This week sees the theatrical release of Goosebumps, a fun fright flick for families inspired by the work of author R.L. Stine, starring Jack Black. The real-life Stine has written hundreds of books, and that includes dozens of entries in the Fear Street series. Now the series is heading to the big screen, according to The Wrap.
While the Goosebumps books were intended for somewhat younger readers, the Fear Street series was aimed squarely at teenagers, with greater emphasis on murder mysteries and more explicit violence featured. Set in a fictional small town in Ohio, the books revolve around different characters in each story, though some characters return from time to time. The Goosebumps series also featured a large variety of characters; the screen version introduces Jack Black as a fictional version of author R.L. Stine, an element that was not present in the books.
Stine resumed the series last year, promising a more adult, more violent edge, "a roller coaster ride of fearful suspense." Reportedly, 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment are developing the movie version, but no other details have been made public, so it's not entirely clear if the original series or the latest revival will serve as the source material. Asked for comment, Stine said, "I’m not allowed to say, but yeah, there’s something happening. I’m usually a loose cannon but they really didn’t want me to talk about it."
