Disney+ reteams with R.L. Stine for revamped 'Goosebumps' series that ditches original anthology format

Viewer beware...you're in for quite a scare! Variety confirms that Disney+ has placed a chilling 10-episode order for a brand-new Goosebumps television series based on the bestselling YA horror novels penned by the legendary R.L. Stine. This is the second Stine-inspired project to land at the streaming service after the Just Beyond anthology from showrunner Seth Grahame-Smith.

Foregoing the anthology format of the original Goosebumps TV show that first aired in the 1990s, the reboot will tell a serialized story focused on a group of five high schoolers who unwittingly unleash malevolent supernatural forces on their town. The youngsters must rise above their differences in order to save the day, but all victories come at a cost as the teens uncover their parents' dark secrets.

This premise is more in line with the recent movies, which starred Jack Black as a heightened version of Stine, who rushes to contain his own horrific creations after they escape the pages of the magical books to which they have been confined.

News of the fresh television project first broke in April 2020 when producer Neal H. Moritz joined forces with Scholastic and Sony Pictures Television to bring Stine's iconic books to the small screen. Moritz already has experience with the source material, having produced two film adaptations — the first directed by Rob Letterman and the second by Ari Sandel. Together, the two features brought in just over $252 million at the worldwide box office.

Letterman (Monsters vs. Aliens, Detective Pikachu) is on board as a writer and executive producer alongside Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Muppets). The former has also been tapped to direct the first episode. Moritz and Pavun Shetty (of Original Film), Conor Welch (of Stoller Global Solutions), and Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman (of Scholastic Entertainment) are also attached as executive producers.

“Goosebumps has been keeping kids and families on the edge of their seats for nearly 30 years and we’re very excited to partner with Sony Pictures Television and Neal H. Moritz to bring the enduring brand to life in a fresh new way for today’s generation,” Lucchese said in 2020. “From the world-famous book series to a full-scale licensing program and even live-action movies starring Jack Black, Goosebumps remains wildly popular and we look forward to presenting new adventures to give fans even more Goosebumps.”

“I loved making the Goosebumps movies and can’t wait to bring even more of R. L. Stine’s incredible stories to life through a high-end television series that speaks to both adults and kids alike,” added Moritz.