A Poltergeist TV Series May Soon Haunt Small Screens

This actually makes perfect sense, considering Poltergeist is about ghosts that gain access to a suburban family via their TV: the 1982 Steven Spielberg-produced and co-written horror classic, which spawned two sequels of varying quality and a tepid 2015 remake, may be getting a new series.

Variety had the scoop, reporting Amazon MGM Studios is in “early development” on the project. No writers are attached as of yet—and there’s no word on the plot, other than “the show will be set within the world of the film,” which seems obvious—but Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce for Amblin Television, which produced the 1982 movie.

The trade also reminds us that this isn’t the first time Poltergeist has been adapted for TV, though it’s a safe bet to say few remember Poltergeist: The Legacy despite its four-season, late-1990s run on Showtime and what was then called the Sci-Fi Channel. (“The show followed a worldwide group known as the Legacy as they protected mankind from supernatural dangers,” which still doesn’t help jog the memory, does it?)

Amazon paid $9 billion for MGM Studios—the home of James Bond and Legally Blonde—back in 2021, so it makes sense to be digging into the IP to find more material. In April, it was reported that other genre projects in the works include series reboots for RoboCop and Stargate.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Comments

The Only Version of Return of the King Worth Watching Missing From Max After Streaming Bug

Screenshot: Warner Bros. Bad news for Max subscribers who’ve made re-watching The Lord of the Rings extended editions an annual New Year tradition: the third film in the trilogy, The Return of the King — which just celebrated its 20th anniversary! —is only available to stream in its theatrical version. No ancient evil is to blame, thankfully; it’s an unspecified “tech issue,” according to a Max spokesperson who responded to a comment request from Vulture after the issue was noted by dismayed fans on Reddit . The fact that The Return of the King extended edition is merely temporarily unavailable is actually good news given Max’s track record for removing content in the past, and the explanation makes sense considering The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers remain available in both their theatrical and extended editions. The Max spokesperson assured Vulture that The Return of the King extended edition will be, ah, returning soon to the service, though as of this writing i...

Unicorn Jerky Is Not Only the Perfect Name for a CBD Candy Edible, It's Also 20% Off, and Proceeds Go to The Trevor Project [Exclusive]

You Can Visit Freddy Fazbear's Pizza in Hollywood

Image: Universal Pictures Just in time for Halloween and for the release of Blumhouse and Universal Pictures’ Five Nights at Freddy ’s fans can visit a pop-up location of the fictional franchise from the game and film. That’s right, a Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza has mysteriously appeared in Hollywood. Like in the game and upcoming film, it’s a run-down spot that’s been closed down due to some mysterious activity within. Unfortunately, you can’t actually go in unless you’re hired as a security guard (kidding)—it’s just a facade for photo-ops you can visit. Check out the video captured by deadboifilms on TikTok below at the location on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood (near the Chateau Marmont Hotel). If you want to encounter the animatronic band of fuzzy and totally friendly creatures from the game, you’ll have to visit Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, there’s a walk-through in the DreamWorks theater lobby that’s been taken over by Blumhouse which features the real Jim ...

Future Stories

Search This Blog