R.L. Stein’s Goosebumps is one of the most successful book series in history, selling more than 300 million copies worldwide. It’s surprising therefore that Hollywood hasn’t made a movie version before now – although it’s not for lack of trying, as it’s been mooted for years.
Now it’s inching closer to reality, as Sony Pictures is in negotiations with director Rob Letterman (Gulliver’s Travels) to take the helm on their Goosebumps adaptation, according to Deadline. Last January Darren Lemke (Jack the Giant Slayer, Turbo) was hired to tackle the screenplay.
He’s just the latest on writer on the project, as this attempt to take Stein’s series to the screen has been in development since 2008, with writers such as Carl Ellsworth (Disturbia) and Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (Monopoly) previously taking a crack at the screenplay.
Stein’s books all have different plots and characters, which is probably why it’s been difficult to adapt into a film. Many have plays homage to classic horror films such as Night of the Living Dead, replacing gruesome genre elements with kid-friendly jokes. At the moment, nothing is known about the story for this big-screen adaptation.
Rob Letterman directed the animated hits Shark Tale and Monsters Vs. Aliens before making his live-action debut with Gulliver’s Travels.