Josh Hutcherson and McKenna Grace star on the black carpet of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Josh Hutcherson and McKenna Grace electrified the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of Five Nights at Freddy's 2, held at the TCL Chinese Theatre, where the atmosphere oscillated between deliberate thrills and fan celebration. The evening had a cult slasher vibe thanks to the reunion of several Scream stars, including Matthew Lillard, Jenny McCarthy, and Skeet Ulrich, who came to celebrate this bloody new chapter in the FNAF saga alongside the rest of the cast. Here are a few photos from this horror-themed event.

In Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Josh Hutcherson reunites with Mike Schmidt, a former security guard still haunted by the nightmare of Freddy Fazbear's. The story takes place one year after the first film: while the town turns the events into legend, Mike tries to protect Abby and keep what he knows about the animatronics buried, but new incidents bring him back to the center of the mystery and William Afton. Hutcherson began his career at a very young age (Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia), rose to global fame as Peeta in The Hunger Games, then bounced back with more eclectic choices until this mainstream horror comeback.

Newcomer to Five Nights at Freddy's 2, McKenna Grace plays Lisa, a key teenager in Fazfest and the reopening of Freddy Fazbear's: curious and nervous, she leads the group of young people who unwittingly restart the nightmare machine. A big fan of the saga, she even sent in a self-audition to land the part. Career-wise, Grace has gone from child prodigy to established talent in the genre: Gifted, The Haunting of Hill House, Annabelle Comes Home, then Phoebe in the last two Ghostbusters films. She also has a parallel music career, in addition to being part of the cast of Scream 7 (2026).

In Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Skeet Ulrich joins the universe as Henry Emily, a major figure in FNAF mythology: father of Charlotte (the soul linked to the Puppet) and a character with a tragic past, intimately connected to the origins of the drama that haunts Freddy Fazbear's. His role brings a strong emotional charge to the story, directly mirroring William Afton and the secrets that resurface around Fazfest. A cult actor in 90s horror cinema, Ulrich rose to fame with Scream (Billy Loomis), then alternated between television and cinema (Jericho, Riverdale), retaining an aura of slasher final boss. His return in a horror blockbuster, alongside Matthew Lillard, brings things full circle.

In Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Elizabeth Lail reprises her role as Vanessa Shelly, a tormented cop and daughter of William Afton. A year after the events of the first film, she helps Mike protect Abby and cover up the truth, but her family legacy catches up with her: Vanessa becomes one of the emotional pivots of the story, caught between guilt, loyalty, and fear of what her father has unleashed. Before FNAF, Lail made a name for herself on TV with Once Upon a Time, then made a lasting impression in You and Dead of Summer, followed by a string of roles in thrillers and dramas, where her acting combines fragility and intensity.

In Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Matthew Lillard returns as William Afton, the killer at the heart of the saga's mythology. Although the first film left him in a very compromised state, the sequel confirms his return as the central threat, in an even more disturbing form, linked to Freddy Fazbear's bloody past and the chaos of Fazfest. A favorite actor in genre cinema, Lillard entered pop culture with Scream (Stu Macher) and Scooby-Doo (Shaggy), before alternating between dramas, comedies, and video game/animation voice acting. This horrific comeback extends his status as a fan-favorite icon.

At the Hollywood premiere of Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Jenny McCarthy made a splash as a guest, rarely appearing on the red carpet. A pop star of the 90s and 2000s, she first made a name for herself as a Playboy model and then as a cult MTV host (Singled Out), before moving on to film and television. She has appeared in comedies (BASEketball), horror films (Scream 3) and numerous US shows, and was a judge on The Masked Singer.

In Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Piper Rubio reprises her role as Abby Schmidt, Mike's little sister, one year after the carnage of the first film. Still fascinated by animatronics, Abby finds herself once again in the thick of danger when "Fazfest" and the reopening of the restaurant awaken old secrets—forcing her to confront the disturbing connection she has with Freddy and the others. Revealed to the general public thanks to FNAF (2023), Rubio has also appeared on television (For All Mankind) and in film (The Crater), establishing herself as one of the young actresses to watch in the genre.