Syfy has announced that a series based on Child’s Play killer Chucky has been put into development, the first time the character has been adapted for television.
“It’s very rare that you get the opportunity to bring such an iconic character to your network, let alone with the original creator attached,” said Bill McGoldrick, NBCU Cable Entertainment president of scripted. “We look forward to working with Don, David and Nick on putting their blood, sweat, and more blood into bringing the Chucky story to television.”
Child’s Play franchise creator Henry Mancini will write the pilot script, with David Kirschner (Hocus Pocus) and Nick Antosca (Channel Zero) executive producing. There’s no word yet on the series storyline or how it fits into the continuity of the original film franchise, which is seven movies deep having spawned its latest sequel in 2017. The franchise has also inspired a reboot directed by Lars Klevberg and scripted by Tyler Burton Smith that will be released this summer.
In addition to this news, Syfy has also confirmed pilot orders for Cipher, executive produced by Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down) and serial killer thriller (Future) Cult Classic.
From Allison Miller (Strange Angel), Cipher follows a 13-year-old video game junkie whose brain is unexpectedly implanted with secret military technology. (Future) Cult Classic, meanwhile, tells the story of a group of teenagers whose community is targeted by a serial killer obsessed with ’90s slash flicks. The group must band together and track down the killer using what inspired him if they hope to rid themselves of him once and for all.
They join Resident Alien, based on the Peter Horgan and Steve Parkhouse comic series, on the network’s pilot roster. Currently in the script stage are a re-imagining of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery and a drama based on Clive Barker’s Nightbreed.
Syfy’s scripted slate includes The Magicians, Deadly Class, Krypton, Van Helsing, Killjoys, Wynonna Earp, and Happy!, with the fate of Nightflyers still to be determined.
