Paramount Pictures has launched the first official trailer for Parker Finn's eagerly awaited Smile 2, a sequel to his 2022 psychological supernatural horror smash hit that was a critical and commercial success globally back in 2022.
The upcoming follow-up stars Naomi Scott (Power Rangers; Aladdin) as global pop sensation Skye Riley. who before embarking on her new world tour, "begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control."
In addition to Scott, the supporting cast features Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married, Poltergeist), Kyle Gallner (American Sniper, Jennifer's Body), Lukas Gage (Euphoria, The White Lotus), Miles Gutierrez-Riley (The Wilds, American Gigolo), Peter Jacobson (House, Colony), Raúl Castillo (Looking, Army of the Dead), Dylan Gelula (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, First Girl I Loved), and Ray Nicholson (Promising Young Woman, Panic).
With Kyle Gallner reprising his role as Joel, it sounds like the sequel will pick up almost immediately after the events of the previous installment with Joel having inherited the curse from Rose (Sosie Bacon) during the film's climax and now passing it on to someone else. Whether that means he'll meet a gruesome end remains to be seen, but based on the teaser, it's not looking particularly great for the detective.
In case you needed a refresher, the film's monster is a malevolent, supernatural entity that feeds on trauma and despair. It transfers from one person to another through a chain of horrific events. After witnessing someone commit suicide while wearing a sinister smile, the cursed individual becomes haunted by terrifying hallucinations of smiling figures. The entity drives its victims to madness, ultimately forcing them to kill themselves in front of a witness, thus continuing the cycle.
Considering that Smile grossed over $218.5 million worldwide ($105.9M domestic; $112.6M foreign) on an estimated $17 million production budget, the studio is likely feeling extremely bullish on the sequel's prospects to become a repeat success.
Along with the trailer, Paramount has released a new single from the movie's pop star Skye Riley, titled "Blood on White Satin," which is performed by Naomi Scott. There's also an Instagram page for fans to follow: @SkyeRileyNation.
Smile 2 hits theaters on October 18!
Watch the official trailer below:
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.