Orphan 3 is confirmed, with Isabelle Fuhrman as (Spoiler) Cinemax
In a viral image that is repeated in many horror groups on social media, Isabelle Fuhrman, the star of the film “Orphan”, is seen in a DVD store. Fuhrman makes a perplexed face — open-mouthed in true Kristen Stewart fashion — at the fact that the DVD of “Orphan” she’s holding is one of the classic films that happens to be massively discounted at the same store. Some posts were accompanied by captions expected to go viral, like “When you find out you’re a horror classic.”
While it’s not clear whether “Orphan” is truly a classic film, or even a somewhat disappointing sequel, it is, in the opinion of many horror fans, one of the most significant – and of course also surprising – films of the 2000s.. As Therefore, Lionsgate’s announcement that the third film is in the works is far from unexpected.
Here’s everything we know about “Orphan 3,” including the most crucial fact: Esther is back.
Orpan (2009) – More than a film with twists and turns
2009’s “Orphan” is one of those films that you have to approach with as little knowledge as possible, especially regarding the fact that there is a particular and surprising twist in the film.
Nevertheless, we will tell you a little about the film, because after all, about 15 years have passed since it hit the screens and achieved great success with almost 78 million dollars worldwide. Critics loved it too, at least compared to the horror films butchered one after the other as if they were slasher characters, with 60% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were also pleased with the film, with a rating of 7.0 out of 10 on IMDB, an unusual rating for a horror film.
“Orphan” was directed by Spaniard Jaume Collet-Serra (the remake of “House of Wax”, “Jungle Cruise” and several routine action thrillers when Liam Neeson plays the same role), according to a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson, from a story by Alex Mace. The protagonists are Kate (the horror idol Vera Farmiga, Lorraine Warren in the cinematic universe of “The Conjuring” and, in fact, a very good rock singer) and John (Peter Sarsgaard, “The Skelton Key”, “The Walking Dead”, “Boys Don’t Cry”), who experience a silent birth. They decide to add to their family, which includes two children, also a 9-year-old Russian girl named Esther (Fuhrman, “The Hunger Games,” “Escape Room: Tournament of Champions”).
Soon, strange things start happening around Esther, like the mysterious fall of a girl who bullied her or the brutal murder of the nurse who ran Esther’s orphanage. The parents begin to wildly suspect that “there is something wrong with Esther” when she begins to behave like a mature woman for her age and tries, for example, to seduce her husband. The film builds tension gradually, thanks to the excellent performances of the cast, led by Fuhrman, until the moment of discovery. We won’t talk about the twist here and find out what’s wrong with Esther, but it’s excellent.
Orphan: First Kill (2022) – The prequel that didn’t contribute too much
“Orphan: First Kill” faced a complex task: to prove that the first “Orphan” is more than a movie with a twist. It arrived in 2022, 13 years after the first film, and was a prequel: a film created after a specific work but depicting events that occurred before those expressed in that work.
It’s almost impossible to refer to the plot of “Orphan: First Kill” without giving away the twist from the first film, but generally speaking, we’ll mention that it presents the story of Esther, or whoever she is (oops!), before she arrives at the orphanage. The film shows how Eshter became who she is and what she does to a family who thought she was someone else. Of course, without giving too much away, we note that presenting Isabelle Fuhrman at such an age was a complex task, accomplished using makeup, perspective photography and duplication, but without computer effects.
According to reports, one of the reasons for producing the sequel is a real and quite similar case that happened in real life a few years earlier, and which received significant attention in the news (including references to the apparent resemblance to the film “Orphan” and also to a six-part documentary series called “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks”).
Fuhrman said she received numerous messages about the obvious similarity, leading her to inquire about a follow-up from the creators. Then she realized there was already a script. Fuhrman wanted to act as producer, at most with a guest appearance, while another actress would play the role of Esther. We believe she was also one of the uncredited screenwriters.
“Orphan: First Kill” was directed by William Burnett Bell, whose resume mainly includes horror films: “The Boy” films about the creepy doll named Brahms, “Separation,” “The Devil Inside” and much more. Although the cast includes names like Julia Stiles and Rossif Sutherland, who get the job done, it falls short of its predecessor in almost every aspect. It received more negative reviews from viewers (5.9 rating on IMDB) and also grossed less at the box office (around $37 million), but critics liked it for the most part, with 70% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
What do we know about Orphan 3?
The main thing is that these figures, the answer to the question will there be being an “orphan 3” seemed positive from the start.
So we got the green light, but the hidden is still much more than the visible when it comes to “Orphan 3”. We’re still determining when the story will take place, but there’s already some encouraging news.
Orphan 3 Cast
Like “Orphan: First Kill,” William Brent Bell will be behind the camera and David Cogshall will write the screenplay. The most significant news is that Esther will once again be played by Isabelle Fuhrman, who reprises the role that established her as a legitimate horror actress – although it remains unclear which version of Esther she will unveil, and what effort will be required for the talented 27-year-old actress to play a… A… another girl.
Dark Castle Entertainment will produce the film while Lionsgate will distribute it. “Dark Castle is excited to announce another terrifying chapter in the Orphan saga,” read a statement released by the company. With the past success of the first two films and another exciting storyline, we are confident that “Orphan 3” will be a must-see film for both current fans of the franchise and new fans alike.
Orphan 3 release date
We don’t yet know when “Orphan 3” will be released, but we can assume that it won’t happen before 2026.
You’ll probably have to wait a long time for the “Orphan 3” trailer, but maybe in 2025 we’ll get a trailer or something.
Should we wait for it? While I’m skeptical of sequels, prequels and anything beyond that, films like “Smile 2,” which is in theaters now, show that every once in a while you manage to innovate and create a film that surpasses its predecessor. Who knows, maybe in the case of “Orphan 3” we will have a film that better explains why the franchise can be defined as a “horror classic”, even if Isabelle Fuhrman herself will be shocked by this definition.
