Child's Play creator Don Mancini explains how the 2019 reboot could have impacted his upcoming Chucky TV show. Mancini started the Child's Play franchise back in 1988. Six sequels were released afterward within the same timeline before a reboot from the up-and-coming director Lars Klevberg came out. The Child's Play reboot was released in 2019, focusing on a high-tech Chucky doll, with Mark Hamill voicing the iconic character.
While some horror fans were excited to see the killer doll back up on the big screen, others were concerned since Mancini and long-time Chucky voice actor Brad Dourif were not involved in the film. In fact, both of them seemed to be incredibly against the idea of rebooting the series, likely because Mancini still had plans to continue his story in a TV show. Mancini even rejected a producer credit on the reboot. MGM's film got mixed reviews upon release, making Child's Play sequels within the reboot continuity unlikely to happen.
Some may be disappointed that a new Child's Play 2 might not happen, but Mancini himself seems relieved. In an interview with Comicbook, Mancini was asked if he felt like he was reclaiming the character after the reboot. The Child's Play creator explained that the reception of the reboot could have affected his TV show if Universal decided there wasn't enough interest in the character. Mancini also hasn't seen the reboot because he doesn't want to be influenced by another version of his character. His full comments from the interview can be read below:
I did, sure, because there was no way of knowing how that could impact what we've been doing for decades at Universal. And there was worry about it, it wasn't just me. It was also powers that be at the studio, like how much appetite is there going to be for this character? And if that movie had broken out, if it had been successful, then it could have harmed our plans. Fortunately, that didn't happen. Honestly, I'm at a point in my life where the main emotion I feel at junctures like that is just relief and gratitude that we got to make our show. Seems like people are liking it. All good. I don't bear any resentment particularly against any of the people involved in that movie. They were doing a job. Although the producers, maybe I can bear a grudge for a while longer.”
"I've not seen the movie because I just didn't want to. I just don't want to be distracted. That is just another thing. It's just this other version of my character out there, I don't want to be distracted or influenced by that.”
If Child's Play 2 was greenlit, it certainly could have negatively affected Mancini's upcoming series. Having two different versions of the same character could have confused casual viewers and created competition for his show. That being said, if Child's Play 2 and Chucky did come out at the same time, Mancini would have had the upper hand. Die-hard fans would have been more excited to see the next chapter in Mancini's story, and with theaters still recovering from the pandemic, a TV show is likely to draw in a bigger crowd.
Klevberg mentioned last year that Child's Play 2 could still happen, yet there hasn't been any significant news on the sequel since. On the other hand, Chucky has the potential to live on for years to come if it is renewed for a second season. The 10-episode series will release weekly starting on October 12th, so USA and Syfy will likely wait to see how it does with viewers before they greenlight another season. Chucky could end up being a limited series, but with Mancini's clear enthusiasm for the franchise, he likely has more stories in mind for the characters.
Chucky premieres on Syfy and USA on October 12th
Source: Comicbook