David Schwimmer Wanted to Do Horror-Comedy for Years. Then ‘Goosebumps’ Called

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[This story contains some spoilers from Goosebumps: The Vanishing.]

In “Goosebumps: The Vanishing,” David Schwimmer takes on his initial significant role in the horror genre. For years, this actor, primarily recognized for his comedic and dramatic performances, has yearned to explore a more frightening character. However, Hollywood had yet to provide him with such an opportunity until now.

Schwimmer shares his longtime love for the horror-action-comedy genre, expressing that it’s thrilling for him. He mentions, ‘I’ve always been a devoted fan, but no one has ever asked me to explore this genre before,'” Schwimmer tells The Hollywood Reporter.

In the second season of the Disney+ and Sony Pictures Television series, which premiered with all eight episodes on Friday, Schwimmer portrays Anthony Brewer – a botanist who has recently divorced and is taking care of his twins CeCe (Jayden Bartels) and Devin (Sam McCarthy) during the summer. This unexpected responsibility arises as he assumes guardianship in his Brooklyn childhood home, to help support his mother suffering from dementia while on sabbatical.

Anthony, having endured a somber past himself, is resolute on ensuring his children enjoy their last summer before high school graduation to the fullest. Additionally, he’s eager to progress with his research, thanks to a DIY lab he’s constructed in his basement – a narrative that shares similarities with R.L. Stine’s book “Stay Out of the Basement” from the “Goosebumps” series.

For the co-showrunners Hilary Winston and Rob Letterman, who had previously expressed their admiration for the balance between humor and fear to THR, the actor (who has practically exhausted what can be done within a half-hour comedy genre, according to Winston) was an ideal match in terms of tone for the series.

Both of us appreciate using comedic actors in serious roles because we believe it provides an intriguing, genuine, and authentic performance. As Dave Letterman puts it, ‘It’s fascinating when someone can seamlessly move between comedy and drama.’ He’s not only an actor but also a director, which gives him unique insights into the script, direction, and storytelling aspects. Moreover, he’s a parent of a 13-year-old and saw this opportunity as a way to enjoy something new and unconventional, venturing into realms his audience might not expect.

In this part, Schwimmer got to play a father’s role again, but unlike in ‘Friends’, this time it offered him the chance to depict a paternal experience that mirrors his real-life experiences more closely.

He expresses his excitement about playing a father of a teenager, a role he embodies in reality. He shares this sentiment with THR, stating it adds an extra layer of significance to the experience at this point in his life.

Although Schwimmer has filmed numerous projects in his hometown of New York, this particular set still held a personal touch for him during the current season. One of the show’s key locations, the fort that served as the setting for all the chilling events in “The Vanishing,” was just a short distance away from where he spent his childhood. He mentions, “We filmed at Fort Totten, which is only 15 minutes from where I was born and where my grandparents used to live on Utopia Parkway in Flushing.” “I’ve worked in New York before,” he adds, “but it was truly wonderful to shoot on location.

In an adjacent borough, specifically Ditmas Park within Flatbush, Brooklyn, stands as a fictional abode for the Brewers in the TV show. This is where the character Anthony initially comes face-to-face with a strange, plant-like creature hidden in the basement following the removal of a mysterious substance from his late brother’s jacket. He warns his children to stay away from this very room, and this ominous encounter triggers a chain of chilling incidents that span the entire season.

In the lower part of his lab filled with plants and microscopes, Anthony encounters sentient vines for the first time. This encounter brings him closer to his work than ever before, and it triggers a transformation that will make viewers understand why Schwimmer was chosen for this series. “Anthony does experience some alterations in the series,” Schwimmer clarifies.

The plant first touches my skin and later appears under my arm, growing from within me. Later on, I have to expel a bulb-like growth from my arm. Meanwhile, the plant in Anthony remains more like a dark, viscous fluid oozing inside him, which he seems unaware is alive within him.

In a chilling twist for viewers, the spores responsible for Anthony’s metamorphosis were scraped from a hoodie that once belonged to his missing brother, who vanished along with several other friends at Fort Totten in 1994. What lies hidden in Anthony’s basement turns out to be the key connection between the fate of his brother at Fort Totten and the ordeals faced by CeCe, Devin, and their companions throughout the series.

As a fan, I can’t help but draw parallels between this show and the initial season of “Goosebumps.” Just like that series, it subtly explores the journey of growing up, the challenges children face when they are trying to navigate dangers that their parents often struggle to shield them from. This theme, both in fiction and reality, is something that Schwimmer acknowledges as a profound aspect of life.

Regarding teenagers, parents’ concerns never cease; they fret about their children even stepping outside the door or embarking on school journeys,” he explains. “In this television series, events escalate to become far more intense and terrifying. There’s an increased possibility for danger, whether psychological or physical. As a result, parents’ worry levels soar significantly.

Even with those risks, Schwimmer assures us that at its heart, Goosebumps: The Vanishing doesn’t just focus on the frights, but also highlights how trials related to family dynamics, growing up, and healing from past traumas can not only fortify relationships among loved ones but mend them as well.

The narrative unfolds so that during the initial few installments, you sense the strong roots and harmonious bonds within this family. However, it’s evident that each member harbors their own secrets. As time passes, there seems to be a distance between them, but eventually, we understand that the teenager’s predicament is intrinsically tied to a mystery involving the older brother of Schwimmer’s character from 1994.

In this family, everyone is there and open with one another, but all of a sudden, they seem to be avoiding each other, concealing truths from one another,” he goes on. “Eventually, they unite and collaborate intensely to rescue the world and their bond.

This character, who is a working man balancing care for his mother, two children, and dealing with past family traumas while facing escalating dangers, carries more depth than usual for parents in young adult series. It’s this complexity that attracted Schwimmer to the part.

After delving deeper by not only reading the initial script but also discussing the series’ narrative and Anthony’s background with the writers and showrunners, he felt drawn to the character. He explained, ‘This was a role I couldn’t resist.’ It simply seemed like the perfect fit.

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Goosebumps: The Vanishing is now streaming all eight episodes on Disney+.

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2025-01-11 23:55