Belgian filmmaker Michiel Blanchart has been chosen to direct the next installment in the Final Destination franchise, titled Final Destination: Bloodlines. The previous film, directed by Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky, explored the origins of Death’s twisted sense of justice. Its story follows college student Stefanie, who is haunted by violent recurring nightmares and returns home to find the one person who can help break the deadly cycle threatening her family.
The screenplay for Bloodlines was written by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor, with the story credited to Busick, Taylor, and Jon Watts. The film opened to a $51 million domestic debut, marking the best opening weekend in the franchise’s history. It eventually became the highest-grossing film in the series, earning $286 million globally.
Overall, the Final Destination series has grossed over $983 million worldwide, making it New Line’s third-biggest horror franchise after The Conjuring Universe ($2.3 billion) and the It movies ($1.2 billion). Lori Evans Taylor, co-writer of Bloodlines, is penning the new script. Producer Stewart Craig Perry and franchise veteran Sheila Hanahan Taylor are returning, alongside Jon Watts, his wife Dianne McGunigle, and Toby Emmerich. Warren Zide will serve as executive producer.
Blanchart made his feature debut with Night Call (Le nuit se traine), a 2024 action-crime thriller praised for its Collateral-like style and social commentary. The film dominated Belgium’s Academy Awards and Magritte Awards earlier this year, earning ten nominations and winning Best Film, Best First Feature, Best Screenplay, and Best Director for Blanchart.
