Thanks for all the support! Currently as I'm writing this the video is at 1.3k views in only 4 days which is absolutely nuts to me. Its been so much fun reading everyone's theories and speculating with y'all... some of the stuff y'all are thinking about is really interesting! I think its time for me to get back on Premiere and make something else. Might not be FNAF related, but will definitely still be a theory. I love analysis after all! *Remember to support the PCRF here!* >> www.pcrf.net/

Most people failed to realize that the movie is actually closely to the First Book, Silver Eyes

I honestly could see that reveal down the line later. Though, I'm scared that Vanessa could return as Vanny in a future installment.

If you want more copium/reaching for this theory, tumblr user oddidas has pointed out an interesting detail in the opening sequence with the atari animation, Josh Hutcherson's name flickers purple, but goes back red (along with Mary Stuart Masterson's name doing the same). Elizabeth Lail's and Mathew Lillard's name flickers purple and stays purple. Meanwhile, Piper Rubio's name only flickers between red and orange, no purple... Which might also be implying Mike is an Afton, though it does mean that Aunt Jane might also have a connection William, interestingly enough. Makes me wonder if she's an ex-sister-in-law, hence why she can't exactly get Abby. Also, it has been pointed out that Mike's dad in the photo on the night stand, is doing bunny ears to young Mike, which is another interesting detail. Though as for the whole not knowing Freddy's thing, there's always the possibility that Mike has repressed quite a bit due to the trauma of losing his brother. Dreams and traumatic memories are not the most reliable thing. There's some of the details of the dream feel just... Off? I don't know. The constant focus to a yellow frisbee. The fact the mom gets a towel for soda that barely hit the side of the table when they're eating outdoors. Plus, how easy the ghost kids manage to change the dream. I really don't think Mike is remembering what happened to Garrett correctly, but who knows. We'll likely see next movie.

Just imagine William pulling a "No, I am your father" on Mike full on Darth Vader mode lmao

Unless it was a targeted kill, it doesnt make sense for William to drive to Nebraska, specifically where Mike's family is camping, to kill one child, and then do all of his other crimes in Minnesota, specifically the city where Mike lives Also yes, the film does take place in minnesota, as evidenced by Jane's court papers mentioning Minnesota state law and Minnesota courts Even if Mike isn't an Afton or Emily, he is connected to William Afton in one way or another beyond the dead brother

i still can't believe people went as far to reach for "abby" being short for "elizabeth", when it already could be an anagram for "baby". You don't need to reach that far guys 😂😂

1:59 About that. I think Mike meant his dad committed suicide when he said something like: "My mom died a while ago and my dad couldn't handle it". The expression "couldn't handle it" sounds like he committed suicide after Mike's mom died. Btw, I don't remember with what words Mike said this phrase, I'd need to watch the movie when it's available online, but well I'm quoting the phrase with what I can remember from what he said to Vanessa.

I would love if this was true! The Afton family drama is the most fascinating part of the games for me. I love the idea of a protagonist haunted by guilt trying to hunt down his serial killer father whose creations were responsible for the destruction of their family and finally put an end to him. So it's always bummed me out that the adaptations seem to be allergic to letting Michael Afton exist 😮‍💨

I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s thought of this! I could honestly see them revealing a twist like this in the sequels. After all, if you’re planning to do a movie trilogy, why would you put all your cards on the table in just the first film? They’re obviously saving some more crucial lore we don’t know about for later, hence why they have Vanessa in a coma at the end, she can’t give Mike any answers. (And even if it’s not true, it’s fun to theorize about. Afton family drama is just fun to talk about in general) My running theory was that Mrs. Schmidt either divorced William while she was still pregnant, or they had an affair while she was still with her husband.

I think Mike Schmidt could be revealed to be Michael Afton in some way in one of the next movies. We all know how Scott writes these stories by confusing the fandom and them making their own theories.

