It looks as though Jack Black will return for ‘Goosebumps 2’.  Black starred in the 2015 original as a fictionalized version of writer R.L. Stine who penned the popular ’90s YA horror novels.  (Stine made a cameo in the film, as well.)  Until recently, it seemed as though there would be a scheduling conflict that would prevent Black from returning for the sequel. In fact, Rob Lieber was reportedly brought in to pen a new script that would omit the Stine character.

Sony has shuffled some of its release dates, which helps to free up Black.  It’s pushing its Ice Age action movie ‘Alpha’ from its March 2 date to September 14, taking it out of competition with the Jennifer Lawrence spy flick ‘Red Sparrow’.  ‘Goosebumps 2’ is being pushed closer to Halloween, from September 21 to October 12.  Amblin/Universal has another horror film starring Black, the adult-skewing Eli Roth film ‘The House With a Clock in its Walls’ coming out on September 21, so that would have been two competing Jack Black movies coming out on the same day.  Now ‘Goosebumps 2’ will compete with Lionsgate’s horror movie ‘Hellfest’ as well as Universal’s biopic ‘First Man’.

There shouldn’t be much overlap between ‘Goosebumps 2’ and ‘Hellfest’ since the former is aimed at children and families, while the second is a more straightforward slasher flick.  It’s interesting, however, that ‘Hellfest’ is set in a theme park, where a killer goes on a spree, while the patrons don’t realize that this isn’t just part of the show.  ‘Goosebumps 2’ was, at one point, supposed to be subtitled ‘Horrorland’ and was also set at an amusement park.  That may still be the case, but it was last reported that the subtitle had switched to ‘Slappy’s Revenge’, named after the most popular monster from the books, Slappy the ventriloquist’s dummy.  Black also voiced Slappy in the first movie but was uncredited.  It would be an odd coincidence to have two horror movies with a theme park concept opening on the same day while targeting two completely different demographics.

The first ‘Goosebumps’ costarred Dylan Minette, Odeya Rush and Ryan Lee.  So far, no casting announcements have been made about the sequel.  Ari Sandel will direct the second movie.

Are you intrigued to see another ‘Goosebumps’ with Jack Black as R.L. Stine?

Source: Deadline