Author RL Stine Makes an Exciting Surprise Appearance in Disney+'s 'Goosebumps' Series
Disney+ and Hulu's 'Goosebumps' series cleverly weaves author RL Stine into the storyline, surprising viewers with an epic cameo that adds an exciting twist to the narrative
Goosebumps just wouldn't be complete without a special appearance from its original creator, R.L. Stine.
In the second-to-last episode of season 1, which premiered on Friday, November 10, the primary characters find themselves contemplating their future after encountering the vengeful spirit of Harold Biddle, portrayed by Ben Cockell.
While Isaiah (Zack Morris), Margot (Isa Briones), James (Miles McKenna), Isabella (Ana Yi Puig), and Lucas (Will Price) embark on a fun-filled road trip to Seattle for the weekend, their teacher, Mr. Nathan Bratt (Justin Long), finds solace in a different manner. Inspired by his personal encounter, where he was possessed by Harold, who urged him to revive Slappy the Dummy, Nathan promptly delves into writing a book. He describes it to Ben (Leonard Roberts) as a captivating tale of mystery and murder in a quaint town, evoking elements reminiscent of Stephen King's "Carrie" and "The Shining," albeit with a touch of lightheartedness. Nathan playfully keeps silent about the extent to which their shared ordeal shapes the plot.
Nathan receives an offer to convert his manuscript into a book series, but the condition is to alter the ending. Initially, he considers unveiling that all the characters were spirits from the start, but this concept does not meet with enthusiasm from his publisher. In an effort to overcome his writer's block, Nathan takes a drive and listens to an enlightening podcast.
Subsequently, Stine's image appears on the cover of a fictional podcast named "Let the Write One In," where he imparts guidance to other writers.
JUSTIN LONG Disney/David Astorga
Ideas are frequently symbolized by a flickering light, as they originate from the depths of darkness. Creation is impossible without immersing oneself in this obscurity. Stine, who is 80 years old, expresses in the episode, "The darkness, the void that precedes the emergence of a groundbreaking concept, is where imagination takes root."
He further elaborates, "It may be intimidating, undoubtedly. As I often emphasize, every remarkable tale comprises a start, a middle, and an unexpected turn. Hence, to all you listeners out there, I ask: What are you willing to undertake?"
Premiered in October, Goosebumps revolves around five teenagers who, by inadvertently unleashing supernatural forces, must collaborate to confront and recapture malevolent spirits. In their quest, the group uncovers long-hidden secrets from their parents' history. This eerie series presents a fresh adaptation of Stine's renowned franchise, which has been captivating readers since 1992. Additionally, Goosebumps has served as a source of inspiration for numerous spinoffs, resulting in a staggering collection of 240 books.
Conor Welch and Pavun Shetty, executive producers of Goosebumps on Disney+ and Hulu, shared Stine's positive response to their TV adaptation. Welch shared in an exclusive interview with We in October that they received an email from R.L. Stine after he watched the pilot, expressing his delight with how they handled his property. Welch mentioned that Stine's presence was always at the forefront of their minds during the production process, setting a high standard for them to meet.
Welch highlighted the extensive consideration put into creating a show that evokes nostalgia for longtime Goosebumps readers while captivating new viewers.
"We were fully aware of the need to enhance the content. Our objective was to delight book fans by offering something fresh and original, rather than rehashing familiar territory," he further explained. "Simply having R.L. Stine's influence looming over us provided ample motivation to strive for the lofty standards we had set."
New episodes of Goosebumps are released every Friday on Disney+ and Hulu.
