Goosebumps Revival Looks Terrifying In First Trailer For Disney+ Series
October is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time for spine shivers, raised hairs, and of course, goosebumps. The trailer for the new series adaptation of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps is finally here. The show begins streaming on Hulu and Disney+ on Friday, October 13, as part of the Huluween and Hallowstream traditions.
A new Goosebumps series is coming to Hulu and Disney+ on October 13, just in time for Halloween.
Goosebumps is resurrecting classic elements from Stine’s books in a new story. Terrifying relics like Slappy the Dummy and the Haunted Mask make appearances in the trailer, which centers on a group of teens who contend with the vengeful ghost of a teenager from their parents’ high school days.
Don’t let the nostalgic references fool you – this series looks to be the most terrifying iteration of Goosebumps yet. It is a decidedly darker, more cinematic take than the Fox Kids series from the 1990s, and it is trading the silliness of the 2015 reboot movie for some serious spookiness.
The trailer begins with the town’s new English teacher, played by Justin Long, possessed by a ghost haunting his new house. From there, the sinister spirit’s presence topples a domino effect of bizarre occurrences, hinting at a large, interconnected web of ominous occurrences.
R.L. Stine published the first Goosebumps book, Welcome to Dead House, back in 1992.
The show seems to embrace its teen horror roots, but the new Goosebumps is not losing the fun at the heart of its source material. The trailer has as many laughs as it does scares, promising a fresh cast of high school characters and an engaging mystery.
Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Miles McKenna, Ana Yi Puig, and Will Price headline the teenage cast. Justin Long and Rachael Harris join them as adults caught in the spooky mystery ensnaring the town.
Rob Letterman, the director behind the 2015 Goosebumps film, returns to direct the pilot episode of the new series, writing and executive producing alongside the prolific writer, director, and producer Nicholas Stoller. The 10-episode first season will run through November 17, releasing weekly following a five-episode debut on October 13.
The Goosebumps books began in 1992. Author R.L. Stine cranked out the book series’ original run, delivering 62 terrifying tales over the course of five years. Those stories laid the foundation for spin-off books, comics, a 74-episode TV series, and two feature films featuring Jack Black as R.L. Stine battling his creations as they breach the real world.
The last film, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, was released in 2018, garnering a lukewarm response. A new series was announced in 2020. It was developed by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Original Film, and Scholastic Entertainment.
Jack Black played R.L. Stine in both Goosebumps feature films, but fans thought they leaned too far into comedy and missed the bite of the original series.
Now, the new take on Goosebumps is upon us. Goosebumps appears to bring something fresh to the franchise in an age of exhaustive sequels and reboots. Its trailer plays like a kid-friendly It or Stranger Things. Like Stine’s books, the series could be billed as Stephen King for kids.
With a release set for Friday the 13th, Goosebumps looks to take the 2023 Halloween season to a new level of fun. Check it out on Hulu, Disney+, or Freeform – if you dare.
