Happy Death Day 2U remains the latest released chapter in one of Blumhouse and Universal’s most unusual horror franchises, but the story of Tree Gelbman may not be finished yet. Seven years after the sequel reached theaters, Jessica Rothe and filmmaker Christopher Landon have made significant progress on a potential third installment, although the movie still needs financial backing and an official green light before it can move into production.
The latest developments have given fans more concrete information than they have had in years. Rothe and Landon have now worked through the story for the proposed third film, while Rothe has continued to publicly campaign for Tree’s return. The project also has a playful working title: Happy Death Day Tree.
Despite that momentum, there is still no confirmed production date, release date, trailer, or official announcement that filming is about to begin. The next major step rests with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse.
The Latest Update on the Possible Third Movie
The biggest development came in September 2026, when Jessica Rothe revealed that she and Christopher Landon had actually sat down together and worked out the story for the long-awaited third movie.
That is important because the future of the franchise has spent years caught between fan demand and uncertainty about whether another film would receive studio support. Rothe’s latest comments suggest that the creative team is no longer simply discussing whether another story could work. They have actively developed the narrative and believe they have a way to bring Tree’s journey to a satisfying conclusion.
Rothe explained that she and Landon spent hours working through the third movie together. Their goal is not simply to recreate the formula that made the first two films popular. Instead, they want the next chapter to retain the combination of horror, comedy and emotional storytelling that made Tree such a distinctive character.
The remaining issue is financing.
Rothe’s comments indicate that Universal and Blumhouse now need to decide whether they are willing to provide the money necessary to turn the project into an actual production.
The Working Title Is Happy Death Day Tree
One of the more entertaining recent developments came shortly after Rothe’s September comments about the story.
During a Reddit AMA, the actress revealed that she and Landon are using Happy Death Day Tree as the working title for the potential third movie.
The title fits the playful naming tradition established by the franchise. The first movie used the simple Happy Death Day title, while the follow-up added “2U” to create a sequel name that sounded like a birthday message. The new working title puts Tree’s name directly into the equation.
It is important to emphasize that this is a working title, not an officially announced final title.
Movie projects can change names several times during development, and the eventual title could be completely different. Earlier discussions about the third installment have also used another title, Happy Death Day to Us, so fans should not assume that Happy Death Day Tree will necessarily appear on the final poster.
Still, the existence of a working title shows that the project continues to be actively discussed rather than being forgotten.
Jessica Rothe Still Wants to Finish Tree’s Story
Jessica Rothe has remained one of the strongest advocates for another movie.
Her connection to Tree Gelbman is central to the franchise because the character’s transformation is what gives the time-loop premise its emotional weight. Tree begins the original film as a deeply flawed college student and gradually becomes someone willing to confront her own shortcomings, protect others and take control of her circumstances.
Rothe has repeatedly indicated that she would return to the role if the third movie becomes a reality.
Earlier in 2026, she described the situation as largely a matter of logistics and said she would remain willing to finish Tree’s story even if the wait became extremely long.
That commitment matters because the third movie would almost certainly need Rothe in the lead role. Tree is not merely one character among an ensemble; she is the foundation around which the entire concept is built.
What Christopher Landon Has Planned
Christopher Landon has been talking about a third installment for several years.
The filmmaker wrote and directed the first two movies, and he has previously indicated that he has had an idea for how the trilogy could conclude. He has also suggested that the next installment would not simply repeat what audiences had already seen.
That approach makes sense considering how dramatically the second film changed the mythology.
The original movie was primarily a murder mystery built around a supernatural time loop. Tree repeatedly experienced the same day and had to identify the person responsible for killing her.
The sequel pushed the concept into science fiction, introducing alternate realities and expanding the explanation behind the repeating-day phenomenon.
For the third installment, Landon has previously teased an even larger change in scale, describing the planned movie as a bigger adventure with apocalyptic elements.
Those comments have fueled speculation about where Tree’s next adventure could take her, but specific plot details remain officially unrevealed.
How the First Two Movies Built the Franchise
The franchise began in 2017 with Happy Death Day, introducing audiences to Tree Gelbman, a college student who wakes up on her birthday and finds herself trapped in a terrifying cycle.
Every time Tree is murdered, she wakes up and relives the same day.
At first, her priority is simply survival. Eventually, she realizes that escaping the loop requires understanding why it is happening and identifying the person responsible for her death.
The concept gave the movie a natural mystery structure while allowing the filmmakers to repeatedly change the circumstances surrounding Tree’s deaths.
It also provided an unusual opportunity for character development. Tree’s repeated deaths become more than a horror gimmick as she begins examining her own behavior and relationships.
