Chatting shortly with Fred Topel of
Screen Junkies at a Q&A for a screening of
Seed of Chucky, Don Mancini, creator of the notorious slasher doll and screenwriter for all five films, disclosed minor details for the promised
Child's Play remake. The last we heard from the film was back in January, via
Horrorbid, where Universal reportedly gave the green light, but pre-production had yet to begin.
There’s obviously room to continue this series of Chucky films, but is reboot the only way you’re thinking of going at this point?
"I’m personally open to other things but I think that’s what the studio wants, because this movie didn’t do very well so I think the feeling is that Chucky’s viability, his future is in the more straightforward horror vein. I was talking about the rights issues before, I don't think it’s necessarily what we’ll end up doing as a strict remake. I think we’ll reboot it in the sense that it will just be more conventionally scary and it will only be Chucky and we won’t have Tiffany and Glen, but it won’t necessarily be a strict remake."
Will you be able to use some of those original ideas you had for Child’s Play?
"It’s one of the things we’re talking about. I can’t say too much about it but one of the things we’re alluding to, it’s one of the things that we’re talking about. I would like that, the psychological aspect of it. You seem to remember it very well."
Losing the voodoo, using the kid’s blood to bring the doll to life…
"We’d definitely keep the mythology of Charles Lee Ray, the idea of Chucky being possessed by a killer rather than what you’re referring to, that Chucky was the embodiment of this boy’s id."
In the 22 years since Child’s Play, have you had new ideas for how an origin of Chucky could be?
"Yes. We’ve explored a number of different possible scenarios. I’m definitely pushing to go in a very disturbing direction because I feel like if we’re going to go back to it being a horror movie, let’s make it really disturbing."
Are you planning to direct as well?
"Yeah, I mean, I hope so. That’s what we’re talking about."
Would we still recognize the Good Guys doll or would you reinvent that too?
"Oh yes, I think we would do a slight redesign on him but not so much that you wouldn’t. He’s got to be recognizably Chucky. I think we’ll take the scars away."
Would Brad Dourif still be the voice?
"If I have anything to say about it, and David [Kirschner] and Corey [Sienega] too."
DCMF - Though I'm not gonna miss Chucky's seed, I sure am gonna miss his Bride 'Tiffany', who actress Jennifer Tilly brought to life with her unmistakable voice. And though I always felt the whole concept could use some humor, you gotta admit
Seed Of Chucky got way out of hand. Hopefully they can revive the most notorious slasher in history we all know & love. The remake anyhow, is currently slated for a 2011 release. What do you think?