The sequel to the 2015 family hit ‘Goosebumps’ is having some trouble getting off the ground. Jack Black starred in the first film, as a fictionalized version of R.L. Stine, the writer of the bestselling 90s YA book series, who found his horrific creations unleashed into the real world. But Black’s busy schedule may prevent him from reprising his role in a follow-up, which Columbia Pictures had hoped to have in theaters by September 2018. Recently, Rob Lieber was brought on board to pen a new script, omitting Black’s character. The film had been planned to be called ‘Goosebumps: Horrorland’ after one of the most popular books in the series, about a theme park populated by monsters. Now, it appears that Lieber’s script will instead be called ‘Goosebumps: Slappy’s Revenge’.
Slappy the evil ventriloquist’s dummy is hands-down the most famous ‘Goosebumps’ ghoul, and the creepiest, despite his relatively small stature. He was the central baddie in the first movie. It seems as though if the biggest star from the first film can’t return for the follow-up, the studio will instead focus on the most memorable villain.
Ironically, Black himself voiced Slappy in the first film, but if he can’t return, it’s much easier to recast a voice than an on-camera person.
Rob Letterman, director of the first film, is already confirmed as not returning. He is instead directing the Pokémon movie, ‘Detective Pikachu’. Ari Sandel (‘The DUFF’) will step in, in his place.
With all of these shakeups behind the scenes, it doesn’t seem possible that the second ‘Goosebumps’ movie– whatever the name winds up being– will make its 2018 release date. It’s more likely that this will get pushed to 2019.
Black’s Stine was the only character that was confirmed to have been intended to return in the sequel. The first movie also starred Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, and Ryan Lee.
We’ll have to see how things turn out. But in the meantime, are you excited that Slappy will possibly return? What if it’s at the expense of Black’s Stine?
Source: ComicBook.com