The first movie became a major commercial success, earning more than $125 million worldwide on a comparatively modest production budget.
That success created obvious expectations for a follow-up.
How the Sequel Changed the Rules
The 2019 sequel took a considerable risk by refusing to simply make another version of the first movie.
Instead, the story explored the scientific explanation behind the time loop and introduced a parallel universe.
Tree once again finds herself caught in a repeating cycle, but the circumstances are considerably more complicated. People she knows are different, relationships have changed and the rules surrounding the phenomenon have become more difficult to understand.
The sequel therefore functions as both a horror movie and a science-fiction story.
That creative decision remains one of the most interesting aspects of the series. Rather than treating the original movie’s time loop as an unexplained supernatural event, Landon used the sequel to build a larger mythology.
It also gave Tree an emotional dilemma involving two different versions of her life.
The result left the door open for another adventure without making the second movie entirely dependent on a third chapter.
Why a Third Movie Has Taken So Long
The long wait is largely connected to the commercial performance of the two films.
The original Happy Death Day became a breakout success, while the sequel earned approximately $64 million worldwide. Although that was still a respectable result, it represented a significant drop from the first movie’s global box office.
That difference can make a studio more cautious about investing in another theatrical sequel.
For a horror franchise, the economics are especially important. The first movie’s appeal came partly from its relatively contained premise and manageable production cost. A larger third installment, particularly one involving more ambitious science-fiction or apocalyptic elements, could require a bigger budget.
That creates a difficult equation.
The filmmakers want to deliver a story that feels worthy of a trilogy finale, but the studio also needs confidence that audiences will return after such a long gap.
Why the Latest Development Is Significant
For years, updates about the third movie have largely consisted of statements about interest, ideas and the desire to return.
The newest information is different.
Rothe and Landon have actually worked through the story together.
That does not mean the movie has been approved, but it removes one of the major uncertainties surrounding the project. There is now a developed creative direction that can be presented to the studios.
Rothe’s continued enthusiasm also provides an important connection between the original films and any future installment.
The challenge is turning that creative momentum into a financed production.
Until Universal and Blumhouse officially commit, reports about filming dates or release windows should be treated cautiously.
Could the Third Movie Be Bigger Than the First Two?
If Landon’s earlier descriptions remain representative of his plans, the answer could be yes.
The first movie was a relatively contained slasher mystery. The sequel broadened the concept through alternate realities and experimental science.
A third film could take another major step forward.
An apocalyptic setting would provide a completely different environment for Tree while still allowing the filmmakers to retain the franchise’s central themes of repetition, survival and personal change.
It could also give the series an opportunity to explain more about the strange mechanics behind the time loop.
However, no official plot synopsis has been released, so predictions about the story remain speculative.
The most reliable information is that Landon and Rothe have worked out a story they believe can bring the trilogy to a satisfying ending.
What Fans Should Expect Next
The next major announcement would need to come from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse.
If the studios approve the project, fans would likely begin receiving information about the screenplay, production schedule, returning cast and eventual release strategy.
Until then, the project remains in development.
There is currently no confirmed release date, no announced start of principal photography and no official trailer.
That distinction is particularly important because social media speculation can make a movie appear further along than it actually is.
The encouraging part is that the creative team has not abandoned the idea.
The Future of Tree Gelbman
Tree remains one of the more distinctive modern horror protagonists because her story combines traditional slasher elements with comedy, science fiction and character development.
Her journey also gives the filmmakers plenty of room for another transformation.
After surviving repeated murders and navigating an alternate reality, Tree could enter a third story with an entirely different set of challenges.
The potential for a trilogy finale is therefore considerable.
Rothe has made clear that she wants to be there when that final chapter happens, while Landon continues to support the idea of completing the story.
For fans, the question is no longer whether the creators have ideas for another movie. The bigger question is whether the studio decides those ideas are worth turning into a finished production.
Bottom Line
The future of the franchise is still uncertain, but the latest developments provide genuine reason for optimism. Jessica Rothe and Christopher Landon have worked out the story for a potential third installment, and the project now has the working title Happy Death Day Tree.
The creative team still needs Universal Pictures and Blumhouse to provide the necessary backing. Until that happens, there is no confirmed release date or production schedule.
For now, fans can take comfort in one important fact: Tree Gelbman’s story has not been forgotten. The people who created and starred in the series are still actively trying to give her another chapter, and the proposed finale could take the franchise in a much larger direction than either of its predecessors.
Would you like to see Tree Gelbman return for one final nightmare? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more movie and horror updates.