Jessica Rothe Says ‘Happy Death Day 3’ Story Is Ready, Just Needs the Green Light

‘Happy Death Day‘ turned into one of the more unexpected horror success stories of the late 2010s, blending slasher conventions with a time-loop premise that gave the genre a genuinely fresh angle. The 2017 original was followed by 2019’s ‘Happy Death Day 2U,’ which leaned even further into science fiction territory while keeping Jessica Rothe’s Tree Gelbman at the center of the story.

Fans have spent years since campaigning for a third installment, and director Christopher Landon has repeatedly teased that he already knows exactly where the story would go. That persistence has kept the franchise’s future alive in the cultural conversation even without an official greenlight from the studios behind it.

Rothe has now offered her latest update on where things actually stand. According to Deadline, the actress confirmed that Landon has the whole thing figured out, and that the only thing left standing between fans and a third film is Universal and Blumhouse aligning on the logistics needed to finance and produce it.

That kind of studio coordination has proven to be the real bottleneck for the project rather than any creative uncertainty. Both Universal and Blumhouse have stayed busy with a steady stream of horror releases in recent years, spanning original concepts, reboots of classic Universal Monsters properties, and various franchise expansions, making it a matter of finding room on a crowded release calendar rather than a lack of interest in Tree’s story.

Rothe has made clear she sees real stakes in getting the third film made the right way. She’s said she believes Tree deserves a proper third and final chapter, one that could either bring the character’s story to a definitive close or open the door to something new entirely, rather than leaving the franchise permanently unresolved.

That sentiment has carried through in more recent comments as well. Speaking with ScreenRant at SXSW, Rothe expanded on her hopes for the project, suggesting Landon may even have his own version of a shared universe in mind, one where ‘Freaky,’ ‘We Have a Ghost,’ and ‘Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ could all exist within the same creative world as ‘Happy Death Day.’ That kind of ambition suggests Landon’s plans for a third film may extend well beyond simply wrapping up Tree’s individual arc.

Rothe has remained closely tied to the franchise throughout the years of uncertainty, and Landon has publicly confirmed the two remain close collaborators, making it unlikely any future installment would move forward without her involvement. With no reboot or recasting plans currently on the table, fans hoping to see Tree’s story continue can take some comfort in knowing the creative pieces appear to already be in place.

Whether that translates into an actual greenlight remains entirely in Universal and Blumhouse’s hands. Until that happens, Rothe’s message to fans has stayed consistent: the story is ready whenever the studios are.

Jessica Rothe gives an update on 'Happy Death Day 3' | The Deadline Studio at #TIFF2026 pic.twitter.com/cb2zf4R3rC

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 14, 2026

That consistency itself has become part of the story. Rothe has offered variations of the same update across multiple interviews over the past couple of years, each time reiterating that the creative side of the equation is settled while the business side continues to work itself out behind the scenes. For a franchise that’s managed to stay in the conversation almost entirely through persistence rather than new footage or official announcements, that alone speaks to how much goodwill still surrounds Tree’s story.

With Landon continuing to juggle other genre projects and Blumhouse and Universal maintaining an already packed horror slate, patience remains the operative word for anyone hoping to see a third installment reach theaters. Still, as long as Rothe keeps signaling she’s ready to return, the door for ‘Happy Death Day 3’ stays firmly open.

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