Halloween is just around the corner. With spooky setups coming in, smiles are also going to be spread around. Not the adorable ones, but the ones that can drive you demonic and crazy.
With Paramount+ always learning ways to surprise their audiences and being a part of the Smile franchise they have finally decided to renew the movie for a sequel. Along with that, they have also set final dates for the adaptation of Mean Girls which will now release on January 12, 2024.
The musical adaptation has come along after the success of the 2004 film and the 2018 Broadway musical. Tina Fey announced this first in 2020 and spoke to People extensively on the same. She said, “I’m very excited to bring Mean Girls back to the big screen, “It’s been incredibly gratifying to see how much the movie and the musical have meant to audiences. I’ve spent 16 years with these characters now. They are my Marvel Universe, and I love them dearly.”
The film stars prominent names like Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spvey, and Renee Rap. The theatrical return of the movie is after two decades and Paramount+ being the official streamer, just adds the cherry on the cake.
The platform has also made many changes to the 2024 lineup with Smile 2 returning to the streamer only in Halloween 2024 on October 18, 2023. Smile has been one of the most loved movies on screen and profitable too, earning $216 million globally with a budget of just $17 million. It created a cult of the director Parker Finn so he was equally thrilled when the franchise was renewed.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Finn mentions, “The audience was screaming at the screen, so it was very clear that the communal environment and nature of it was incredible, and to Paramount’s credit, they recognized that, and they got behind the film in such an amazing way.”
Paramount CEO Brian Robbins tells The Hollywood Reporter “Smile’s breakthrough success is a testament to Parker’s unique and fresh filmmaking, and we are thrilled that he will make Paramount his home.”
The movie’s offbeat storyline and cult classic appeal make it a hit amongst audiences and the way it captures trauma has gotten over 6.5/10 IMDb ratings. Hollywood Reporter also mentions “Finn made his feature directorial debut with Smile, which he adapted from his 2020 short film, Laura Hasn’t Slept. It starred Caitlin Stasey and Lew Temple, and was an official selection of SXSW 2020, where it was awarded a special jury recognition.”
But Smile 2 is not the only big change for Paramount+, we are also going to see Tiger’s Apprentice the horror movie that was initially a theatrical release is now only streamed on Paramount+ Based on a fantasy novel by Laurence Yep it was first written in 2003 and will now be an action-adventure film in 2024. The voice artist casting has been commendable and sees prominent names like, Henry Golding, Sandra Oh, and Michelle Yeoh.
Apart from this Bob Marley: One Love has also been pushed to February 14, 2024, a month later than the previously decided date. This feature film will star Kingsley Ben-Adir as the late music legend.