Unmasking the Secrets of Adapting RL Stine's Goosebumps for a Thrilling New Generation

Summary

The new Goosebumps series honors the original books while bringing a fresh approach, appealing to both longtime fans and new audiences.

The show seamlessly merges horror and comedy, deftly intertwining frights and humor to deliver an engaging and relatable entertainment. Justin Long and the rest of the cast infuse their roles with depth and wit, while the show masterfully combines practical and CG effects to create a visually captivating and realistic atmosphere.

Based on R.L. Stine's acclaimed young adult horror novels, the new Goosebumps series follows a group of high school students as they delve into a dark secret from their town's past. Investigating the tragic death of teenager Harold Biddle thirty years ago, they unravel shocking revelations about their parents. Developed by Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller, the Goosebumps series features a talented cast including Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Miles McKenna, Ana Yi Puig, Will Price, Rachael Harris, and Justin Long. The first five episodes premiered on Disney+ and Hulu on October 13, while the remaining five episodes were released on consecutive Fridays.

Conor Welch & Pavun Shetty Talk Goosebumps

Our website: How does this series honor the original series while bringing a fresh, updated approach to the storytelling?

Pavun Shetty: The fact that both Conor and I grew up reading the books made it incredibly important to us. We have fond memories of sneaking into my older sister's room and stealing the Goosebumps books off her shelf. Reading them gave us a thrilling sense of being part of something beyond our age range.

We wanted to capture that feeling in the show, as well as attract a new audience, including adults who could relate to the issues portrayed on screen. Our goal was to have a cast of high school students and their parents, appealing to both longtime readers of the books and newcomers who were discovering them for the first time.

Conor, can you discuss the exhilarating challenges you encountered while adapting the legendary Goosebumps stories for a contemporary audience?

Conor Welch: Absolutely. Meeting the enormous expectations was a major hurdle. As someone who grew up reading this series, now seeing my oldest daughter and her friends embracing it, it was clear that the books hold a special place in people's hearts. The standard was set extremely high. Additionally, having R.L. Stine's support and involvement, allowing us to utilize his entire collection and providing creative input, elevated the bar even further. The level of expectation was truly extraordinary.

We aimed to create a sophisticated and elevated show that pays homage to the source material, while also providing a compelling reason for its existence in the present. In contrast to the anthology style of the book series and original TV show, we sought to develop a narrative that would captivate viewers from start to finish. To achieve this, we devised a new structure that uses five popular books as starting points for each of our five main high school characters.

As the series progresses, we gradually bring these characters together, as they discover that they are being haunted by interconnected totems. They must work collaboratively to unravel the mystery and find a solution. It was crucial for us to create a suspenseful and intriguing mystery that keeps the audience eagerly anticipating what will happen next.

The whole series is filled with numerous subtle references to Goosebumps, known as Easter eggs. Could you share how you decided what to include as these hidden surprises throughout the series?

Pavun Shetty: We were fortunate to have access to all the books, and we decided to begin by incorporating some of the popular ones. However, we also wanted to include plenty of smaller Easter eggs. Slappy, an iconic character from the Goosebumps franchise, plays a significant role in our first season. We intentionally included certain elements that only avid readers of the Goosebumps books would catch, and we hope that they acknowledge and appreciate them, just as you do.

But I believe the mystery element you mentioned is actually the most crucial aspect, enabling us to sow the seeds of intrigue. These youngsters attend a Halloween party held at an eerie abandoned house, a characteristic seen in many Goosebumps books. They cautiously descend a creaky staircase, another common feature in the Goosebumps series, only to find themselves immersed in a haunting enigma. Each discovery they make at this location profoundly affects them, resonating with the personal challenges they face. Consequently, our primary objective was to select narratives that would genuinely resonate with our young audience and align with the issues they confront. Fortuitously, we were able to draw from a plethora of other sources and seamlessly incorporate them in suitable contexts.

The cast for this show is absolutely amazing, with a perfect blend of diversity and uniqueness. Miles McKenna, Zack Morris, Isa Briones, and Anna Yi Puig deliver fantastic performances. What makes their portrayal of their characters stand out is the fact that they brought something new and different to their roles that wasn't initially written on the page. We were incredibly fortunate in finding this talented cast, as we went through an extensive audition process where we considered hundreds of teens and young adults. Our goal was to discover fresh faces who could truly embody their characters in surprising and unexpected ways. We purposely wanted to break away from the typical high school archetypes seen in movies like The Breakfast Club, where there's the jock, the pretty girl, and the wallflower. Our intention was to challenge and defy these stereotypes.

Our main character, Zack Morris, portrays Isaiah, the central figure in the pilot episode. He is the star football player, holding a prominent position in the school hierarchy. However, what sets him apart is his kindness, compassion, and inclusiveness. Unlike the typical arrogant jock stereotype, we wanted all our characters to possess these qualities. We were fortunate to have a remarkable group of kids who not only shined on screen but also formed a strong bond early on, allowing us to enhance successful elements and explore dynamic interactions with extra chemistry. Witnessing this unfold was truly an enjoyable experience that doesn't happen often.

Speaking of actors, Justin Long is someone I admire. He possesses the ability to make audiences either love or hate him based on the characters he portrays. He is a versatile actor, effortlessly blending into different roles. In Goosebumps, he plays the character Nathan, and his performance is outstanding. Recently, he has been delivering exceptional performances consistently. I would love to hear your thoughts on collaborating with Justin Long and bringing him into such an iconic franchise like Goosebumps.

