Summary
- Five Nights at Freddy’s shattered box office expectations, becoming the largest global opening weekend in Blumhouse history.
- Despite mixed reviews, the film’s focus on pleasing the fanbase, including cameos from popular YouTube stars, contributed to its success.
- Markiplier’s cameo as an unnamed security guard was cut due to scheduling conflicts, but fans hope to see him in future sequels as the franchise continues.
Warning: Spoilers for Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is the newest horror film adapted from the wildly popular video game with a cult-like following. The film follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson), a troubled security guard whose circumstances force him to take a night job at an abandoned family entertainment business known as Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. It doesn’t take long for him to learn the animatronics inside the building are possessed by children kidnapped in the ’80s who were clearly never found. While benevolent at first, Mike eventually discovers their murderous tendencies, narrowly making it out alive.
Despite its simultaneous streaming release last week, the Blumhouse production shattered expectations at the box office and dominated the Halloween weekend. Not only did the horror film snag the number one spot from Taylor Swift, but the film now holds the title for the largest global opening weekend in Blumhouse history. Despite its less-than-stellar critical reviews, audiences absolutely love it. Given the film clearly cares more about the Freddy’s fanbase than anything else, Five Nights at Freddy’s delivers on every front, including its cameos. Much to the delight of fans, YouTube stars MatPat and Coryxkenshin made an appearance in the film. However, Markiplier was also slated to make an appearance but was ultimately unable to grace the big screen.
Who Is Markiplier?
Mark Fischbac, known online as Markiplier, is an American YouTuber who has branched out in recent years as an actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. His rise to fame seemingly coincided with the Five Night at Freddy’s video game, which he played via Let’s Play on his YouTube channel, which now has over 35 million subscribers.
Much like his fellow internet stars, MatPat and Coryxkenshin, who are all connected to the cult fandom of the Five Nights at Freddy’s video game franchise, their initial YouTube coverage of the games is said to have fostered the level of popularity enjoyed by the franchise today. Their gameplay streams, as well as their deep dive into the lore of Freddy’s world, allowed the game to build a community of fans dedicated to the Freddy’s universe.
Why Markiplier’s Cameo Was Cut From Five Nights at Freddy’s
As viewers will remember, the film opens with an unnamed security guard running for his life inside the abandoned Freddy’s building. While on the cusp of escape, he’s ultimately captured and knocked out by one of the animatronics. He wakes up strapped to a chair as a Freddy’s mask inches its way closer to his face. However, the inside of the mask is whirling with blades, clearly a death sentence for anyone trapped in the chair. He manages to find a loose bolt in one of the arm restraints and begins to twist it loose just before the mask meets his face, and he dies.
The significance of the security guard’s actions plays a major part in Mike’s escape when he’s inevitably strapped in the same chair. Having found the same bolt in the arm restraint, Mike is able to finish twisting it loose, freeing his arms just in the knick of time. Without the previous guard’s attempt to free himself, Mike would have surely died. While the scene seems like a simple setup for the tone of the film, it actually ties into the larger story of Mike’s time at Freddy’s. That said, Markiplier was initially slated to play that unnamed security guard in the film. Unfortunately, because of scheduling conflicts, he was unable to make it work.
At the time of filming for Five Nights at Freddy’s, Markiplier was busy filming his own movie, Iron Lung, scheduled for release early next year. Given his level of involvement in the film, having written, directed, produced, and starred in the project, he was unable to make the schedules work. Although maybe he’ll make an appearance in future films in which his cameo character doesn’t immediately die.
Will Markiplier Make an Appearance in the Sequels?
Given how much Markiplier’s axed cameo is being discussed by fans online, he’ll likely make some sort of appearance in the sequels. His absence has been described as a missed opportunity by many in the Five Nights at Freddy’s community, so it’s doubtful those involved in the film will allow him to slip through their fingers again. Those behind Five Nights at Freddy’s have approached the project with great care and consideration for the existing Freddy’s community, which means they understand how much fans want to see Markiplier’s presence on screen.
While there’s no official word yet, given Markiplier’s connection to the franchise and the desire from fans to see such a cameo, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll make an appearance somewhere in the future as the film’s franchise develops. The box office success of Five Nights at Freddy’s, coupled with the enthusiasm for the film from fans, all but guarantees the continuation of the franchise on the big screen, which means more cameos are likely on the way.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
