‘Terrifier 4’ Script Is Now Being Written and Will Reveal Art’s Origin, Writer-Director Damien Leone Confirms

‘Terrifier 4’ is officially happening, and it looks like this could be Art the Clown’s final act. Writer-director Damien Leone has confirmed that the next chapter in the ultra-violent horror franchise is in development, teasing that it will wrap up the murderous jester’s story.

Leone made the announcement on X, posting an image of the script’s cover page. “Thank you for all the birthday wishes,” he wrote. “Figure I’d give you a present in return! The script for Terrifier 4 is in the works and it’s shaping up to be a most epic, thrilling, nasty, horrifying, emotional, and utterly satisfying conclusion. P.S., I will finally reveal Art’s origin.”

Fans have speculated about the origins of Art the Clown since his first appearance in Leone’s 2008 short film The 9th Circle and later in All Hallow’s Eve (2013). He then took center stage in the Terrifier trilogy, which started in 2016. The latest installment, Terrifier 3, premiered in October and performed impressively at the box office, grossing nearly $90 million.

Leone has hinted in the past that he always had an ending in mind for Art’s story, saying that his vision for the conclusion was solidified when he wrote Terrifier 2. “It doesn’t have to end,” he told Deadline in 2023. “Once we open the door of the supernatural, anything’s possible in this franchise. So, I don’t think you could ever officially put the nail in the coffin, but if I ever did want to end it, I now have a satisfying conclusion for myself as an artist.”

Despite this, the director has also suggested that there could be more films beyond Terrifier 4, depending on how much story he can fit into a single movie. He explained that he’s still working out the details. “I know the ending, which is most important. I know certain scenes throughout, and I just started developing the intro. So, that’s pretty much how these movies start. They’re like puzzle pieces, and then I need to fill in the gaps,” he said.

The big question now is whether Terrifier 4 will truly be the end. Horror history has shown that slasher villains rarely stay dead for long. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter was meant to end Jason Voorhees’ story, yet he returned for several more sequels. Given the success of Art the Clown, it’s possible he won’t stay gone forever.

As of now, there’s no official release date for Terrifier 4. What do you think—will this really be Art’s final chapter, or is there more carnage to come? Let us know in the comments!