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New “Tales From the Crypt” Being Retooled?!
The Cryptkeeper has many stories to tell…
Back in January we reported that TNT was reviving “Tales From the Crypt” with M. Night Shyamalan acting as “curator” of the two-hour horror block.
Details were scarce, but Bloody Disgusting was able to find out all sorts of inside information, with the biggest news being that there will be a new “Crypt Keeper” (HBO owns the rights to the John Kassir-voiced host).
We also discovered that the plan was for the new “Tales From the Crypt” to be episodic (“American Horror Story”-style), with 13 episodes of one storyline per season.
[Related Post] The Dark Morality of “Tales From the Crypt” and Its 15 Best Episodes
Things have changed drastically since the announcement, mainly that anthology content is booming with content providers leaning towards the old-school style of storytelling as opposed to episodic.
Some really good news came out of the WonderCon where Shyamalan was promoting his FOX series, “Wayward Pines.” He double confirmed to /Film that we will see a Crypt Keeper of sorts, while also revealing that he’s since changed his tune about how he would like to present the “Tales From the Crypt” stories.
“You know, I can’t say 100% but I’m thinking right now, where I am, if you’d asked me this six months ago I would have a different answer, but where I am right now it’s more individual ‘Black Mirror’ kind of stuff right now,” Shyamalan said.
Yes, Shyamalan is now leaning towards delivering “Tales From the Crypt” as short, independent stories that would be more in tune with the original comics and HBO series. It’s also what the fans prefer, especially here on Bloody Disgusting…
The good news is that it sounds like we’re getting what we want, the bad news is that it sounds as if they haven’t even begun developing out their new plan. The original screenplay (for the first season) that’s been floating around Hollywood is about voodoo in New Orleans. Now, if Shyamalan and TNT decide to scrap those plans, they need to start from scratch. And what I’m taking out of that quote is that nothing has been decided, which means we’re going to be waiting even longer.
I’ll wait another decade if that’s what it takes to get it right. “Tales From the Crypt” is an important part of my childhood and my horror being. I would love to have it revived in a way that has us horror fans celebrating in unison.
All of us here at Bloody Disgusting are deeply sad to learn that The Blob director Chuck Russell has passed away at 74 years old.
Russell’s career began with his directorial debut, 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
The multihyphenate film director, screenwriter, and producer is best known for helming 1994 comedy The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner Eraser, and adventure spinoff The Scorpion King. The latter served as the first leading role for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The filmmaker left an indelible mark on horror with his ANOES sequel, 1988’s The Blob, and 2000’s Bless the Child.
Russell’s final film credit is 2024’s Witchboard remake starring Madison Iseman (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), and Jamie Campbell Bower (“Stranger Things”).
It marked Russell’s return to horror after a lengthy hiatus, and he shared sequel hopes to Bloody Disgusting in an interview ahead of the remake’s release: “I got to design the board with real mystical symbols and things that I know represent good and evil, and where that board takes us if the audiences respond to the film, and I hope they will; I know it’s out there for you guys, but the sequel is a world we’ll get to go a little further. That’s sure the intention.”
He also recently expressed interest in returning to the franchise that began his career.
TMZ notes that Russell passed away at his San Diego-area home.
We send our deepest condolences to Chuck Russell’s family, friends, and fans.
Director, Co-Writer & Producer Chuck Russell behind the scenes of the horror film, WITCHBOARD. Photo courtesy of The Avenue and Atlas Distribution
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