The evil doll Chucky is a fan favorite in the horror genre, thanks to the inventive and interesting Child's Play franchise. When news came out that the TV show Chucky would be premiering in fall 2021, fans wondered what it would be like, and it proved itself to be a smart 8-episode season with a great blend of familiar and new characters.
Whether Chucky is scaring a whole new group of young adults or fans get to catch up with favorite characters like Andy and Jennifer Tilly, there's a lot to love about Chucky, and fans will enjoy hearing these fun facts about the making of the TV series.
There Is No CGI
Fans will always remember Chucky's best lines in the Child's Play franchise, and the terrifying doll has a fresh yet familiar look in the TV series. He's got his trademark orange hair and a stylish striped shirt and jean overalls, and fans want to learn more about how he was created for this TV show.
In an interview with Looper, creator Don Mancini shared that the show doesn't have CGI. He said, "We use visual effects to erase puppeteers and rods and cables and stuff, but the puppets themselves, it's fully 100% animatronic."
The Character Of Jake Is Inspired By Don Mancini
Part of what makes Chucky work so well is the characters, especially the protagonist, Jake. He's exploring his feelings for Devon and grieving the loss of his dad, all the while wondering how he's going to beat Chucky at his own game.
Zackary Arthur shared with Collider that Don Mancini told him “I put pieces of myself in this script, your character especially.” This allowed Arthur to ask him some questions and become more deeply involved in the role.
Mancini Wanted To Share More About Chucky's Past
Even loyal fans who have seen every single movie, including the 2019 version, can find something new to love about the TV show. That's because many of the episodes trace how Chucky got to where he is today.
Don Mancini told Den Of Geek that fans of the franchise have always wanted to know more about Chucky's past and the show offers up the opportunity for audiences to learn all about it. Mancini explained, “How did he become a killer in the first place? How did he come to dabble in voodoo? I think people will find all of that stuff really interesting.”
Season 1 Of Chucky Filmed In The Greater Toronto Area
The small town in Chucky is just as atmospheric and calming as many in horror movies and TV series, which is of course a great contrast to everything that Chucky is doing.
According to The Cinemaholic, season 1 of Chucky filmed in Hamilton and Toronto. Some locations include The Devil’s Punchbowl Conservation Area and Mississauga's Square One.
Jennifer Tilly Was Excited To Work With Fiona Dourif
While Chucky would work well with just the brand new characters, these episodes feel special because some actors and characters have returned.
Child's Play fans were thrilled to see Fiona Dourif playing Chucky in flashback scenes of Chucky, along with Jennifer Tilly. As Tilly told TV Line, she loved working with the actor: "She’s so great with improv. If I throw something at her, she’ll throw it right back."
The Series Was In The Works For A While
In an interview with Pop Horror, Alex Vincent, who became famous for playing the kid in the very first Child's Play movie, said that he knew about the TV show a long time ago.
Vincent explained, "I knew that this was his plan as we were making Cult of Chucky. We had already talked about it, but there were a few obstacles like COVID and that [2019] MGM film."
The Show Is Meant To Scare Audiences
There are some intelligent characters on Chucky, and while it's a well-written series with teenagers with real storylines and emotions, it's also an undeniably scary show. It really does feel like Chucky is lurking anywhere and everywhere and that Jake and his friends are in for a real nightmare.
Don Mancini told SyFy Wire, "With this TV show, our mission has been to preserve the straightforward scariness of the original film or the first couple of films."
Zackary Arthur Called Stepping Into This Role "Nerve-Racking"
Chucky was so highly anticipated because of the place that the franchise has in popular culture, and if fans are curious if the actors felt that people had big expectations for these episodes, that definitely seems to be the case.
In an interview with TV Line, Zackary Arthur said, "You could ask anyone on the street if they know Chucky the killer doll, and 99 percent of the time they’re going to say yes. So, it was a little nerve-wracking."
The Show Has A Deliberate Theme Song
There are many Chucky characters who are full of courage, which is of course necessary since they could be killed by Chucky at any given moment. Viewers have noticed that the opening credits look really cool and feature a great song.
In an interview with Bleeding Cool, composer Joe LoDuca shared that Don Mancini said that the franchise didn't have a "consistent use of music" so it would be great to have a theme song. LoDuca said, "I wrote a theme which we happened to keep using that is done on a toy piano, but it implies something more sinister."
The Whole Franchise Has Continuity
In an interview with Fandom, Christine Elise, who played Kyle again in the TV show, said that the franchise is great because the stories continue.
Elise said that the franchise "hasn’t ever betrayed any of the story it’s been telling over 33 years. It hasn’t betrayed any characters" and unlike some other franchises, audiences aren't asked to "pretend you didn’t watch somebody die and come back to life again."