R.L. Stine Says Three New ‘Fear Street’ Films Are in the Works, Reacts to How ‘Goosebumps: The Vanishing’ Elevates the Horror

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As a long-time fan of R.L. Stine‘s work, I must say that delving into his world once again has been a delightful journey down memory lane. Having grown up with his books and seeing them come to life on screen is truly heartwarming. The way he seamlessly blends horror with humor, making it accessible for children while still keeping adults engaged, is commendable.

What I find particularly fascinating about Mr. Stine’s life experience is his ability to maintain the essence of his stories despite the passage of time. He manages to capture the spirit of youth and fear in a way that transcends generations, making his work timeless.

Now, coming to the matter at hand, it’s intriguing to see how Disney Branded Television has been able to tap into the co-viewing era with shows like Goosebumps. I remember watching cartoons as a kid, and the idea of a streaming service that caters to families seems like a dream come true for parents everywhere.

Lastly, let me share a little joke: You know what’s scarier than a haunted house or a monster in the closet? Running out of Stine books! That’s a real horror story right there! Keep up the fantastic work, Mr. Stine, and may your stories continue to keep us entertained for years to come.

More murder and mayhem is coming to Shadyside with three more Fear Street films in development. 

As a fan who can’t get enough of R.L. Stine’s chilling middle-grade horror tales, I was thrilled to learn from the master himself that there are even more adaptations of his beloved young adult horror series on the horizon! He shared this exciting news during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter before the premiere of Disney+’s Goosebumps: The Vanishing, airing on January 10.

“The writers are working,” Stine shared. “So I’ve got my fingers crossed.”

Three forthcoming movies are set to continue the success of Netflix’s Leigh Janiak-directed trilogy from 2021, along with “The Prom Queen,” the fourth film in the series. This movie has wrapped up production and is expected to release in 2025, although further details have yet to be disclosed by Netflix. (The Hollywood Reporter has made an inquiry for additional information.)

The popular horror series for young adults, initially published as “The New Girl” back in 1989, had already sold over 80 million copies by the year 2010. In total, it consists of 51 main books. Additionally, more than 100 spin-offs were introduced starting from 2014 by its author.

The Fear Street series, blending elements of both slasher and supernatural genres, focuses on a group of teenagers in the fictitious town of Shadyside who face malevolent and deadly entities and opponents. Unlike Goosebumps, R.L. Stine’s highly successful and best-selling preteen series, Fear Street has always been marked by its darker, more mature themes and situations – an audience that the author continues to be passionate about writing for.

Stine stated to THR that the most exceptional audience is the age group between 7 and 11. “At this stage in their lives,” he said, “they’re enthusiastic about reading and buying things. They’re eager to know you, write to you, and even meet you. They’re extraordinary. But once they turn 12, they become preoccupied with discovering sex and wanting to be cool, and they lose interest.

The triumph of the Fear Street movie trilogy and the recent serial anthology adaptation of Goosebumps on Disney+ suggest that R.L. Stine’s fanbase might not be drifting away as rapidly as previously thought, due to an interest in his stories even among older audiences. When Hollywood initially attempted to modernize the Goosebumps narrative, the first season of the Disney+ series, which debuted in 2023 for Halloween, quickly climbed into Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming ratings within its second week. This was a noteworthy achievement as it was one of the few Disney+ series to make this list that wasn’t associated with Marvel or Star Wars properties. The series is also accessible on Hulu.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve only managed to catch two episodes of the revamped second season of “The Vanishing” before my chat with THR, but let me tell you, I’m thoroughly impressed by how authentically they’re adapting Stine’s classic middle-grade series. The streamer’s mature take on these beloved stories is truly capturing the essence of the books I grew up with.

