After just two seasons, Disney+ has brought itsGoosebumpsseries to a close, and the franchise’s untimely streaming demise leaves a void that few series on streaming could fill. The series originated fromR.L. Stine’s beloved children’s horror novels. While development on theGoosebumpstelevision show began in 2020, the streaming service boarded the project in 2022.
Goosebumpsseason 1 took on the form of a serialized series that followed a group of five friends who began to investigate the tragic fate of a teen who was killed in the 1990s.Goosebumpsseason 2 focused on a new tale, however, as two twins stumble into a haunting mystery during a summer vacation to their father’s home. Unfortunately, the show will not continue.
Disney+ Cancelled Goosebumps After Season 2 Despite Cliffhanger Endings
The Series' Faithfulness To Stine’s Writing Left Several Dangling Plot Threads
Despite introducing several new tales and twists on familiar stories in the beloved franchise,Disney+ has cancelledGoosebumpsafter two seasons, as reported byVariety. While the series had been critically successful and had fair viewership numbers, the streamer has left the production, leaving Sony Pictures Television to find alternative partners for the franchise.
Though Sony Pictures Television’s continued interest in the series is a positive sign that there is hope forGoosebumps’future, Disney+’s withdrawal from the production will leave plenty of untapped potential. Each season served as a standalone story, and both left their characters trapped with twisted cliffhangers that will seemingly never be resolved.
WhileGoosebumps' season finale twistswas intentionally designed to evoke the tone of Stine’s novels and thus may never be answered, it does show the dedication behind the production. Even though they may not have been traditional adaptations of the author’s works, they still set out to evoke his style, showing careful consideration behind the structure of each season.
Goosebumps Has Too Much Potential As A TV Show To Give Up On
Goosebumps Is A Vital Foundation For Many Aspiring Horror Fans
Goosebumps' cancellation is not only a major missed opportunity due to the dedication of the crew to make a faithful retelling, but it also represents the loss of what could be a unique experience in the streaming age. While horror has enjoyed a recent television boom, there are few series that can serve as an entry point asGoosebumpscould.
Whether it was through Stine’s original novels or the'90sGoosebumpstelevision series, the franchise has given young audiences their first taste of horror, allowing them to enjoy being scared for the first time without the more extreme examples seen in more classic but adult-oriented works. As a result, they helped shape many horror fans' tastes.
WithGoosebumpsbeing canceled, there are at best only a few series that can appeal to this younger demographic. As Sony Pictures Television has been stated to be shopping the property around elsewhere, it does show that the company acknowledges the value it holds, but doesn’t guarantee that it will return.
IfGoosebumpswere to return, it is unclear whether the series could continue with the format established in the Disney+ series. While shows such asThe White LotusandTrue Detectivehave shown audiences can resonate with new tales per season, it can be argued that the format didn’t fit Stine’s horror stylings, which relied on shorter, shocking, and memorable terrifying tales.
Therefore, the best route forward may be to pull inspiration from the original ’90s series and return to a season that focuses on a new tale per episode. This anthology format can allow the series to faithfully capture Stine’s world and showcase the best of his writings for a new generation. If successful, a futureGoosebumpstelevision adaptation could supersede Disney+’s efforts.
