After years of fan speculation, false starts, and cryptic teases, Happy Death Day 3 is officially moving forward.
Yes, really. Director Christopher Landon and franchise star Jessica Rothe confirmed the news during a recent American Cinematheque screening, sending horror-comedy fans into a loop of excitement.
Here’s a full breakdown of what we know so far about the long-awaited threequel, tentatively titled Happy Death Day to Us.
The Confirmation We’ve Been Waiting For
Jessica Rothe took the stage and declared it herself: “The third movie is moving forward.”
Landon echoed the sentiment, confirming this is the first genuine greenlight the project has received since Happy Death Day 2U hit cinemas back in 2019.
While Universal and Blumhouse previously flirted with the idea of turning it into a miniseries for Peacock according to Bloody Disgusting, that plan was quietly shelved. What’s on the table now is a full-blown theatrical continuation.
Why the Delay?
Despite solid box office returns and a cult following, the second instalment didn’t match the financial success of the first.
That, combined with scheduling shifts and shifting studio priorities, left the third film in limbo.
Landon, in interviews promoting his new thriller Drop, revealed that renewed conversations with Blumhouse and producer Jason Blum finally got things back on track.
Interestingly, the six-year gap may actually benefit the story. As Landon explained, the third film’s premise works better with time having passed: “It’s not part of the first two movies’ time loop.”
A New Loop (Or Not?)
That last point is big. Happy Death Day 3 won’t just reset the same gimmick.
Landon confirmed that the third movie will depart from the repeating-day premise that defined the first two.
This gives the story a fresh angle and opens the door for a new kind of horror-sci-fi blend.
The post-credits scene from Happy Death Day 2U teased this direction.
In it, the government agency DARPA enlists Tree and her friends to further study the time loop tech, with Danielle as a test subject.
That thread—abandoned until now—could finally become the spine of the story.
Cast & Title: Who’s Returning and What’s It Called?
Jessica Rothe is in. Landon is directing. Rachel Matthews (Danielle) may also return, given her character’s involvement in the DARPA subplot.
The working title, according to reports from 2020 and reaffirmed in 2025 by Inverse and Bloody Disgusting, is Happy Death Day to Us.
This new title fits a story involving multiple people stuck in an experiment, or perhaps a shared time disruption.
It also marks a tonal shift—leaning deeper into group dynamics and possibly escalating into something bigger and weirder.
Possible Release Date
While nothing is officially locked in, speculation is already swirling. The franchise likes symbolic dates.
The original film dropped on Friday the 13th in October 2017. The sequel followed in February 2019.
February 13, 2026, is the next Friday the 13th—and conveniently marks the seven-year anniversary of Happy Death Day 2U.
That speculation was first floated by MovieWeb and echoed across fan forums, and if production begins soon, the timeline remains plausible.
What Fans Are Saying
Across social media and Reddit threads, fan responses have been overwhelmingly positive.
There’s clear appetite for a new instalment, especially with the promise of a different narrative structure.
Many are also curious about the unresolved plot threads involving Ryan’s duplicate, the quantum reactor, and Tree’s new role within a government experiment.
And yes, people really want Babyface back.
What This Means for the Franchise
Happy Death Day 3 isn’t just a continuation—it’s a second wind. With Jessica Rothe and Christopher Landon at the helm, and a concept that breaks free from the original time loop formula, the franchise could evolve from cult favourite to sci-fi horror staple.
One thing’s clear: Tree’s not done yet. And neither are we.
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