One key aspect he highlighted was the element of surprise or unexpected twists – the shocks. When crafting a ‘Goosebumps’ story, these surprises are paramount for him, focusing on the plot twists and sudden changes. A line from the ‘Goosebumps’ movie, where Jack Black portrayed him, encapsulates this perfectly: ‘Every story has a beginning, a middle, and a twist.’ This phrase perfectly sums up the essence of ‘Goosebumps,’ and it applies to the TV show as well. He emphasized that these stories are not predictable, deviating from the usual linear pattern found in much children’s literature and many horror movies. Instead, he strives to include something unforeseen that keeps readers guessing.

In relation to the anthology series, Stine pointed out that one aspect of the second season featuring David Schwimmer that they’ve nailed is their portrayal of bungling adults. “Another thing I admire,” he added, “and this aligns with the books, is that the parent is always incompetent.” In the Goosebumps series, either they don’t believe the child or they’re absent and unhelpful.

He found it remarkable that the new series employs an older cast to intensify the horror elements, which were previously depicted in his childhood series.

Initially, I was taken aback to find so many adolescents roaming around. However, upon reflection, they’ve grown up a bit – they’re now high school students. Furthermore, they’ve increased the fear factor, making the experience even more chilling. After watching the first two episodes of the latest season, I must admit it’s strikingly different and incredibly terrifying.

What sets Goosebumps apart is that no characters ever meet their demise. This is unlike Fear Street, where numerous teenagers are killed off. The author pointed out to THR that they love killing off teenagers in Fear Street. In the new season of Goosebumps, there have been deaths in the first two episodes, but these events occurred 30 years ago, which makes it a different kind of Goosebumps, though it has been made more intense.

Prior to the launch of its first season, Disney Branded Television’s president Ayo Davis shared with THR that Goosebumps represents a significant step for the streaming platform into its era of shared viewing. This follows a past pattern of engagement in the preschool and elementary-aged (6-11) demographic, often referred to as playing in their sandbox.

As a devoted Disney fan, I’ve always appreciated their commitment to children and families, showcased primarily through channels like Disney Channel and Disney Jr. However, in recent years, we’ve ventured beyond these platforms, producing content tailored for Disney+ as well. This shift has been crucial in catering to the family and co-viewing experience. Now, we’re eager to enhance that shared viewing moment even more, and that’s why we found ‘Goosebumps’ to be an ideal choice to expand our audience for this title.

As a gamer, I dived headfirst into the first season consisting of ten episodes, which featured Justin Long. This season was inspired by some of Stine’s most famous series entries and followed a group of five teens from the Pacific Northwest. After hosting a house party where a boy passed away years ago, we all ventured down to the basement. Each of us left with our own cursed artifact, which started causing chaos in our lives and eventually exposed a chilling secret that our parents had been hiding.

In the upcoming second season of the show, creators Hilary Winston and Rob Letterman shared during the New York Comic Con event that “The Vanishing” will adapt stories such as “Stay Out of the Basement,” “The Haunted Car,” “Monster Blood,” “The Girl Who Cried Monster,” “The Ghost Next Door,” and “Welcome To Camp Nightmare.” At last year’s New York Comic Con, they also mentioned that a found footage episode would be included in the season, with “Blair Witch” director Eduardo Sánchez at the helm.

Starring alongside Goosebumps: The Vanishing are Ana Ortiz, Jayden Bartels, Sam McCarthy, Elijah M. Cooper, Galilea La Salvia, Francesca Noel and Stony Blyden. The entire season will be available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu starting January 10.

Besides “The Vanishing” and the upcoming “The Prom Queen”, if asked which of his books Stine would like to see adapted next, the author revealed it’s a less popular “Goosebumps” book that hasn’t attracted much attention: “Brain Juice”.

Stine mentioned that the story revolves around children who consume a magical purple drink, causing them to become increasingly intelligent. However, their intelligence becomes problematic as they are expelled from school, lose their peers, and eventually abducted by extraterrestrials. The journey to another planet results in their intellect diminishing. This Goosebumps book is Stine’s personal favorite, although it remains unknown and unadapted.

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2025-01-03 21:27