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The trailer for Paramount‘s Smile 2 came as a surprise this morning during the studio’s session at CinemaCon.
Though not introduced, when the images first hit the screen, it was easy to assume Paramount was distributing a Lady Gaga concert movie (it truly felt that way). But as it continued, it was clear Naomi Scott was playing a pop star who encounters a number of terrorizing smiling fans and associates (Lukas Gage) in the Parker Finn directed and written sequel to the $217M-plus global grossing 2022 horror hit.
Gags were aplenty this AM from Paramount CEO Brian Robbins and Domestic Distribution President Chris Aronson who showed up dressed as a gladiator and they continued after they dropped the trailer. Following its reveal, Aronson called out to circuit heads Sean Gamble of Cinemark, Eduardo Acuna of Regal and Adam Aron of AMC who individually were projected on screen smiling (get the stunt?).
When it came to Aron, Aronson joked, “Adam, it looks like a concert movie we’re going to distribute!” as smiling freaky person sat behind Aron at Caesars Palace Colosseum Theatre. The quip was in reference to the major studios’ envy –and snark– over No. 1 exhibitor AMC getting into the theatrical distribution business with Taylor Swift: Eras Tour (Q4 2023’s highest grossing movie with over $180M stateside) and Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce.
Robbins then jumped in to tease Aron: “Adam, did you wet your pants?”
Smile 2 comes out on Oct. 18. The first film was greenlit and destined to drop on Paramount+ before Robbins changed its course and sent it to movie theaters after it tested through the roof.