Summary
- A TV adaptation of Poltergeist is in development.
- The showrunners for the series are Kalinda Vasquez ( Fear the Walking Dead ) and Robbie Thompson ( Supernatural ).
- This latest adaptation of a classic horror film follows a recent trend that includes a Chucky TV show and a legacy sequel to The Exorcist .
A television series based on Poltergeist is now in development. The original 1982 movie is 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. The Poltergeist franchise has already continued beyond the 1982 film, getting a panned remake in 2015 among other sequels.
As per Variety, a TV adaptation of Poltergeist is 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 the Poltergeist series 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 include Fear the Walking Dead, with other titles including Prison Break, Star Trek: Discovery, and Once Upon a Time. Thompson was a writer and producer on the CW series Supernatural and 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 on Poltergeist.
Poltergeist is far from the only classic horror that has received a reimagining in recent years. The Child's Play series has taken off since its debut in 1988, and more recently got its own TV show with SyFy's Chucky, which began in 2021. Two '70s films, The Omen and The Exorcist, have also recently had legacy sequels. This includes The Exorcist: Believer, which was released last year, and this year's The First Omen.
These horror legacy sequels have been met with a wide range of reviews. The Exorcist: Believer was critically panned, with a number of people calling it a franchise low, whereas The First Omen received positive reviews. Despite this praise, The First Omen struggled at the box office, experiencing a slow start. The Chucky series 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 the Poltergeist series, which could have an effect on the show is ultimate received.
Source: Variety
