In a rather unexpected way, the 2009 horror movie Orphan has finally become a franchise, with the success of 2022’s Orphan: First Kill paving the way for a comeback. Isabelle Fuhrman’s character Esther, who she played in both films, is set to return for Orphan 3 – and now she’s confirming that it will be “both” a prequel and sequel.
Interestingly, Orphan: First Kill was a prequel to the original 2009 film, with franchise star Isabelle Fuhrman having aged in real-time between films. With a clever use of camera tricks and doubles, however, the filmmakers were able to make sure Fuhrman kept her iconic role as Esther, a grown woman and serial killer that uses her unique physical traits to pose as a child.
Of course, a prequel made sense, as not only was there plenty of story to explore – but she was seemingly left dead at the end of the 2009 film. With that in mind, there are plenty of ways to bring a killer back for another spree, especially when the film’s own alternate ending depicted a version in which Esther was still alive.
Nonetheless, we’ll have to see what Orphan 3 has in store. Fuhrman shared at Spookala, via Bloody-Disgusting, that the twists in the new film are “wilder and crazier.” The second film was already crazy enough, but it looks like director William Brent Bell and writer David Coggeshall have found a way to top it. In addition to claiming that the film will be a sequel and prequel, Fuhrman calls it an “inbetweenquel.”
With that phrasing in mind, it could also mean that the movie merely takes place between the events of Orphan: First Kill and Orphan. There are plenty of places for Esther’s story to go, so hopefully we’ll know more in the near future. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding Orphan 3 and how it can be a prequel and sequel as we have them.