The Evolution of 'Chucky': Season 3 Updates, LGBTQ+ Representation, and the Timeless Allure of the Killer Doll

Article Summary

Chucky's enduring appeal lies in the unique personality and performance of the character, as well as the dedicated and talented actor, Brad Dourif.

The franchise demonstrates its commitment to consistency by reintroducing familiar actors, like Devon Sawa, despite their characters' previous deaths.

Taking a refreshing direction, Season 3 of Chucky unfolds within the White House, introducing fresh characters, expanding the mythology, and sparking thrilling conflicts.

Don Mancini, a student at UCLA, recognized the opportunity to introduce something unique to the horror genre. Taking inspiration from the popular trend of Cabbage Patch Kids, he crafted the script that would eventually become the 1988 film, Child's Play. Surpassing all expectations, the franchise has proven its enduring popularity, resulting in seven films and a television series currently in its third season on Peacock, Syfy, and USA Network. In the midst of the ongoing third season (with the second half set to be released in 2024), I had the privilege of interviewing Mancini to delve into the world of Chucky and Child's Play.

Throughout our conversation, Mancini shared insights into the familiar atmosphere that characterizes the franchise, Chucky's ongoing conflict with Devon Sawa, and the compelling reasons why audiences keep returning to their beloved companion until the end. And, of course, Mancini also confides his favorite queer horror icon, aside from Chucky. Read the full conversation below.

Our website: This is truly amazing for me personally. It brings back memories of when Bride of Chucky was released in fourth grade. I showed a picture of Chucky to my classmates trying to impress them and unfortunately, it ended up in the principal's office resulting in a two-day suspension. This incident has become a running joke in my family over the years. When I shared my current work with them today, everyone was astonished and felt like we've reached a significant milestone. It's something that really excites me.

DON MANCINI: [Laughs] I must apologize for getting you suspended all those years ago. It seems like you not only survived but also flourished.

Absolutely! The franchise has been active for nearly four decades since its inception before the movie debut. As a devoted fan, I truly admire the fact that each film and season of the show brings something completely unique. What do you think it is about Chucky that captivates viewers and audiences?

MANCINI: Primarily, it is the captivating personality and character of Chucky himself, paired with Brad Dourif's remarkable performance. That, I believe, is the crucial element. Chucky is a character who manages to be both detestable and endearing, with a certain charm that is hard to resist. This is what truly appeals to people. Additionally, Brad consistently delivers an outstanding performance, always going above and beyond. He is a dedicated and extraordinary actor, even being recognized with an Oscar nomination. Working with him is an immense privilege and pleasure, and I think we have reached a point where we enjoy pushing each other's limits. So, yes, I believe that is the reason why people continue to be drawn to the franchise. Of course, there are other factors at play, but I think that is the core of it.

Image Via SYFY

I appreciate how you consistently bring back familiar faces, such as Devon Sawa, despite their characters being killed off, as well as Michael Therriault from the films to the series. Could you hint at any cameos we can expect in the remaining episodes of the season? Alternatively, if you could simply inform us when Catherine Hicks will be making her return, that would be greatly appreciated.

MANCINI: [Laughs] I cannot confirm or deny that. I don't want to give anything away, but it's become a recurring element for us. We may include a couple more instances of that in the latter half of the season.

Was it challenging to persuade Chucky to rehire Devon Sawa? I'm aware of their conflicts online.

MANCINI: Yeah, Chucky really despises him. There's a deep-rooted animosity between them. However, Chucky seems to derive immense satisfaction from emerging victorious and subjecting him to increasingly gruesome demises. This motivates him to invest his time in this relentless pursuit.

What struck me is how captivating this is. Given the constant evolution in movies and each season being distinct, I'm curious about the reasoning behind your choice of the White House and Washington DC for Season 3.

MANCINI: My interest in White House ghost lore has been a long-standing one, and I have dedicated years to researching it. Even before considering Chucky, I had contemplated writing about the White House being haunted. I have always enjoyed haunted house and ghost stories, and I find them rich with metaphorical possibilities. What intrigued me was the lack of exploration of this topic, despite the White House being arguably the most famous house in the world. There is an abundance of ghost lore associated with it, with even Abraham Lincoln and his wife taking it seriously. Rumor has it that even more recently, Nancy Reagan brought in a psychic.

My fascination with the subject went hand in hand with our desire to reinvent Chucky and create something different from our previous endeavors. After exploring suburbia in Season 1 of the TV series, which was also touched upon in Child's Play 2, and delving into a Catholic school setting in Season 2, somewhat similar to the military school setting of Child's Play 3 but distinct, we needed a change. The White House presented a fantastic opportunity for various reasons. One challenge we constantly face is introducing new characters who are unaware of Chucky's true nature, without becoming repetitive. Placing Chucky in the White House, with its security measures and potential homicidal playground, especially if his existence remains unknown, was incredibly enticing to me. Moreover, the fact that it is the most heavily guarded house in the world creates a compelling conflict for our three teenage characters. At this point, they are aware that Chucky is alive and their sole objective is to kill him, but it is no longer a simple task as they cannot simply walk into his domain.

