans treated to a tease of what to expect from the comics. The first issue is now available for pre-sale through Third Eye Comics, with its release expected on February 18. There are several variant covers to choose from, and some are already sold out. The first issue comes with a synopsis that reads:
Pose. Vogue. Couture. Gore. It’s Fashion Month 2005. Five young international models have just landed in New York City, ready to tackle four grueling weeks of runways, press, and cameras as they try to make it big. The girls become fast friends…until one seems to crack under the pressure. Little does everyone know that she is afflicted by the entity, a being bent on destruction and pain as it seeks to destroy lives through its horrific visions. Dive into this never-before-seen story of betrayal and reality bending, based on the critically-acclaimed SMILE film franchise from Parker Finn, brought to you by horror star Hannah Rose May (The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Rogues’ Gallery) and Miriana Puglia (Disney Villains: Cruella de Vil, Disney Villains: Maleficent) as we follow these models’ glamorous, gory descent into insanity. Get ready to smile like you mean it.
Smile: For the Camera is planned as a five-issue miniseries, with monthly installments. With the first issue already selling out some variant covers, the prequel comic’s success could see more Smile comics in the future, helping to continue the franchise in a unique way. Still, as much demand as there seems to be for the comic, many are still eager for Smile 3.
When Can Fans Expect To See ‘Smile 3’?
After the runaway success of the Smile films, a third movie seems like a foregone conclusion. The next sequel was announced as in development in late 2024, but we haven’t seen any significant public updates to this point. As far as fans know, Smile 3 is still being written, with its release possibly years away. If an official production start or casting news hits soon, the next sequel in the horror franchise may finally be gaining some much-needed momentum, but that remains to be seen. It seems like Smile 3 might be struggling to see the light of day, but the boost from the For the Camera comics could be the perfect way to kick the next installment into high gear.
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