Don’t Breathe star Stephen Lang expresses his hopes of returning to his chilling role as the Blind Man in a potential third installment. The horror franchise debuted in 2016, introducing audiences to Lang’s terrifying Norman Nordstrom, a blind former U.S. Navy SEAL with lethal survival skills. The first film was a surprise hit, earning $157 million worldwide against a $9.9 million budget and receiving praise for its intense, suspenseful narrative. Don’t Breathe 2 followed in 2021 and shifted focus by presenting Norman as more of an antihero rather than the outright villain he was in the first film.

In a recent interview with The Direct while promoting his new show, House of David, Lang revealed that while Don’t Breathe 3 is not currently in active development, the film remains a possibility, and he is eager to return. While his comments suggest he wants to return as the Blind Man, he acknowledges that the decision ultimately lies in securing a script that justifies another installment. Read his full comments below:

It’s lying there right now. We’ll have to see where it goes. You know, as Charles Dickens wrote, ‘Barkis is willing,’ I’d love to do it. I’d like to finish the old buzzard off, but we’ll have to see where it goes.

The thing is having a script that really works, making a script that ties it all up. And if we get that, then I have no doubt we’ll do it because both films were very successful.

What This Means For The Future Of Don’t Breathe

A Proper Ending For The Blind Man

Lang’s desire to “finish the old buzzard off” indicates that the potential Don’t Breathe 3 would serve as the final chapter in Norman’s story. The films explored his violent past. The first follows a group of young thieves who broke into Norman’s house, only to discover a gagged pregnant woman tied up in his basement, with the intruders finding themselves trapped and hunted by Norman. The sequel took a different approach, with Don’t Breathe 2 seeing Norman trying to raise a young girl as his own, only for his dark past to catch up with him.

After two films that explored his violent past and lackluster attempts at redemption, a third movie could see Phoenix, the girl he raised in the second film, searching for him, as he seems to have survived in the ending of Don’t Breathe 2. The third installment would likely focus on bringing his arc to a definitive close, potentially introducing new characters tied to his dark history or forcing him to confront the consequences of his actions. Whether that means fully embracing his villainous nature again or continuing down the path of what he thinks is redemption remains to be seen.

Our Take On A Possible Don’t Breathe 3

A Worthy Sequel Needs A Strong Narrative

While Don’t Breathe 3 would be exciting for fans of the franchise, it makes sense that the writers are taking their time to ensure there is a story worth telling. The first film thrived on its тιԍнтly contained horror-thriller setup, while the sequel took risks by shifting its focus. Although the second installment wasn’t as universally acclaimed, it still performed well enough to keep the possibility of a third movie open. For a third film to succeed, it needs to find a balance between the intense horror of the original and the more nuanced character study of the sequel.

Source: The Direct