The Five Nights at Freddy’s movie has taken a long time to come together, but it finally came to fruition thanks in large part to the efforts of indie writer-director Emma Tammi, who worked closely with franchise creator Scott Cawthon to bring the beloved video game franchise to the big screen (and to the Peacock streaming service). Though, as with all things, it took some effort to adapt nearly a decade of lore and turn the heavy subject matter of these games into a family-friendly PG-13 movie.
The Five Nights at Freddy’s movie has been in the works nearly since the first game, in which you play a security guard who must survive a night in a decrepit Chuck E Cheese knock-off where the animatronics try to eat you, came out way back in 2014. Since then, the franchise has grown massively, both in popularity and in scope, and the task of adapting the games to film has become an increasingly tough challenge. But Tammi said that Cawthon’s involvement–he co-wrote the film–was key.
“It was a really great collaboration and continues to be,” Tammi told GameSpot. “I think, at times we’re coming from different perspectives, and have different views on things. And talking it through, we always reach the solution that feels right for the story. But it’s the reason I think that he wanted me involved. It’s the reason why I was so excited to have him involved, too. Both of those perspectives are really helpful. And we’re coming from different places, but with the same intent of making the best movie.”