For all these reasons, I found it a perfect fit and a chance to expand our mythology. As you have seen, there is more happening here than just Chucky in the White House. There are other entities and spirits that play a bigger role in the second half of the season. Additionally, we get to delve deeper into our Damballa mythology. Overall, I believe the payoff for the groundwork laid in the first four episodes will be very enjoyable for the audience, and it seems to be well-received so far.

The move to Washington, D.C. was definitely unexpected, but after watching those initial four episodes, I couldn't help but think it was a brilliant idea. The inclusion of the chandelier was particularly exciting for me as a musical theater enthusiast. It made me wonder why I hadn't seen it coming.

Chucky

Release Date October 12, 2021Cast Brad Dourif, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Alex Vincent, Christine EliseMain Genre HorrorGenres Horror, ComedyRating TV-MASeasons 3

MANCINI: I’m so glad to hear you say that, that it works in that way.

Oh, it's so good.

MANCINI: Of course it's Phantom of the Opera.

Totally. Were Jake and Devon's costumes also references to the Village People because you have the cowboy, the construction worker?

MANCINI: We wanted them to have a touch of gayness. I really enjoyed it. By the way, Jennifer Tilly is my favorite, and I adore the Tiffany Valentine/Jennifer Tilly storylines. "Death on Denial" from last season was exceptional. I'm a huge fan of Jennifer and Meg [Tilly]. In addition, the inclusion of the Bound cast and the Real Housewives, which I absolutely love, was a great decision. I already knew Jennifer and Sutton [Stracke] were friends, so it was amazing to see their chemistry. Can you provide some insight into how you managed to make that happen or whose idea it was?

MANCINI: It was my idea.

Kudos to you, it was amazing.

MANCINI: No big deal! [Laughs] But Jennifer was absolutely crucial in putting it together to attract all of these people, of course. I mean, I've had some limited interactions with Gina [Gershon] over the years because she appeared in Face/Off, which was written by my friends Mike Werb and Michael Colleary. At one point, we toyed with the idea of her being in Curse of Chucky, but it didn't work out. I have met Meg a few times through Jennifer over the years, but I wasn't familiar with Sutton before. I really admire her too. She is just as entertaining in real life as she is in the show and her own show, and I thought she was excellent.

Image via Syfy

Yeah, she was!

MANCINI: She had a strong desire to learn, and we had confidence in her because she naturally exudes charisma. It was a fantastic experience. Joe Pantoliano was also involved. Unfortunately, we all contracted COVID during the filming of that episode. As the director, I had to shut down production temporarily and regroup. It was a disappointing setback. However, I believe that everyone shared my sentiment that, ultimately, it was worth it because it was an enjoyable endeavor.

It was definitely one of my favorite episodes of television. Now, before saying goodbye, I'd like to pose another question to you. In many ways, I feel like the series has transformed Chucky into a recognized figure within the queer slasher community. If you had to choose another horror character who would offer support or represent the community, who would it be?

MANCINI: That's an excellent question. Wow, it's a tough one because so many of them are non-verbal, although that doesn't mean they couldn't be supportive. [Laughs] I'm not sure. Oh, that's a fantastic question. I need time to consider. I don't think Freddy would fit the bill, as he's simply too reprehensible.

I agree with that statement. In one of the Halloween movies, Chucky kills gay characters without any discrimination.

Yes, that's a valid observation.

MANCINI: However, there is an indescribable quality about Michael Myers that exudes a sense of serenity and adaptability. This essence somehow gives me the impression that he might be - Oh, my mistake, it's actually Hannibal. It's Hannibal.

Okay. No, that is so true.

MANCINI: I mean, you know, Hannibal, he's queer himself. [Laughs] Maybe that's not fair. Maybe that's too obvious a choice, so I'll go with Michael Myers.

The first half of Chucky Season 3 is now streaming on Peacock with the second half expected to slash onto USA Network, Syfy, and Peacock in 2024.

Watch Chucky Season 3

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have grown up watching the "Chucky" franchise and have always been fascinated by the killer doll's unique personality and the talented performance of Brad Dourif. The franchise has consistently demonstrated its commitment to consistency by bringing back familiar actors, like Devon Sawa, despite their characters' previous deaths. This not only adds a sense of continuity but also allows fans to reconnect with beloved characters.

The upcoming third season of "Chucky" seems to be taking a refreshing direction by unfolding within the White House, introducing new characters, expanding the mythology, and sparking thrilling conflicts. Don Mancini's decision to introduce something unique to the horror genre, taking inspiration from the popular trend of Cabbage Patch Kids, has proven to be a successful formula that has kept audiences engaged for over three decades.