Mike-‘William, you killed my father.’ ST-‘No, I am your father’

I really like this take! Was super bummed that they made Vanessa his daughter and there wasn’t some William-Michael family reveal. I was expecting Vanessa to just be a nod towards security breach and not a genuine character

Back when Scott was still discussing the different screenplays they had in mind for the movie, he said this about the "Mike" screenplay: "...All the right characters, all the right motivations, all the right stakes...". This wouldn't be the case if it wasn't implied that Mike was closely related to the plot, characters, and conflicts of the known story at the time (and the known story at the time in NO way suggested that Mike Shmidt was only at the FNaF 1 pizzeria to find out the truth of his missing brother), so the natural assumption that he would have had to be hinting at is that Mike related to the plot in a deeper way than only being in that single game. Point is, I think Scott's own words suggest that they may be one in the same by implication of our available knowledge at the time.

i would also like to add that the games point out that Mike often gets confused with William, and I believe it is stated in one of the books that a stand-in for Mike looks just like a younger version of his dad (who ofc would be a stand-in for William). and having this information. it's easy to see that Micheal in the movie looks a lot like William. Same hair colour, simillar head and jaw shape, similar eyes and a similar hairstyle. it almost looks like the actors were chosen both based on experience in acting and on their looks being somewhat similar. Or at least, that's my impression of it.

There's 2 other theories: 1) William leaves, Mrs Afton changes her name to her Maiden name, Schmitt. (Although it doesn't explain why he kills Garret) 2) The Schmitt Family is the Movie version of the Emilys. (Literally says this second theory in the Video 5:20 (wrote this comment before i got to that part) 😆 Henry Emily is Game and Book William's business partner who leaves after William killed his kid, Charlotte A.K.A the puppet. (Imagine if Garrett is the Movie Puppet, who dies, becomes the puppet and gives life to the kids. The Movie kids seem to know who Garret is, which is either from looking through Mike's memories or knowing Garret is the Puppet) Also the Emily/Schmitt and Afton Families are basically the same, except the kids are switched. Movie William and Game Henry have one daughter, while movie Henry (if the father is Henry), and Game William have 2 sons and one Daughter. And then William also targets one of Henry's kids. In the Books and Games, it's Charlie, who becomes the puppet in the games and is swapped for a robot version of herself in the books, and in the movie its Garrett. So based on Charlie's fate, Garrett has to have something to do with an animatronic taking his place in the story, whether its literal like robot Charlie in the books or him possessing an animatronic, like Charlie with the puppet in the games. Edit: 5:20 William know the Schmitts, but Mike doesn't know Freddy's. Maybe Henry and William made Fredbears, then Garret goes missing, and so Henry and his family move elsewhere (far away from William), and then, sometime later, William opens Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. (Makes it so Mike knows Fredbear's but not Freddy's)

my theory is pretty similar to yours, only i think the people in mike’s dream aren’t really his parents. remember how he told Vanessa that his family was “like a sitcom”, maybe they were. mike’s whole memory could be a trauma response and that his parents could be more disfuntional. but i def agree that his mom was married to william at one point.

The nightmare gas is strong in this one.

When it comes to Michael/Mike not knowing about Freddy's, could be trauma blocking when he was adopted away by the Schmidt's. Now as for Henry not being mentioned in the tape, a good explanation for this is William purposefully omitting Henry's existence from the company to take the credit for himself, kind of like how in Walten Files, Felix is edited out of all official tapes talking about the company.

At first I thought this was gonna be copium but actually!! I love how your theory explains how Michael immediately knew the name of the brother of kid he kidnapped, and how he happened to be in Nebraska (assuming freddy's still is in utah?) at this random campground when this was happening; it made it more than chance, it was resentment and it was calculated and that's much more suited to Williams character. Also that vanessa and mike are his offspring but it would make sense for them not to know eachother, and for mike to not know william but for william to know mike. I also like the idea that Mike is unknowingly an afton because he still fits a lot of m aftons characterizations in the start of the movie, like how he's protective of kids but can be very violent and vengeful, driven and not one to give up. I think it was a very concious effort that one of the first things we saw of movie mike was him beating a man on the suspicion that he was going to hurt a kid, otherwise I don't know why they would go through so much effort of having the cinematic view of him punching in a fountain when it could have been easily stated in dialouge.

I think the idea of Vanessa being Afton's kid, relating to the games: Vanessa is somewhere in her mid twenties or thirties in Security Breach and William gets sealed in a wall sometime after 1993. Security brech would be post 2023, so if Vanessa is Afton's kid in the game timeline, she would've been a baby before he got sealed up. The movie portrays her and Mike as the same age, which would not be the case in the games.

