The development ofTerrifier 4is clarified by one of the franchise’s main players.Terrifier 3is releasingin theaters soon, continuing Damien Leone’s slasher horror franchise, but this time in a Christmas setting. The movie stars David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, with a supporting cast that includes Lauren LaVera, Jason Patric, Daniel Roebuck, Samantha Scaffidi, Bryce Johnson, Bradley Stryker, Charlotte McKee, and Elliot Fullam. It is set for release on October 11, right in the middle of the Halloween season.
In an exclusive interview withScreen Rant, Thornton discusses the development ofTerrifier 4. Speaking about writer-director Leone’s progress onTerrifier 4, Thornton notes that “he hasn’t actually started writing the script.” Thornton clarifies though thatLeone “has a lot of ideas” for whatTerrifier 4could look like. The actor also notes that he and Leone had worked together on how they wanted Art the Clown’s arc to go. As a result, Thornton says “who knows how many films that’s going to take to get to that point.” Check out the full quote from Thornton below:
Oh, I know he hasn’t actually started writing the script, per se, but he has definitely written down ideas. He definitely has a lot of ideas, and I know this whole entire time, even before he wrote part 2, we had come up together with where we want to take it for a good ending, we think, for this character.
So, I know that’s something he’s always had in the back of his mind, so he knows where he’s building to right now, which is kind of fun. So, who knows how many films that’s going to take to get to that point. But I know that he at least has one, possibly two, more in him, but that’s all up to him.
What This Update Means For Terrifier 4
Terrifier 4 Was Already Seemingly Confirmed
Thornton’s update comes a little over a week after the creation ofTerrifier 4was reportedly confirmed. During a Q & A atTerrifier’s film festival premiere,Leone reportedly saidTerrifier 4was in the works. This was noted by several commenters online, but was never publicly confirmed by Leone or anyone else behind theTerrifierfranchise. So, whileTerrifier 4does seem likely to happen, its future hangs in the balance.
The First Movie Featuring Art The Clown Explained (It Wasn’t Terrifier)
Art the Clown has become a horror icon and has his own horror series with Terrifier, but The 9th Circle short from 2008 was his first appearance.
Given this supposed confirmation, however, Thornton’s update aboutTerrifier 4holds even more weight. If the actor both knows what the ending for Art the Clown looks like and thinks that Leone has one or even two moreTerrifiermovies in him, it means that the upcomingTerrifier 3does not come to that agreed-upon ending. This lack of finality will leave theTerrifierfranchise more room to grow as it potentially expands beyondTerrifier 3. The follow-up may still not be formally confirmed, but Thornton’s statement is good evidence for it happening.
What Needs To Happen For Terrifier 4 To Happen
Terrifier 3 Needs To Do Well
As discussions continue aroundTerrifier 4, I cannot help but note that there is an element of Leone and Thornton getting ahead of themselves. The publicity forTerrifier 3has been more widespread than for the first two movies, which certainly makes the threequel’s success more likely. However, the film still has not been released, soTerrifier 3will need time to prove its success beforeTerrifier 4will be formally confirmed. Based onTerrifier 2’s box office success, I think it will tackle this feat, but only time will tell.
Terrifier
Created by Damien Leone, Terrifier is a horror multimedia franchise that centers around the sadistic Art the Clown, a serial killer who appears on Halloween night to stalk partygoers. The series is known for being one of the most shocking in the slasher genre, with over-the-top kills and a darkly comedic tone. Art the Clown’s first appearance was in a horror anthology film, All Hallows' Eve.
