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Don Mancini Takes Us Behind the Scenes of the ‘Chucky’ TV Series

Published

4 years ago

December 6, 2021

Don Mancini is over-the-moon about the response to Chucky, the series based on his film franchise, and he sat down with iHorror today to discuss how and why he made the move to the small screen, and why he’s looking forward to a second season.

The idea for a Chucky series was actually born after Mancini worked with Bryan Fuller on the series Hannibal. The writer/director recalls how exciting it was to sit in a room of people who were not only talented writers but also superfans of the film franchise to further develop the characters they had loved on the big screen under Fuller’s supervision. He marveled at the joy in the work, and was eager to see if his own franchise could be the same.

“Behind the scenes, the process of making a television show by its very nature invites in a lot more super talented people: writers, directors, producers, and also the cast,” he told us. “On a TV show the cast is vast compared to the last couple of movies which were intentionally small-scaled. It’s an opportunity for great collaboration and I love collaborating. They have that sort of fan’s enthusiasm that I had for Hannibal and that Bryan more importantly had for Hannibal. I knew that inviting in all these people to elevate this iteration of the franchise was a super exciting opportunity. It seems like it worked out.”

One of the things Mancini was excited to explore in the series was creating a central gay, adolescent character and building the series around him rather than putting him in a supporting role.

The Child’s Play franchise has a long history of inclusivity going back to Bride of Chucky, and the out gay creator of the franchise was keen to take that to the next level.

“A young teen gay lead in a tv show, specifically a horror show, seemed like a great opportunity for fan representation,” Mancini explained. “It was interesting to do something that personal. I mean, all of this stuff is personal, of course, but this was more like superficially and not so superficially. There’s a lot of this kid’s angst I could identify with, and I think a lot of gay guys can. It seemed like a big opportunity, and it’s so gratifying that it landed. That was really the thing that was most important to me.”

Of course, it didn’t hurt that they found what was undeniably the perfect actor for the role in Zackary Arthur, and Mancini was quick to give casting director Bonnie Zane credit for bringing the young actor on board.

Zackary Arthur was pitch perfect casting for the leading role of Jake Wheeler in Chucky.

Arthur has such a natural presence on camera whether he’s playing the shy, introverted artistic kid with a crush or trying to psych himself up to do the things Chucky prods him to do. It wasn’t only his naturalism, however. Mancini pointed out that he shares an innate quality with franchise star Fiona Dourif that made him a compelling, necessary part of the series.

“They both portray trauma compellingly and believably,” he pointed out. “So much of what Chucky is about, what this genre is about, and you could argue what drama is about is putting characters through an emotional wringer and Zack is really able to embody that in a way that is very exciting to see on screen.”

Mancini was further excited about the addition of Devon Sawa to the series. The actor, famous for his role in the original Final Destination, brought a legit horror pedigree with him to set playing a set of identical twins, and **spoiler** Mancini joked that Chucky succeeded twice where Death failed.

The actor didn’t rely on his reputation either. The creator said he was impressed with Sawa’s taped audition before the scene even began.

Devon Sawa pulls double-duty in Chucky as Lucas and Logan Wheeler.

“You know when actors do these things it starts with, ‘Hi, I’m Devon Sawa. My agent is blah blah blah and I’m reading for the role of X’ and then they just go into it,” Mancini pointed. “But with that, he did this whole dissertation, almost academic, of the two characters and the sort of backstory that he had filled in in the space that was suggested by the couple of scenes that he had at his disposal. So, as he’s explicating the characters in this incredibly thoughtful way, I was thinking oh my god please be good, please be good, please be good, because I knew if he was, this was going to be great. I’ve been saying for months now that he doesn’t disappoint in person. He’s an incredible actor, incredibly easy going nice guy.”

Season one of Chucky was just the beginning for Mancini and his talented crew and cast, however, and he fully admits with their recent greenlight that the pressure is on for season two. He’s hard at work crafting the first episode as I write this.

What he relished most over the eight-week run of the first season was the interaction with the audience as they tried to guess what might happen next and whose secrets would be exposed. That immediate, ongoing feedback from viewers made each week exciting for the man who has worked with Chucky and his ongoing story for decades.

