Summary
A television series based onPoltergeistis now in development. The original 1982 movieis one of the most iconic horror films of its era, telling a supernatural horror tale about a family whose home is haunted by demonic ghosts. The film was directed by Tobe Hooper and featured a leading cast including JoBeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Oliver Robbins, and Dominique Dunne. ThePoltergeistfranchisehas already continued beyond the 1982 film, getting a panned remake in 2015 among other sequels.
As perVariety, aTV adaptation ofPoltergeistis now in development. The series showrunners will be Kalinda Vasquez and Robbie Thompson, who will also both serve as writers and executive producers on the series. The plot details for thePoltergeistseries have not yet been revealed, but it is confirmed that the show will be inspired by the iconic horror film of the same name. Amazon MGM studios heads production on the series, which will also be produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which brings with it producers Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.
How The Poltergeist Show Fits In With A Recent Horror Trend
A Number Of Classic Horror Films Are Being Reimagined
Vasquez’s previous most notable TV credits includeFear the Walking Dead, with other titles includingPrison Break,Star Trek: Discovery, andOnce Upon a Time. Thompson was a writer and producer on the CW seriesSupernaturaland later the showrunner for the spinoff series,The Winchesters. While none of these titles are directly within the horror realm, Vasquez and Thompson’s experiences with projects that are suspenseful and supernatural bode well for how they will take onPoltergeist.
Poltergeistis far from the only classic horror that has received a reimagining in recent years. TheChild’s Playserieshas taken off since its debut in 1988, and more recently got its own TV show with SyFy’sChucky, which began in 2021. Two ’70s films,The OmenandThe Exorcist, have also recently had legacy sequels. This includesThe Exorcist: Believer, which was released last year, and this year’sThe First Omen.
Thesehorror legacy sequels have been met with a wide range of reviews.The Exorcist: Believerwas critically panned, with a number of people calling it a franchise low, whereasThe First Omenreceived positive reviews. Despite this praise,The First Omenstruggled at the box office, experiencing a slow start. TheChuckyseries has gotten good reviews so far, with season 3 receiving a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. With an increasing number of 20th century horror classics getting remade, audiences will proceed with more scrutiny when it comes to thePoltergeistseries, which could have an effect on the show is ultimate received.
