Apple TV+ is rebooting Ghostwriter, a popular kids show from the 1990s. The news comes on the heels of Apple releasing the first trailer for See, starring Jason Mamoa and Alfre Woodward, as well as the announcement which revealed the streaming service’s launch date and monthly price.
The original Ghostwriter was a mystery children’s show, which ran from 1992 to 1995. Critically acclaimed, and praised for how it presented a racially diverse set of characters, the story centered around a group of friends in Brooklyn that solve neighborhood mysteries and crimes with the help of an invisible ghost. The titular Ghostwriter would communicate with the group of friends by manipulating letters and texts to form words and sentences. The series has been adapted into books, made into a radio program, and a short-lived revamp aired on CBS in 1997. Apple TV+ is now making another attempt at reviving Ghostwriter, giving the concept a bit of a twist in the process.
According to Deadline, the reimagined version of the show will feature a ghost which haunts a neighborhood bookstore and unleashes a swarm of fictional characters into the real world. Four kids, armed with secret messages only they can see, must team to solve a mystery surrounding the ghost and figure out the truth. While it has become something of a running gag to label any reboot, even in the realm of children’s shows, as ‘gritty’, the description of Ghostwriter does seem to lean a little bit into that trope.
Ghostwriter, set to be available when the streaming service launches on the first of November, will be written by Luke Matheny. In addition to highlighting notable characters from classic books, the series will include work commissioned from authors like DJ Machale and Kwame Alexander. Brett Dalton, from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., is among the actors starring in the show.
The most notable titles from Apple TV+, so far, have been those that combine an intriguing premise with some big name stars. The Morning Show promises to be an unflinching look at the cutthroat world of infotainment, bolstered by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell. Dickinson is a blend of period piece and comedy, with Hailee Steinfeld in the lead. But the upcoming streaming service, like its rivals, has carved out some space for its youngest user base. Viewers will have the option of watching Snoopy in Space. Or they can follow Helpsters, which is something of a Sesame Street spinoff, along with the rebooted Ghostwriter.
Source: Deadline