“It was a positive experience for us because people liked the show,” he said. “If that hadn’t been the case, it would have been awful! It’s basically eight weeks of having fun with the audience, designing these little one hour movies. Of course, it being television you set a lot of fuses burning early in the season and it’s designed to come together at the end and flare up. That’s a lot of fun to do.”

You can see Chucky in its entirety streaming on NBC’s streaming app, Peacock, right now, and whether it’s your first time or you’re ready for a re-watch, it’s a bloody good time!

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ShoStak Opens the Door for Filmmakers to Build and Own Their Stories

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Anthony Pernicka

A new player is stepping into the space, but ShoStak is making one thing clear right away.

It is not trying to be the next Netflix. It is not chasing TikTok.

“Cinema does not need another platform. It needs a new model.”

That idea sits at the core of what ShoStak is building. Not just a place to watch content, but a system where creators and audiences connect in a way that feels very different from what we are used to.

The First 150 Competition Is Already Underway

ShoStak is kicking things off with its First 150 Competition, giving filmmakers a chance to present their story worlds and compete for the opportunity to move into production.

Projects are introduced as series concepts or pilots, then advance through multiple stages. Audience voting plays a role, but it is only part of the process.

Selections are ultimately shaped by a mix of audience engagement, creative execution, and overall project readiness. It is not just about popularity. It is about building something that can actually move forward.

For creators, it is a rare chance to get in front of both an audience and a structured development path at the same time.

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One Platform, Built Around a New Model

Everything now lives under ShoStak.tv, where both creators and audiences come together.

Creators can sign up, develop their projects, and begin building their audience. Viewers can discover new series, follow story worlds, and engage with projects as they evolve.

ShoStak describes this as a cinematic ecosystem. Stories are not treated as disposable content designed to spike and disappear. They are built to grow over time.

And that growth happens in public.

Ownership Without Losing Structure

One of ShoStak’s core ideas is giving creators more control over what they build.

Filmmakers are positioned to:

Retain ownership of their intellectual property
Build direct relationships with their audience
Grow projects based on real engagement

At the same time, this is not a free-for-all.

There is still structure. Projects are evaluated, developed, and refined through a process that blends audience input with creative and strategic decision-making.

Instead of removing the system entirely, ShoStak is reshaping how creators move through it.

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Development Happens in Public

This is where things start to separate from the traditional model.

Instead of developing behind closed doors, ShoStak allows projects to evolve in front of an audience.

Creators introduce their ideas, build a following, and expand their worlds over time. As engagement grows, so does the project.

It is less about waiting for approval and more about proving momentum.

Over time, that turns the platform into something larger than a development program. It becomes an open ecosystem where creators and audiences push stories forward together.

More Than Just Testing Ideas

Micro-series are a big part of ShoStak’s approach, but they are not just a testing ground.

They can be the final product.

The format allows creators to:

Tell complete stories in shorter form
Build long-term story worlds
Expand into larger projects when it makes sense

It is not about proving an idea and moving on. It is about giving that idea room to grow in whatever direction fits.

Why This Matters for Horror

Horror has always thrived outside the system.

Some of the most memorable films in the genre came from creators taking risks, working with limited resources, and finding their audience without waiting for permission.

ShoStak’s model fits naturally into that mindset.

It gives horror creators a space to:

Build original story worlds
Connect directly with fans
Grow projects without losing control

And with early content like Civilian and Liminal already rolling out, it is clear the platform is aiming for more than just quick-hit content.

A Different Path Forward

ShoStak is not trying to compete by doing the same thing better.

It is trying to change how stories are created, developed, and sustained.

By combining creator ownership, audience engagement, and a structured development path, it offers something that feels closer to a creative ecosystem than a traditional platform.

Whether it works long-term is still unknown.

But for filmmakers looking for a new way in, it is opening a door that has been closed for a long time.

News

The Clayface Teaser Just Made October Feel Very Far Away

Published

17 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Luna Gray

Clayface is a character whose face changes. Or rather, he is a man whose body can transform into whatever is required in the moment. He primarily uses this skill to land acting jobs and murder people. Fun Guy.

Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, an actor whose face gets destroyed in a gangster attack. Naomi Ackie is the scientist who hands him something that fixes the problem by making it considerably worse. Bandages. Blood. Then a face that begins to melt. You know where this ends.

Who Made This

The director is James Watkins, who made Speak No Evil in 2024 and before that Eden Lake, which is one of the more quietly devastating horror films of the last twenty years. Watkins does not make comfortable films. He makes films that stay in the room with you after you leave the theater and this one is about a DC villain whose body does not hold its shape anymore.

The script is from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Flanagan built the language of prestige horror television with The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass before moving back into features with The Life of Chuck. He writes characters who are being destroyed from the inside and the outside simultaneously.

The October Play

Clayface opens October 23, which puts it squarely in Halloween season and makes it the first DC film that actually belongs there. The project is likely rated R. The trailer confirms why.

There is a face melting off.

Watch the teaser. Then clear your calendar for October 23.

News

‘Behind the Mask 2’ Slays Kickstarter

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2026

Piper St. James

If you are hardwired into the horror community there is no doubt you heard the gasp around the internet earlier this month when Behind the Mask II: The Return of Le s lie Vernon was announced. The announcement of the long anticipated sequel came at a screening of the original at American Cinematheque in Los Angeles.

That same evening we also learned that Behind the Mask’s director Scott Glosserman as well as writer David J. Stieve will be returning to the film. Furthermore, cast members Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, and Robert Englund will be reprising their roles from the original.

*Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon*

A Kick into Overdrive

While the sequel is happening one way or another, a Kickstarter campaign was established. The money pledged would allow the filmmakers to create a movie that goes above and beyond their original budget.

As the campaign’s page states;

“The film is happening, that’s no-take-backs. If we hit these goals, it makes it possible to do it bigger, bloodier, and bolder.”

The campaign goes on, saying;

“This is not a “save the movie” campaign. The movie is happening. Kickstarter is how we make it our way. “

Roughly two weeks after the sequel’s announcement, the campaign launched with a modest day one goal of $20,000. To say that fans crushed this number is an understatement. In 9 minutes they reached their goal. In less than 24 hours the amount of backers climbed to over 300, and the pledges donated totaled more than $100,000!

Get to the Good Stuff!

For pledging, the moviemakers have included incentives that are truly in line with what the horror community wants.

The rewards begin at $25 with a digital streaming link of Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon. Tiers continue on as the pledge amounts increase. T-shirts, posters, Blu Rays and scripts are just some of the middle tier goodies. The larger donation amounts are rewarded with on screen “Special Thank You”s and various producer credits.

Nathan Baesel as Leslie Vernon in *Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.*

It is the ‘Exclusive Add Ons’ where things get really interesting. Once a backer has already pledged, they can add on additional perks. These additions include

“accessories, autographs, props, and truly unique, fan forward in-person experiences… all intended to complement your chosen reward tier!”

One of the unique add on perks includes VHS tapes of the original Behind the Mask or the sequel, your choice! Given the fact the first movie was created right on the heels of when VHS was truly dead, older horror fans will especially find this perk an exciting addition to their vintage collection.

The reward add-ons also have the horror prop collectors in mind. You can purchase Leslie Vernon’s weapon of choice, a scythe, as well as his mask. Both of these are signed by actor Nathan Baesel.

For more personal experiences, you can add on a visit to the Behind the Mask II set during filming! You can also choose a cast and crew screening in LA or New York, complete with an after party. Finally, for the crème de la crème; you can be killed onscreen by Leslie Vernon himself!

Powered by the Fans

Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon is the little slasher movie that could!

For two decades the creators tried to find ways to make Leslie’s legacy continue. A failed first Kickstarter, rumors, teases, and false starts all led to the delay of a dream.

For twenty years the movie’s cult gathering slowly formed, cultivated, and grew louder and louder. Too loud to be ignored.

From the set of *Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.*

As soon as the campaign went live, horror fans donated their hard earned money. And let’s face it; we are currently living in a time where the dollar doesn’t stretch as far. The fact that the long awaited sequel gained so much traction and backing, so quickly, really demonstrates the community’s love, support, and anticipation for Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon.

It looks like Leslie Vernon will finally be returning!