Syfy gives a straight to series order for a Chucky television show from the original filmmakers of the Child’s Play franchise. Launched in 1988 and consisting of seven films, the horror movies largely focused on a serial killer nicknamed Chucky. He evades death by performing a ritual to transform his soul into a doll. In that seemingly pleasant, inanimate guise, Chucky continues his reign of terror. The horror staple has led to several tie-ins, which include comic books and a video game. Most recently, Child's Play received a reboot. Now, the world of Chucky will be examined a bit more contemplatively in the form of a television series.
The series of films have evolved and shifted over time. At first, Child’s Play leaned more into the elements of psychological horror. Other installments in the franchise veered closer to the realm of a slasher comedy. The scarier interpretations of Chucky have tended to fare better with critics but, overall, the murderous doll has always maintained an audience. By moving to the small screen though, with its episodic form and the need to flesh out supporting characters, the long-running film saga is set to embark on a fresh new challenge.
Luckily, the franchise’s creators are on board to help with the transition. Don Mancini, who co-wrote the first Child’s Play movie and wrote all of its sequels, will act as the showrunner of the Chucky television series coming to Syfy. Mancini will write the adaptation, in addition to directing the first episode. David Kirschner, a producer long involved with the franchise, is also one of the producers of the adaptation. The Child’s Play veterans will be joined behind the scenes by writer-producer Nick Antosca and the Emmy-nominated Harley Peyton, who will serve as executive producer. Antosca and Peyton have both worked on Syfy’s Channel Zero.
In the upcoming series, a picturesque American town finds itself embroiled in chaos after a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale. As a series of murders begin to unfold, exposing the town’s secrets and hypocrisies, enemies and allies from Chucky’s past threaten to reveal the truth behind the murders. There’s also the matter of the demon doll’s untold origins, as a seemingly ordinary child that turns into a monster, which the show will delve into.
In a statement, Mancini promised to remain faithful to what has made the freckle-faced toy a frequently frightening icon of pop culture for so long. He also acknowledged that the television format allows for the instantly-recognizable character to be examined with new depth. Viewers will find out for themselves if Chucky is well-served in a small screen setting. But, given that the original filmmakers are involved and that Syfy confidently greenlit it for a full series, the adaptation certainly appears to be surefooted as it moves ahead.
Source: Syfy