Will There Be A 'Terrifier 4'? How A Lawsuit Threatens Art The Clown's Future
The Terrifier franchise exploded into mainstream pop culture when Terrifier 2 (2022) stirred interest in moviegoers for a macabre reason. Reports began to surface of emergency services responding to theaters due to Terrifier 2 viewers passing out or vomiting during the movie. A horror movie rarely garners such a physical response, but the twisted nature of Terrifier 2 was just what hardcore horror fans were looking for.
Terrifier 2 was bigger and more ambitious than the first Terrifier (2018), giving the franchise the boost it needed to secure Terrifier 3 (2024). Terrifier 3 put a Yuletide twist on Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton), leaving fans excited for more, especially since talk arose of a New Year’s-themed Terrifier 4 (2027). Now, though, the future of Terrifier is uncertain as the franchise navigates a lawsuit.
Why The 'Terrifier' Franchise Is Facing A Lawsuit
To understand the Terrifier lawsuit, we need to go back to the beginning. The franchise started with filmmaker Damien Leone, who debuted his terrifying character, Art the Clown (Mike Giannelli), in his short horror film, The 9th Circle (2008). He went on to give Art his own short film, Terrifier (2011). Art the Clown began gaining traction, and producer Jesse Baget reached out to Leone to include The 9th Circle and Terrifier in the horror anthology film All Hallows’ Eve (2013). Ruthless Pictures produced the anthology film, though the production company Dark Age Cinema would take over production of the first Terrifier feature film and its sequels.
The lawsuit arose because Ruthless Pictures now claims that it maintained ownership of Terrifier and Art the Clown following a series of agreements Leone signed for All Hallows’ Eve. According to Ruthless Pictures, it obtained the franchise rights for $5,000. Leone then requested permission to produce Terrifier (2018) while still acknowledging the company’s ownership rights, which Ruthless Pictures allowed as a one-time exception. However, the company claims it did not permit Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3.
According to Complex, Ruthless Pictures is now suing Dark Age Cinema and Art the Clown LLC for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unfair competition, and for profiting from the Terrifier franchise without permission. In the lawsuit, Ruthless Pictures is seeking damages and a court declaration that it owns the Terrifier franchise, including all future sequels and merchandising, except for Terrifier (2018).
What The Lawsuit Means For The Future Of 'Terrifier'
Even before Terrifier 3 premiered, Leone began teasing the franchise’s future. After initially teasing multiple sequels, he confirmed the franchise would conclude with Terrifier 4. Shortly before Ruthless Pictures filed its lawsuit, he announced via Instagram that Terrifier 4 would take place during New Year’s Eve. The film is still in early development, so there’s no set release date, though Leone suggested a 2027 premiere.
At the time of writing, it doesn’t appear that the development of Terrifier 4 has changed. Given the franchise is still in the early stages of the lawsuit, it’s difficult to say how it will play out and whether there will be a long, drawn-out legal battle. Still, the ownership rights will certainly need to be resolved before Terrifier 4 production gets underway. If the lawsuit isn’t resolved soon, it could delay the movie.
Will 'Terrifier 4' Still Happen?
Although the lawsuit has the potential to delay Terrifier 4, it seems unlikely the film would be shelved entirely. Despite the ownership dispute, both parties likely share a desire to see the Terrifier franchise succeed and profit. Understandably, the lawsuit would raise nerves, considering the future of Terrifier has been a bit up in the air outside of the courtroom. In February 2026, Leone took to Instagram to dispel rumors by officially confirming the status of Terrifier 4, revealing he was close to finishing the script and promising a worthy finale for fans. While he has not confirmed the script's completion, he appears dedicated to making Terrifier 4 happen and giving fans the conclusion they deserve.
