Brad Dourif Teases the Next CHUCKY Movie Will Go in a Direction Nobody Sees Coming
Fans have been wondering what comes next for Chucky after the TV series came to an end, and while we still don't know exactly what franchise creator Don Mancini has planned, it sounds like we shouldn't expect the obvious.
A new Chucky movie is currently in development, and according to the man who has brought the killer doll to life for decades, it's going to take the franchise somewhere completely unexpected.
While appearing at the Creep I.E. Cinema panel hosted by Bloody Disgusting, Brad Dourif offered a small but intriguing update on the next chapter of the horror series. He made it clear that fans expecting a continuation of the TV show's ending may want to rethink their theories.=
Dourif said: “If I know Don, I would say what he’s going to do is something completely different that I hadn’t thought of, that nobody had thought of,” the actor tells the audience.
It sounds like Mancini is looking to shake things up once again. The project is still in the early stages, and Dourif revealed that even he isn't completely sure which direction the story will ultimately take.
Apparently, Mancini has been exploring several different possibilities for what would become the ninth film in his ongoing Chucky universe.
Dourif explained: “There is actually going to be another film made. I’ve heard maybe three pitches —that’s not a detail, and I’m not saying what they are—but they’re all different.”
Keeping those secrets intact was apparently a family effort, as Fiona Dourif was sitting alongside her father during the panel to make sure he didn't accidentally reveal more than he should.
Back in April, it was reported that Mancini wants to steer the franchise back toward horror and make Chucky genuinely frightening again.
His goal is reportedly to recapture the atmosphere of Curse of Chucky along with the first two Child's Play films, shifting the focus away from the comedy and over-the-top antics that became more prominent in later entries.
For longtime fans, that's an exciting direction. While the franchise has successfully embraced dark humor over the years, many horror fans have been hoping to see Chucky return to being a genuinely creepy presence.
Of course, it wouldn't feel like Chucky without Brad Dourif. The Academy Award-nominated actor has voiced the infamous killer doll in every original Child's Play film, as well as Curse of Chucky, Cult of Chucky, and all three seasons of the television series.
And if anyone was wondering whether he'd ever hand the role over to someone else, Dourif has already answered that question.
Speaking previously at Spooky Empire, he told fans: “Nobody’s doing Chucky but me.” That's exactly what fans want to hear.
With Don Mancini still writing the screenplay and several story ideas apparently on the table, it'll likely be a while before we learn exactly what nightmare Chucky has planned next. If Dourif's comments are any indication, though, the next movie won't repeat what's come before, and that's interesting.
We'll be keeping a close eye on the next Chucky movie as more details inevitably slice their way into the spotlight.