Entertainment News

Chucky TV series coming to Syfy: 'Fresh take' on franchise promised

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

JAMES HIBBERD 

Syfy is looking to be friends to the end with Chucky.


The cable network won the television rights to the horror franchise in a competitive bidding situation. The deal allows Syfy to create a series based on the murderous red-haired doll possessed by a notorious serial killer. A TV show has been long-teased by original creator Don Mancini, and now a network is on board.

Mancini will serve as writer and executive producer. Mancini co-wrote 1988’s Child’s Play which kicked off the franchise, as well as penned its six sequels and directed three of the films. Longtime franchise producer David Kirschner is also on board, along with Nick Antosca (who worked with Mancini on Hannibal and Channel Zero).

“I’ve long wanted to bring Chucky to television and Syfy is the perfect network for us,” Mancini said. “The show will be a fresh take on the franchise, allowing us to explore Chucky’s character with a depth that is uniquely afforded by the television series format, while staying true to the original vision that has terrorized audiences for over three decades now.”

The team also wrote a statement by Chucky himself: “In these troubled times, I believe it’s my obligation as a horror icon to reach the widest possible audience, on TV,” said Chucky. “For over 30 years, I’ve been scaring the s–t out of you. But now at Syfy, I look forward to really making a difference.”

Last June, Mancini teased his TV series idea: “One of the things that has kept the franchise alive and thriving for so long is that we’ve reinvented it in different ways, by making it a comedy, and then back to horror,” he said. “But the sheer storytelling real estate of doing eight to 10 episodes… will allow us to delve into characters and relationships in a way that we’re never afforded in just a 90-minute movie. That’s really exciting to me. We’re going to be able to explore different avenues with different characters that are among fan favorites. A lot of times people will say, ‘What’s Tiffany’s backstory?’ and ‘What about Glen or Glenda?’ All these different avenues. Now we have a way of exploring all of this, and that’s really exciting.”

The news comes as a remake of the original Child’s Play — the first film without Mancini at the helm — is set to hit theaters on June 21. The film is directed by Lars Klevberg (Polaroid) and stars Aubrey Plaza.