Chucky Remake and TV Series Split 'Child's Play' Storylines

Of all the long-running 80s horror franchises, only Chucky still stands. The Nightmare on Elm Street series got a reboot in 2010, Friday the 13th in 2009, Halloween in 2007. But beginning with 1988's Child's Play, Chucky has appeared in seven movies, each in continuity with the ones before, forming a coherent narrative unlike the typical horror cycle of reboots, remakes and retcons. That's about to change. A new Child's Play remake will reset one of the most complicated character arcs in horror history.

The Hollywood Reporter describes a coming remake from the producers of It , to be directed by Lars Klevberg (the upcoming Polaroid), with a script by Tyler Burton Smith (Kung Fury 2). Collider, citing anonymous sources, describes the remake as a "contemporary reboot" pitting a "technologically-advanced doll" against a Stranger Things -like group of kids. The description of Chucky as primarily a technological terror suggests the rebooted Chucky may have a new origin story. In the original Child's Play , serial killer Charles Lee Ray uses a voodoo spell to transfer his soul into a "Good Guy" doll.

The remake will not include Brad Dourif, who has voiced the murderous doll throughout the series. Instead, Dourif will voice Chucky in a television series from series producer David Kirschner and Don Mancini, writer of every entry in the series and director of the three most recent entries: Seed of Chucky, Curse of Chucky and Cult of Chucky. "We're still working on the series and also plan to continue the film franchise with Universal," Mancini told Bloody Disgusting, "We intend to stay true to the universe we've created."

Mancini and Kirschner turned down Executive Producer credits on the remake, confirming the split between the MGM remake and TV series. Instead, they'll pursue movies at Universal, further sequels in the ongoing Chucky continuity.

Chucky now has two paths. Down one, a technological terror. The other is the ongoing story last told in Cult of Chucky, which leaves the series with a lot of possible futures, ending with multiple Chuckys running around.