The iconic horror film Poltergeist is currently in early development at Amazon MGM Studios according to Variety. The series is based on the 1982 American supernatural horror film that was directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor. The film ultimately became a franchise and has become one of the most popular film series to date.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT
As of right now, no writer has been attached to the project. According to Variety, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are set to executive produce on behalf of Amblin Television. Amblin produced the original 1982 film with Spielberg. There are also no current plot details that have been shared but the series will be set within the world of the film.
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This isn’t the first time Poltergeist has been adapted into a series. In the late 1990s, Poltergeist: The Legacy originally aired on Showtime for its first three seasons. Eventually, it found a new home on the Sci-Fi Channel in 1999 for the fourth and final season. The series consisted of an ensemble cast that are members of a secret society known as the Legacy and their efforts to protect humankind from the dangers of evil.
The cast included Derek de Lint, Martin Cummins, Robbi Chong, Patrick Fitzgerald, Helen Shaver, Alexandra Purvis, and many more. After the series, there were discussion plans to create a new spin-off series for the show at Sci-Fi in 2000. The new spin-off was going to be called Poltergeist: The Beginning and it was planned to be released in early 2001 however those plans never materialized and were abandoned by 2002.
ALL ABOUT THE POLTERGEIST FILM SERIES
The film is centered on the Freeling family who move into a new home to discover that it has been infested with evil and dangerous ghosts. After these supernatural beings kidnap their young daughter, the Freelings work with a parapsychologist and a spiritual medium to free their daughter and escape the ghosts.
The original film gained a cult following since its release. The movie earned roughly $121 million worldwide and the reported budget was $10.7 million. The film was also nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Original Score.
With the success of the first film, two sequels followed in 1986 and 1988. Medium Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein) and Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O’Rourke) were the only characters who appeared in all three films. In 2015, the original film was rebooted.
This is the latest attempt by Amazon to adapt MGM IP since the studio acquired it. The studio is also currently working on new projects like Robocop, Legally Blonde, Barbershop, and more. It was also reported that a series that is set in the world of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has found its showrunner.
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There has been no word on when the Poltergeist series will arrive since everything is in early development. Also, due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, it may take longer for the series to be released.
What do you guys think? Are you excited to see this 1980’s classic become a TV series with Poltergeist? Do you think a television series update is a good idea? What’s your favorite horror film series? Let us know and don’t forget to check out our socials! If you like articles like this, make sure to follow us for more content.
SOURCE: Variety
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