The horror franchise that redefined the home-invasion thriller is coming back. At the tenth-anniversary screening of Don’t Breathe at Beyond Fest, Fede Álvarez revealed that Don’t Breathe 3 is in the works, with a script he’s written and Jane Levy and Stephen Lang returning.
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The Big Announcement
The filmmaker surprised fans during the anniversary celebration of the original film. Álvarez revealed the plans during a Q&A that followed a screening of the first Don’t Breathe at Beyond Fest in Santa Monica, California, and was joined onstage by the first film’s stars Stephen Lang, Jane Levy and Dylan Minnette.
“There’s a screenplay for ‘Don’t Breathe 3.’ Jane will be back and Slang, (Stephen Lang), will be back,” Álvarez told the crowd, gesturing to the two actors onstage, and the announcement drew a round of gasps and applause from the fans in attendance.
The September 26 celebration took place at the MUBI Theatre at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, with the event listing including Álvarez, co-writer Rodo Sayagues, Levy, Lang, and Dylan Minnette for the Q&A.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Film | Don’t Breathe 3 |
| Franchise | Don’t Breathe |
| Status | Script Written, In Development |
| Screenplay | Fede Álvarez |
| Returning Stars | Stephen Lang, Jane Levy |
| Lang’s Character | Norman Nordstrom / The Blind Man |
| Levy’s Character | Rocky |
| Announced At | Beyond Fest, Santa Monica |
| Announcement Date | September 26, 2026 |
| Director / Release Date | Not Yet Confirmed |
Why Jane Levy’s Return Matters
Levy’s comeback is the headline development for fans. Stephen Lang starred as visually impaired Navy SEAL veteran Norman Nordstrom, better known as The Blind Man, in both the first movie and its 2021 sequel, transforming from villain to antihero in the process. Jane Levy did not return for Don’t Breathe 2, with most fans agreeing that the sequel took the franchise down a strange new path. It sounds like the upcoming Don’t Breathe 3 will be a course correction, with both Stephen Lang and Jane Levy confirmed to return.
Levy and Lang were the two performers at the center of the original film’s conflict, so bringing them back together would reconnect the third chapter to the relationship that defined its beginning rather than relying on the title alone.
Notably, Dylan Minnette also joined Álvarez, Levy and Lang onstage, but Álvarez did not announce him as part of the returning cast.
The Unfinished Business Between Rocky and the Blind Man
Co-writer Rodo Sayagues had previously hinted at this direction while promoting the second film. “I think stories are never wrapped. If something is true about the first movie, is that there’s no closure on both ends,” he told ComicBook.com. “There was no closure for the story of Norman and there’s no closure for the story of Rocky. They both got away with a crime, both of them.”
He added, “Rocky stole a lot of money. And also, she let him get away with it. She could have called the police and said, ‘Look, this guy has a dead girl in the cellar,’ and she did not. So both of them have a past that will haunt them.”
The Franchise So Far
Don’t Breathe is a 2016 American horror film co-produced and directed by Fede Álvarez, who co-wrote it with Rodo Sayagues. The film stars Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, and Stephen Lang, and focuses on three home intruders who find themselves trapped and hunted in the home of their blind target.
The first Don’t Breathe was a late summer breakout for Sony Pictures, earning $89 million domestic and $157 million worldwide.
The sequel focused on Lang’s character and saw Álvarez re-team with his co-writer Rodo Sayagues, who took over directing duties. That follow-up grossed $32 million domestic and $53 million worldwide, but was released in August 2021 during the shaky first months of theatrical’s post-COVID lockdowns landscape.
Franchise Overview Table
| Film | Year | Director | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don’t Breathe | 2016 | Fede Álvarez | $157 Million |
| Don’t Breathe 2 | 2021 | Rodo Sayagues | $53 Million |
| Don’t Breathe 3 | TBA | Not Confirmed | TBA |
The Álvarez and Levy Partnership
Álvarez and Levy first teamed up on 2013’s Evil Dead, where she played Mia, a young woman trying to overcome addiction whose stay at a remote cabin becomes a nightmare of demonic possession. Following that film’s success, they reunited for Don’t Breathe, trading supernatural carnage for something horribly human.
Levy is currently enjoying a horror resurgence. She also stars alongside Jessica Rothe in Joshua Giuliano’s TIFF slasher River, which attracted Universal Pictures and Blumhouse after its premiere, and now has a newly minted January 15, 2027, theatrical release date.
What We Don’t Know Yet
While the script is written, several key details remain open. Fede Álvarez has written a third Don’t Breathe film, with Jane Levy and Stephen Lang returning, but its director, story and release date are still unknown. It is unclear if Álvarez will return as director, but he has at least returned to handle the script for the third installment.
Representatives for Álvarez and Sony Pictures Releasing did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
FAQs
Are Stephen Lang and Jane Levy both returning for Don’t Breathe 3?
Yes. The sequel brings back director Fede Álvarez to write the screenplay, with Stephen Lang and Jane Levy set to reprise their roles as The Blind Man and Rocky. It marks Levy’s first appearance in the franchise since the 2016 original.
When will Don’t Breathe 3 be released?
No release date has been announced. Jane Levy and Stephen Lang are returning as Rocky and the Blind Man, but Álvarez’s directing role, the plot and release date have not been confirmed.