My only real problem is that this theory hinges on Mrs. Schmitt being William's ex. That doesn't necessarily have to be the case, Mike could just have been taken into protective custody by a family with some degree of connections to the Aftons, presumably that connection being that they're the stand-ins for the Emilys, just omitted from being mentioned in the training tape for whatever reason. There may not be a version of the crying child, and there may not end up being a version of Elizabeth. But Garret being the puppet can make sense even if Mike is an Afton, because they don't have to be related.

This is a compelling theory! Divorced Afton is a very clean way to connect Billy to Mike while explaining why Billy would go out of his way to target Mike's brother. For the moment I'm a kidswap believer, especially with the Garrionette hints, but more than anything I'm glad that the movie has inspired a new wave of theorizing that doesn't have to directly connect to any other Freddy's media.

I personally think that this film doesn't need to directly adapt the game story and lore at all because this should its own continuity without having to shoehorn in the Afton family lore nor do I think this potential movie series should be used as a vehicle to answer the game series story and lore at al either.

The books are also a trilogy without Michael as the main character. I feel like the movie’s should tell their own story. They won’t be like the games and that’s okay. These are different or similar characters who will go through similar things as the games or wherever they’ll draw inspiration from next.

The movies are based on the “original story”, that of the first three games. At the time, Michael was supposed to be Henry’s son, so I believe that is the narrative they’re going with despite Mike having no prior knowledge of Freddy’s. Though I do really like this theory, and I could see it being a great plot twist in a later movie.

I’ve been mulling over the idea of there being an affair that ended with a lovechild for a bit now. Between the “baby is not mine” bit in the show mike watches in the games , to the unclear claiming or who made Circus baby , to this random switching around of the characters connections in the movie. But I’m definitely not an expert or somebody who does much beyond debating theories in my own head.

To rebuttal at least two points. It’s not very weird that William would decide to kidnap and kill a kid that doesn’t live in the area he lives in, considering that Garret could’ve very much been his first kill since the picture Vanessa shows mike of her holding garrets plane with the place seemingly still open would have to be before the mci in this universe considering that was the whole reason the place shut down, so with all that established I could see with William’s first kill he would want to be less risky and kill someone who doesn’t live that close to him and then stepping it up and taking all the risks when he kills the other 5 kids in his pizzeria. As for how they would adapt the other games with them not being related…….they just won’t or at least the two important that would conflict this. I have no doubt that they are most likely going for the original trilogy route and adapting only the first 3 games with elements from the other games. Even the director said that if they were to make a second one they would most likely adapt the second game. So SL and 6 won’t really be important to the movie series besides nods and references to stuff in those games. I know there’s a argument that 3 would be important for mike to be an afton but I really don’t see why at all. I have no doubt that mike would be pretty keen on stopping anything involving William since they already made sworn enemies out of each other. With William killing mikes brother and mike and Abby being the reason William is now in the state that he’s in. With Vanessa in their as well being the betraying daughter.

Even easier. The person Mike thinks is his father is Henry Emily. The wife has an affair or is attacked by William Afton and they leave the company behind. That's why William tracks them down to keep tormenting them.

Amazing theory I never thought about William Afton being mikes step dad but it was extremely interesting loved the theory if this is true you are a genius

Towards the end of the vid, you sounded nervous. There's no need for that, be confident in your material. Your theory's as good and well thought out and evidenced as MatPat's, you got potential and, fwiw, I got my eye on you and your content

Huge respect for that donation plug 💖

for a first video, bravo!! you did absolutely great on putting together a cohesive theory and your enjoyable to listen to. Keep up the great work

I actually like it better as Mike, a man who simply wanted to find the man who took his brother, finds his way to the establishment where the killer did this to more than just him. Part of me wants these movies to have a vastly different continuity I guess.

2:28 i feel like vanessa is a kidnap child that william decided to kidnap and raise as an apprentice because the photo that she given to mike looks more of a “oh a nice mascot gives me a toy” and not a “oh this is my dad” kind of type, cause the “william is my father” from vanessa just doesn’t sound right And maybe William accidentally killed his wife and somehow abandoned mike and garret to the Schmidts(and the Schmidt’s might be good friends of William’s wife)

Oh trust me, these are all points I’ve had in my mind. I’m glad I’m not alone. You did a great job on your first fnaf video :)

I'm so glad I found this video! The theory was great and made sense, and I can't wait to see your channel keep growing!

