The script for "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie has been scrapped, but a new one is in the works

It wasn't that long ago that fans learned that the man who brought us favorites like Gremlins and The Goonies, Chris Columbus, would be directing the feature adaptation of hit video game Five Nights at Freddy's for Blumhouse. Now, it appears that script has been scrapped...

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...Variety is repoting that the script, which had been green-lit by both Columbus and Jason Blum, has been tossed out by game creator Scott Cawthon, who decided to scrap it because it didn't "match his vision for the movie adaptation".  

The film has been in the works since 2015, but was acquired by Blumhouse in 2017. Things appeared to be going well, but Cawthon recently took to forums to update fans on the project with this:

OK guys, I had a script written; Jason liked it, and Chris Columbus liked it too, but I tossed it...I had a different idea for it, one that I liked better. I take responsibility for this delay; it’s my fault...I’m determined to find the right story...I’m sticking to what I’ve always said, either the right movie gets made or no movie gets made. I hate delaying a project that’s already seen so many delays, but I have to go with my instincts on what I think will be exciting and interesting, and what I think the fanbase will really want to see. If that means that I have to start over ten more times, then that’s what I’m going to do. The good thing is that each attempt gets better and better, in my opinion. So, despite the delays, it’s going in the right direction.”

Originally released in 2014, the Five Nights at Freddy's first game is centered around a Chuck E Cheese style restaurant, where the player takes on the role of a nighttime security guard who must fight for his survival after the various animatronic puppets come to life and seek to wreak havoc and murder. 

The franchise went on to see five sequels plus a few spinoffs, multiple novel adaptations, and of course,  a guidebook. With such a huge fanbase, there will no doubt be some disappointment among fans who were hoping for the adaptation sooner rather than later. With that being said, its at least reassuring to know that Cawthon is doing his best to make sure the film is as good as it can be. 

By Matt Konopka