The Final Destination franchise is sharpening its blades once again, and this time, a new filmmaker is stepping into the death trap. Belgian director Michiel Blanchart has been selected to helm the next instalment in the long-running horror series, marking his English-language debut and sending shockwaves through both horror fans and industry insiders.
The appointment follows the massive success of Final Destination: Bloodlines, which opened in May to record-breaking numbers. The film not only dominated the box office worldwide, grossing over $314.6 million, but also became the highest-grossing entry in the 25-year-old franchise. With $138.1 million earned domestically and more international markets still awaiting release, the sixth chapter proved that audiences still have an insatiable appetite for the franchise’s uniquely gruesome brand of fate-driven terror.
Blanchart, despite being relatively new to mainstream audiences, has already made waves in the film world. His short You’re Dead, Hélène earned a spot on the 2023 Oscars shortlist and is being adapted into an English-language feature with Sam Raimi producing. He further cemented his reputation with his feature debut Night Call, a 2024 crime thriller that won big at Belgium’s Magritte Awards, securing ten trophies including best film, best director and best screenplay. His mix of stylish tension and sharp social commentary made him a natural fit for a franchise that thrives on reinvention while keeping its darkly ironic tone.
Long-time Final Destination producer Craig Perry will return, joined by Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Jon Watts, Dianne McGunigle, Toby Emmerich and executive producer Warren Zide. Lori Evans Taylor, who co-wrote Bloodlines with Gary Busick, is also back to pen the script.
The series has always capitalised on one of horror’s most chilling concepts: no one escapes death. Each film revolves around survivors who dodge an initial catastrophe, only for death to reclaim them in increasingly elaborate ways. With more than $1 billion grossed worldwide, it stands as New Line’s third-biggest horror franchise, behind only The Conjuring and It.
For fans, the announcement raises the question of how Blanchart will push the franchise forward after Bloodlines revitalised the brand. Given his track record of blending genre thrills with emotional weight, expectations are high that he will breathe fresh life into death’s inevitable grip.
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