THE TRACKING BOARD

 EXCLUSIVE
  〉Goosebumps is set to scare screens nationwide on October 16th

Readers beware, you’re in for a scare! Or maybe a treat, because sources close to The Tracking Board confirm that Sony Pictures has already set its sights on a GOOSEBUMPS sequel. Talk about a Shocker on Shock Street! Though the family horror/comedy isn’t set to spook audiences until October 16th, the studio is confident that the Jack Black-led pic could ignite a new franchise. The news isn’t too surprising given the mass appeal of the property, which is of course based on the worldwide phenomenon that is R.L. Stine’s iconic books series.

We here at The Tracking Board are also told that the studio’s on the hunt for a scribe to script the new scarefest, though it’s still in the very early stages. Naturally, sequel plans are still determined on the reception of the upcoming release, though buzz is building heavily and first impressions are good. The film’s stars, Black, Dylan Minnette, and Odeya Rush are already contracted for further sequels.

Goosebumps is based on the gargantuan book franchise published via Scholastic from 1992 to 1997. The series, which inspired multiple spin-off releases, has sold over 350 million books worldwide, many of them individual bestsellers. As millennials know, the series was a staple read and was later adapted into a popular Canadian/American television series, which can now be streamed on Netflix.

The film presents a uniquely meta, Jumanji-esque approach, setting the characters in a world where R.L. Stine has actually published his Goosebumps books. Minnette stars as Zach Cooper, who moves next door to Stine and accidentally unleashes one of the horror author’s monstrous creations from a locked manuscript.

As more and more of Stine’s classic Goosebumps characters are released, it’s up to Zach, his friends, and Stine’s own daughter to return the creatures to their pages and save their town from utter destruction.

There’s no word yet on whether the film’s director, Rob Letterman, will be back for the sequel. Neal H. Moritz and his Original Film banner are still producing.

The studio’s confidence is a good sign for the forthcoming film, which will hopefully kickstart a slew of new kid’s horror comedies.

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Clark Allen | Associate Editor