I can‘t wait to watch more theories of yours in the future. I like your thought process

imo Mike is probably not an Afton but an Emily, his father might have been connected to Fazbear entretainment as a repair man and William could have taken things personally like the games where they separate and Afton gets revenge on Charlotte (similarly to how Garett was kidnapped) aswell as explaining how Afton recognizes Mike's last name. That would also explain the ending of the puppet asking to come find me, since it's Garett inside the puppet asking Mike that

I love the Afton family and how messed up all of them are. They are all so interesting in their own way, I desperatly wanted to see them in the movie and your theory is exactly what I thought after watching the movie, there was no way I was the only one. The Afton kids and the Schmidt are basically the exact same characters with different names, I feel like it would be wasted potential to just make them a random family with no connection to William Afton or Freddy's. I guess Henry could be Mike's dad but again, how tf do you live without even knowing what your dad does for a living? I know I'm being delusional I don't care

I am a believer in that other theory but i really respect your theory. I think a sequel will clear a lot of things up. My only flaw is that Vanessa and Mikes actors are the same age so they'd have to be twins. Then again your point about Mike having no memory of the pizzeria is completely true. I took the one genuis as maybe Henry being in the shadows and William taking all the credit. I feel like the Emilys are just as important as the Aftons. Without the puppet; give gift, give life doesnt actually feel the same. To be honest its fnaf every theory has holes from lack of information. Hoping a sequel clears a lot of things up.

Really like this video! Can't wait to see this channel grow!

I LOVE YOU FOR PUTTING THE PCRF LINK, THANKS FOR STANDING UP FOR THE TRUTH

I doubt Mike is an Afton because it’s already established that Vanessa is William’s daughter in the movie’s timeline. The movies are based ONLY on FNAF 1-3, as Scott always wanted since 2018 (he had said that in a post on Steam), and these first three games never implied that Mike Schmidt was the son of the killer. That’s why Mike’s sister is named Abby instead of Elizabeth, Golden Freddy kid is a boy instead of Cassidy and it’s really, REALLY likely that The Puppet is going to be possessed by Garrett in the sequels.

I think the Schmidts are actually cousins to the Aftons, because if you looked at the cast list a little bit earlier on, the actor for Aunt Jane was originally casted as Jane Afton, but was later changed to Aunt Jane.

Wow! This video is *really* well-made great theory! looking forward to the Sequel if they make it.

As a mike enjoyer who is also still inhaling so much copium after watching the movie, i also am a believer that vanessa and mike could be a long lost half sibling scenario. Especially with the way the end of the movie basically informs us the audience that Mike and Abby are basically welcoming Vanessa as part of their little family (as shown by Abby's drawing in the fridge and Mike's lil talk in his hospital visit to her) it could be a hint to that and I like to think so Pretty good video bdw!! I love this proposal on how things could play out in the sequel a lot!

This theory is wicked (in a good way.) Could totally see this being how the story continues to unfold

The games are separate to the movie though, so theres a possibility that they did scrap the Afton Family thing since thats leaning more to the games, its expected that there's similarities to game lore and movie lore but they are different. I dont think they are gonna make Vanessa and Mike to be half siblings, instead i think they are most likely cousins, i'll explain in the comments

Before the movie’s release I had a theory that Mike Schmidt was Michael Afton who had been disowned and put up for adoption by William after what he did to his brother in 83’ The ordeal was so traumatic that he managed to suppress those memories of his former family. A part of me hopes that this is still possible with how Mike is dreaming to recall lost memories, or more details in memories he does remember, in FNaF 2 he will finally remember his life as an Afton.

You only have 502 subscribers ? Dang you deserve way more than that :)

In the FNaF 2 movie teaser trailer released just a few hours ago, William says to Mike “do you really know who your father was, Mike? I don’t think so.” Looks like movie Mike Schmidt is indeed Michael Afton after all.