Pavun Shetty: We were incredibly lucky to have Justin on board. I had the opportunity to work with him previously on a show called New Girl, so I was familiar with his incredible comedic talent. Not only had I seen him in numerous movies, especially iconic coming-of-age comedies, but he had also impressed me with his performances in great horror films like Jeepers Creepers. Despite portraying an unlikeable character in Barbarian, he had a compelling presence and incredible versatility in seamlessly transitioning between comedy and horror. This aspect was crucial for our show as we aimed to blend both genres.

Moreover, Justin excelled in physical humor. He fearlessly threw himself down flights of stairs, into lockers, and willingly took on any physical challenge we presented to him. The character he portrayed was a 16-year-old boy who had been possessed, requiring him to grapple with both mental and physical obstacles. Justin fully embraced these aspects and we were thrilled that he agreed to join our project. It was also a bonus that he had a genuine love for the books, demonstrating his deep understanding of the source material.

Conor Welch noted the importance of striking a delicate balance between fear and humor in the series. For both the young and adult actors, it was crucial that they could deliver jokes while also embracing the genuine drama and emotion of the scenes. Rachael Harris, who portrays Nora, and Rob Huebel, who plays Colin, come from comedy backgrounds and possess exceptional comedic timing. However, they also bring depth and pathos to their characters. It was truly enjoyable to witness their talent and collaborate with them on set.

The show seamlessly combines CG and practical effects to create a visually stunning experience. Could you discuss the approach used to blend these effects together? It feels like a cinematic Goosebumps, especially for a series.

Pavun Shetty: Absolutely. Rob Letterman, the creator of the show and director of the first movie, also directed the first episode here. With his expertise in special effects, he ensured that all the scares, effects, and hauntings in the show felt grounded and realistic. This was crucial because the characters are dealing with real-life issues, and it was important for these supernatural elements to feel authentic to them. We wanted to avoid any exaggerated or overly manipulated visual effects that could detract from the viewers' immersion in the story.

We desired to ensure that everyone had an equally strong interest in our characters' personal issues as they did in the hauntings they were experiencing. Consequently, all of the effects had to be realistic and grounded. Despite the presence of trolls, giant worm monsters, and time travel, it was crucial for them to seamlessly blend into the world we had crafted.

Were there any elements from the original books that you were unable to include due to time constraints or story considerations, but would be interested in revisiting in a future Goosebumps-like series, perhaps for next Halloween?

Conor Welch: Hopefully. Yeah, luckily R.L. Stine and Scholastic granted us full access to the entire collection. So, the initial five episodes derive from five of the more popular books. Additionally, there are hidden references from other books, perhaps even a nod to a dummy in the future. The series boasts an extensive range of storytelling, suggesting there are countless more tales to explore with this ensemble.

Pavun, having worked on another iconic horror remake like I Know What You Did Last Summer, did that experience aid you in preparing for a project like Goosebumps?

Pavun Shetty explained that the previous horror film lacked comedic elements, unlike Goosebumps which always incorporated comedy. He emphasized the strong connection between comedy and horror, stating that laughter often follows a jump scare. Therefore, the goal was to strike a balance between comedy and horror in the adaptation of the beloved source material. Despite the challenge of living up to fans' expectations, Shetty found it easier to work with a story that already had comedic elements.

Conor, I believe that Goosebumps and Are You Afraid Of The Dark? served as excellent gateways for me to discover my appreciation for horror. What do you anticipate young audiences will take away from this new version of Goosebumps?

Conor Welch: Absolutely. Firstly, I hope they feel a sense of connection and relevance as they witness the challenges faced by the main characters. I desire for the level of fear to surpass their expectations, much like the books did, leaving them questioning whether they should continue, yet eagerly anticipating the next installment. Additionally, I hope that they find themselves laughing throughout the entire experience, as I believe that injecting humor amidst the terrifying moments creates a more captivating journey.

Pavun, you were also an executive producer on The Boys, which has been expanding its universe in numerous ways. How do you envision Gen V integrating into the main series, and to what extent can The Boys continue to evolve beyond Diabolical and Gen V?

Pavun Shetty: Similar to Goosebumps, there is an abundance of source material and a vast world that we aim to explore. With this show, our intention was to pay homage to The Boys while introducing a fresh set of characters and exploring new issues. Gen V serves as a college-focused series, but there are plenty of other possibilities we can draw from in the future. However, we want to exercise caution in the type of shows we present. We don't want it to appear as if we're simply throwing content onto the screen for the sake of profit. We genuinely cherish The Boys, as do the fans, and we believe in quality over quantity.

And so it was intriguing because Gen V will be released this weekend, which is a college show, while Goosebumps targets high school students. It was captivating to work on developing both of these shows simultaneously and observe the contrast between high school and college experiences. It proved to be a fascinating juxtaposition. On one hand, Gen V delves into intense and mature issues, with graphic depictions of blood and gore. On the other hand, Goosebumps aims to provide a frightening experience but in a completely different tone. Therefore, it was enjoyable to tackle both projects concurrently.

About Goosebumps

Embarking on a mysterious and intricate quest, a group of five high school students delve into the enigmatic legacy surrounding the untimely demise of a teenager named Harold Biddle thirty years ago. Simultaneously, they uncover concealed truths concealed within their parents' past, shrouded in darkness.

The first six episodes of Goosebumps are available now on Disney+ and Hulu.