‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Trailer: A Farewell to Tony Todd

Warner Bros. Pictures released the official Final Destination: Bloodlines trailer earlier today. This sixth installment, set to hit theaters on May 16, 2025, promises to deliver the gruesome, fate-defying thrills that made the series a cultural phenomenon. But beyond the elaborate death sequences and supernatural suspense, the trailer carries a bittersweet weight as it marks the final on-screen performance of horror legend Tony Todd, who passed away in November 2024. He returns as William Bludworth, Todd’s enigmatic mortician, who has been a cornerstone of the Final Destination saga.

A Glimpse into ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’

The trailer opens with an eerie sense of inevitability, a hallmark of the franchise. It introduces college student Stefanie (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), plagued by violent recurring nightmares that foretell her family’s gruesome demise. As she races home to break the cycle, the footage teases a dual-timeline narrative, hinting at a grandmother’s past evasion of death in the 1960s that now haunts her descendants. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein lean into the series’ signature Rube Goldberg-style kills, with a chilling teaser clip showing a bartender unwittingly serving a drink laced with a glass shard. The trailer’s tagline, “If you screw with Death’s plans, things can get very messy,” sets the tone for a blood-soaked return to form.

The cast, including rising stars like Brec Bassinger, Teo Briones, and Richard Harmon, brings fresh energy to the franchise, but Tony Todd’s presence anchors the film in its legacy.

Written by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor, with a story co-developed by Jon Watts, Bloodlines promises to explore new layers of the Final Destination mythology—potentially diving into Bludworth’s mysterious backstory—while delivering the visceral thrills fans crave.

Tony Todd’s Final Bow as William Bludworth

Tony Todd, who succumbed to stomach cancer at age 69, leaves behind an indelible mark on horror cinema with over 240 credits, including iconic roles in Candyman and The Crow. In Final Destination, his portrayal of William Bludworth—a cryptic figure who dispenses ominous warnings about Death’s design—has been a fan favorite since the 2000 original. Todd reprised the role in Final Destination 2 and 5 (with a voice cameo in 3), and Warner Bros. confirmed his return in Bloodlines after he completed filming in Vancouver from March to May 2024, months before his passing.

The trailer offers brief but powerful glimpses of Todd, his deep voice and commanding presence as haunting as ever. Reports suggest this installment will peel back the curtain on Bludworth’s origins, which has fans speculating about his connection to Death. His final performance is predicted to be a poignant farewell, blending nostalgia with the promise of fresh revelations and unearthed secrets.