New Line Eyes Michiel Blanchart to Direct Final Destination Sequel

New Line Cinema is lining up Belgian filmmaker Michiel Blanchart to direct the next installment in the Final Destination franchise, people familiar with the search said, with the studio moving quickly to capitalize on the renewed series momentum after 2025's Final Destination Bloodlines. No formal offer has been made, these people added, but Blanchart emerged as the top candidate following a brief but intense director search. He would make his English-language feature debut if hired.

Bloodlines, the first Final Destination film in 14 years, opened at No. 1 globally and became the highest-grossing entry in the 25-year franchise, a performance that prompted New Line to greenlight another sequel. The new film is expected to be written by Lori Evans Taylor, who co-wrote Bloodlines with Gary Busick, and will reassemble much of the production team that shepherded the reboot. Producers Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor are set to return, along with Jon Watts, Dianne McGunigle and Toby Emmerich; Warren Zide is attached as executive producer. A release date has not been announced.

Blanchart is best known in Europe for his 2024 feature Night Call, a high-octane crime thriller that...