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Exclusive: Executive Producers of Disney+’s Goosebumps Talks introducing the Franchise to the current generation at New York Comic Con
At New York Comic Con, the executive producers of Disney+’s new adaptation of the beloved “Goosebumps” spoke with the press. The producers, known for their expertise in creating thrilling and family-friendly content, shared insights into their approach to reviving the classic series.
The audience was treated to a sneak peek of what to expect from the new “Goosebumps” series, with promises of spine-tingling adventures, nostalgic callbacks, and fresh, modern twists. Their presence at the convention generated significant buzz and anticipation for the upcoming show, reminding fans that the eerie tales of R.L. Stine are set to captivate a new generation of viewers on the Disney+ platform.
During the press conference at New York Comic Con, Executive Producer Rob Letterman took the opportunity to discuss the approach to the new “Goosebumps” series compared to its earlier iterations. Letterman emphasized the importance of staying true to the essence of R.L. Stine’s iconic tales while also infusing them with a fresh, contemporary twist.
He explained that the advancements in technology and storytelling techniques since the original “Goosebumps” series allowed the creative team to dive deeper into the eerie and supernatural elements, making the scares even more captivating. Moreover, Letterman highlighted the commitment to bringing the beloved characters and monsters to life in a way that would resonate with both dedicated fans of the classic books and a new generation of viewers. His insights provided an exciting glimpse into the approach that would make the upcoming “Goosebumps” adaptation a thrilling and faithful reimagining of the beloved series.
“I think that the big difference was that like the books, this was serialized. And so it is complicated to tell a story that has lots of interconnections and stuff. And so that was the huge difference,” he said.
Nicholas Stoller, one of the Executive Producers behind the new “Goosebumps” series, emphasized the necessity for the franchise to evolve with the times when we asked him. He noted that while the original “Goosebumps” captivated a generation of readers and viewers, the modern audience has different expectations and a changed media landscape. Stoller stressed the importance of preserving the essence and eerie charm of R.L. Stine’s stories while adapting them to cater to today’s audience.
“Trying to get it elevated where it would appeal to people who may have grown up on the books and are in their thirties and forties now, as well as young, younger teens and people who have no experience with Goosebumps inspired us to make a show that works for everybody,” he said. “And we also tonally, in putting in addition to obviously the goose bumps and the horror stuff wanted to draw upon, like movies that we all loved as kids, like the John Hughes movies or, you know, like a TV show, like Freaks and Geeks or Edge of Seventeen likes that stuff that really respects kids.”
We asked Hilary Winston, one of the Executive Producers of the new “Goosebumps” series, about the show’s approach. Winston emphasized the importance of grounding the narrative in authenticity and transparency. She noted that, while “Goosebumps” is known for its supernatural and spine-tingling elements, maintaining a sense of relatability and emotional depth is key to engaging the audience. This approach ensures that the scares and thrills are not only entertaining but also resonate with viewers on a more profound level. By striving for a balance between the fantastical and the emotionally authentic, “Goosebumps” aims to deliver a compelling and unforgettable storytelling experience for its audience.
“This show is really grounded,” she said. “How would you actually react if this stuff was happening in your life, if you really found a haunted mask? Like, how would you act? And that’s one of the things that we always talked about in the writers and production room.”
As we know them, fairy tales often involve a protagonist lacking control over her or his fate. Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were driven into hiding, yet were doomed with a sleeping curse anyway—curses that could only be broken had their true love decided to awaken them. Rapunzel is locked away in a tower with no doors, needing a hero to rescue her. It’s exactly this what Siyu Liu set out to deconstruct in her directorial feature debut (and original screenplay) Flaming Cloud.
There are no villainous characters with wicked intentions to be found in Siyu Liu’s fairytale story, but Gods and Goddesses with voyeuristic tendencies and penchants for placing wagers pulling the strings. The story begins when two of the deities boldly place the most consequential wager any of them have ever witnessed—the existence of true love. Because of the wager, a randomly chosen baby, and the story’s hero, Sangui (played by Hu Xian Xu), is doomed to a curse of putting whoever he kisses to sleep, stripping him of agency over his destiny (or so we think?)
Branded a freak by his fellow villagers and socially ostracized at a young age, Sangui sets out on a hero’s journey, albeit one of a long period of loneliness, to the idyllic White Stone City. On his journey, he meets two women who represent fairy tale archetypes we’re well-acquainted with, each with their own wishes, but also unfulfilled needs.
Instead of making their own fairy tale wish come true, each character instead finds satisfaction in growing—by learning what they needed all along. For Sangui, this means finding the courage to confront his fears, and for the “wicked witch” character, who is very much the heart of this story, means facing her regrets. “Regrets can be curses too.” she whispers to Sangui in between exhausted breaths. In using surrealism, Siyu Liu reminds us that realizing what we needed all along can better than anything we can wish for.
Siyu Liu’s use of anachronisms in the costumes beautifully speaks to the timelessness of fairy tales, from 1920s flapper headbands to 1970s boho dresses—even the 1950s Philco Predicta televisions, which the Deities huddled around in sport to watch Sangui for a long period of his life. Combining the motifs and lessons of European fairy tales (and classic Disney films, by extension) and Chinese mythology, she masterfully tells a cross-cultural story, as seen from the moment the story begins with a kingdom of deities placing a wager on a “flaming cloud.”
Perhaps the biggest lesson of all from Flaming Cloud is that true love does indeed exist, but it does come to die one day—and yet, we all still reach for these stories for comfort. “Not everyone believes in true love,” Siyu Liu writes in the final frame of the film. “But we all long for that moment when it arrives with its magic.” Yes, yes we do.
I might be late to the party when writing this and I might sound like a broken record when talking about this movie, but Robert Zemeckis did a really solid job adapting ‘Pinocchio’ to live-action. It may not have been as great as Guillermo Del Toro’s version but that doesn’t mean that the film is terrible.
Sometimes I think on the nature of memories and this recent MCU addition, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, conjured up an interesting thought. When I think about what a Big Mac from McDonalds tastes like, do I remember what the last what tasted like or do I recall some particularly average or even above average taste from years and year ago?
On The Scene: Red Carpet Premiere and Influencer Screening of Disney’s “Peter Pan & Wendy”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK—On Friday, April 28, Disney will take kids of all ages to Neverland once again when “Peter Pan & Wendy” debuts on Disney+. So, naturally, there was no better place to hold the movie’s premiere than on an ACTUAL pirate ship.