Great theory! The editing is awesome too :)

THANKS for making this video. This has been bugging me since the Mike namedrop, and you NAILED IT

In the training tapes when they talk about the "one genius" behind Freddy's I think could be explained as the movie is doing something similar to The Walten Files, where Jack Walten's (or in this case Wiliam's) entire existence was covered up because he's bad PR. this is just speculation, though, i have no actual hard *evidence* (i need to rewatch the movie and properly analyze it lmao)

Great job 👏🏻

Great theory! This one makes everything makes sense

Personally I’m team Mike is a robot just because of The Silver Eyes comparisons, but this is the route I much prefer they would take. The fact William knew the Shmidt last name has been bugging me too, and I’m so glad someone else brought it up. The only reason I don’t believe this version of the theory is because it’s too well written for what I expect from this franchise, but man I hope you’re right in the end.

I like this theory because it fills that stupid plot hole of why the fuck did William decide to drive to the middle of nowhere and kidnap a random kid

you have my respect and admiration of your commitment regards, farkle minkus

Yooooo, what an amazing work for you first actual video as you say haha; I mean, the background, the drawings, the music, even your voice has an amazing volume and it's such a cool voice! I hope your channel grows so much if you want to keep making videos! ^^

This video still gives me hope that bro will come back. Also nice sponsor I’ll check it out

“You know Michel *coughs up blood* I’m surprised that you are more interested in the what I did to your brother and not THE WHY” “Your an insane psychopath I don’t need another reason” William tilts the spring Bonnie head “Why did you do it” “To get revenge of course” “What could garret have possibly have done to you” “Not garret but (insert mikes moms name here) for taking my son away from me” Zoom in mike breathing “I will always remember holding you in my arms for the first time, then again those kids will never forget the rage I felt when you were ripped away from me”

Wow, I like your theory. Keep it up 👍

This is a great Theory!!! I’m subscribing cus ur funny :)

My current headcanon-ish theory is: The reason Mike doesn't know about Freddy's and why Henry is his stepdad might be because Henry simply left (like always). He gave it all up to William and moved to Nebraska with William's ex-wife (who is currently pregnant, or Mike's too young to remember) to start over a new life. Hence, the reason why William went all the way to Nebraska was just to get back at his old partners and kidnap and kill their new child (Garrett). And in all honesty, I just want to see the Mike and Vanessa shippers crumble when they get revealed as siblings.

Alright, I've been trying to piece this shit together since I was in the fucking movie theater. I am actually so happy that someone else is on the same page as me. Maybe it's me just wanting the movies to fit into the lore, but it would make a lot of sense for Afton to remarry and have another kid, at least for the sake of trying to insert the canon in a way that makes sense. Also, your video's quality is amazing. I literally cannot edit a video to save my fucking life. Hope you continue with this sort of content creation!

this aint bad bro love this vid

I love ur art, very high quality video i like it :)

Mike's dad committed sewer slide after the mom died

Great video. Keep up with the good work. Also I honestly belive alot what your saying and can honestly see the movies doing somthing like this. I still don't think Mike's "dad" I'd Henry but it's a good theory.

I believe that Vanessa was born First, then William Afton's Wife left him for Henry Emily/Schmidt while pregnant with Michael. This would make Mike an Afton by Blood, and yet not by Family - Garret and Abby would then be Henry's Biological Children, and Garret William's Target if he wanted revenge for Henry stealing his Wife! Mike wouldn't know about Freddy's or its Animatronics because William took the Credit for everything: Henry is likely Fired when William's Wife had an Affair with him, and Henry (with William's Wife beside him) let him keep Vanessa, the Suits, Robots and Business as part of the Divorce Terms - while they get out to live their lives not Owing anything to Him. Obviously, this deal didn't ease William's Anger in the slightest: after some time Running a Pizzeria and Raising a Daughter, Afton still couldn't forgive Henry for stealing his Wife; he discovered their New Identities, and prepared to enact his Vengeance - his Wife took a Son from him, so He'll take a Son from Her! This lead to Garrett's Kidnapping, and the Events of the Movie. I wouldn't be surprised however, if William wasn't satisfied with just that, and later Murdered his Ex-Wife afterwards anyway - sending Henry into Depression, and a desire to Murder William Afton the way he knew best: Killer Robots! After Henry left without warning, Mike would be just Old enough to be legally allowed to act as Abby's Guardian, much to his deranged Aunt's disdain. The rest is provided in the Movie, but having Henry as a Secret Antagonist in the Third Movie in the Sister Location, with his Wife's Spirit in Ballora, and attempting to put Abby, Mike and Vanessa into Baby, Bonnie and Foxy respectively would make for a Shocking Film - especially if some Garrett Freddy Possession and sudden Ennard Afton attack drops in as Twists!

