‘Smile’ Prequel Comic Officially Announced With First Look Images

Parker Finn’s Smile was one of the biggest horror hits of 2022, resulting in the bigger and even wilder sequel Smile 2 in 2024, but the terror isn’t over quite yet, as a new prequel story has officially been confirmed. What might come as a surprise to fans, though, is that rather than the next adventure being a live-action movie, we can expect Smile: For the Camera to jump to the pages of a comic book. Smile: For the Camera #1 is set to hit shelves on February 18, 2026 from IDW Dark, and comes from writer Hanna Rose May with art by Miriana Puglia and colors by Dearbhla Kelly.

News of the prequel was revealed by Entertainment Weekly, which also shared some first-look photos and got the inside scoop on what to expect from the new story from May. According to the writer, the new story will pivot from Smile 2‘s exploration of the music world and will unfold in the high-fashion industry, taking place before the events of both films. May teased of the story:

“It’s no secret that the fashion industry has its own monsters. They’re just not supernatural … So that’s what excited me the most. This allows us to deal with those monsters but with an entity being the main setting.”

You can check out the cover of Smile: For the Camera below and see the rest of the previews at Entertainment Weekly.

What Else Can ‘Smile’ Fans Expect in the Future?

Smile: For the Camera #1 hits shelves February 2026.

IDW Dark / Entertainment Weekly

It’s difficult to overstate what a surprising success the Smile franchise has been, given that the debut movie was originally developed as a Paramount+ original during the Covid pandemic, only for positive reactions to the movie resulting in the studio unleashing it in theaters. A hit with both audiences and critics alike, a follow-up was quickly announced and Smile 2 hit theaters just two years later, taking in $138.1 million worldwide and sitting at 86% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

This prequel likely isn’t the only new adventure on the horizon, as Finn, who was involved in the development of Smile: For the Camera, shared with Screen Rant back in October 2024:

“I do think that there are so many exciting places that Smile could go. For me, it’s still always about wanting to do something thematically rich that’s centered on character stories. I love where this film goes, and right now I’m excited for audiences to see Smile 2. Hopefully, if they embrace it, I think that there could be a really interesting future for Smile.”

With a Smile 3 not yet officially announced, this new prequel might be designed to satiate fans as they wait for updates. Finn was previously announced to be developing a new take on the 1981 cult-classic Possession, with Robert Pattinson on board to both star and produce, so it’s possible his focus has been on that project as opposed to the next live-action chapter of the saga.