I know that a few years ago people started to make short stories about fnaf ,specifically the afton famil,Clara Schmdit idk how she got the name,didnt see it in the game but ppl always called her her last name Schmdit,Clara in the stories had orangish-brown hair similar to the movie,plus william ,abby,garet,and micheal have similar curlish hair in the movie

i was thinking this while watching the movie!!

I absolutely believe Mike is still an Afton and they have that reveal all planned out. Thanks for the video and thank you for raising money for Palestinian children, they need all of our help now more than ever ❤

thank you, I needed this copium. I watched the movie first before diving deep into the games lore. I played fnaf 1-4 before tho and I wanted the movie to explain the lore to me. I thought the movie was pretty good but then I watched the 8 hours long video about fnaf lore and realized that the movie lore doesnt really fit the games or the comics. Im confused. I needed some theories like this!

this is literally the theory i was telling my friend in the theatre only me thinking Schmidt was the wifes surname but the dads surname also works!

This would be incredibly stupid. These movies are probably (and honestly should be) the story of the first 3 games. Micheal is already more important than he was originally.

I really like this theory!

they might have just not made mike not know about freddies so the william afton being his father twist would be more suprising I highly doubt they would change such an important plot piece

the way ive been looking at it is just "the movies not cannon"

1:54 damn I think just stupid cuz I thought Mike was implying his dad kys himself after everything

I have a theory: William and his wife are confirmed to have been divorced and that William cheated his way of custody of Elizabeth (Michael Afton's sister) so it's likely that Mike's father we see is actually his step father and William got custody of his daughter. It lines up with Mike and Vanessa being about the same age, William’s reaction to knowing Mike's full name, his reason to kidnap and kill Gareth and him knowing about Mike being his brother.

Flipping aced it with this video

Great first vid

THANK YOU I though the same thing with Garretts name I reeeally hope that William is actually Michaels dad

I wish they go back to focus more on William, what disappointed me was the criminal Amy of time we got of William and that his showdown wasn’t against ghosts but family-

Immortal and the Restless fits very well into this theory!

i came out of the theater pitching this idea to my friends and they were like "chill, it doesn't have to be exactly like the game lore" and i was like "noooo, mike needs to be aftoooon, you don't get itttt"

if matpat was here he could do what he did for the video about is he the father of dream, he could literally match up the simularites and come to a conclusion

I fully believe this +1. I believe the boy in Golden Freddy is still Afton's son. That he yelled at the other ghosts but reached for the boy in the striped shirt as he was dying. Which would mean Mike has 2 half sisters and 2 dead half brothers. Symmetry my friends. 😉

Wow this theory makes so much sense!

If they pull a "I am your father" move with springtrap I'm leaving the theater

7:06 i wished the sequel adapted SL with puppet, like one of the scrapped scripts, plus, it happens after FNaF1 in both universes (books, kinda, and games) also, about the emily and afton families swap in the movie, i would like that the puppet had 2 souls in the movies, after all, golden freddy has 2 souls in the games, cassidy and kidface, in the movie they could be charlotte and Garrett plus, kinda funny, but really good theory, keep up the good work

this theory makes sense actually.

This being a first video is so well made I can't same the same myself 😅 but I really like this theory!

Thats a pretty good theory... A FILM THEORY!!!

I don’t think they’re trying to perfectly adapt the games to each movie. The games (especially the early ones) have like zero story in them and the story they do have is supposed to have happened decades ago. When making a movie I think they really had to take liberties to make it work as a MOVIE and have it be more inspired by the game than a 1:1

i will be disappointed the most if theres no foxybro in any of the movies. the bite of 83 is like one of the most iconic scenes in the franchise and it lends itself so well to a horror movie adaptation

I adore this