Goosebumps Fans are Worried Disney+ Will Water Down the Series

By Spencer Perry - February 5, 2022 06:59 pm EST

This week brought official confirmation that live-action Goosebumps TV series is officially in the works and the new show will premiere on Disney+. News of the TV show, based on R.L. Stine's classic children's book series, has drawn some panicked reactions from fans that perhaps the House of Mouse will tone down the show, which again is based on books written for children. Disney+ will collaborate with Sony Pictures Television Studios on the series, giving it a 10-episode order for its first season. The series will be written and executive produced by Nick Stoller and Goosebumps movie director Rob Letterman, with Letterman also directing the first episode

"Goosebumps has been keeping kids and families on the edge of their seats for nearly 30 years and we're very excited to partner with Sony Pictures Television and Neal H. Moritz to bring the enduring brand to life in a fresh new way for today's generation," Iole Lucchese, Scholastic Entertainment President and Chief Strategy Officer, shared in a statement as part of the original announcement back in 2020. "From the world-famous book series to a full-scale licensing program and even live-action movies starring Jack Black, Goosebumps remains wildly popular and we look forward to presenting new adventures to give fans even more Goosebumps."

A description for the series reads that it will follow: "A group of five high schoolers who unleash supernatural forces upon their town and must all work together – thanks to an in spite of their friendships, rivalries, and pasts with each other – in order to save it, learning much about their own parents' teenage secrets in the process."

You can see the worries from some Goosebumps fans below.

This is gonna be watered down

But Disney Plus? Didn’t they cancel Lizzie McGuire just cuz it dared to start actual conversations for young adults? This is gonna be watered down Goosebumps at its finest.
— David Angle 🏳️‍🌈 (@David_Angle) February 4, 2022

Didn't realize...

I didn’t realize Disney now has the Goosebumps rights pic.twitter.com/0HZ1AuTcpU
— Zach Kindron (@JurassicSk8Prk) February 4, 2022

Probably gonna be more toned down

This new Goosebumps show was supposed to come to Netflix but it looks like they fumbled the deal. Knowing it’s gonna be on Disney Plus gives me even less hope that it’ll be any good, it’s probably gonna be more toned down than the original show on Fox Kids. https://t.co/qV1mvW2Myu
— 𝓓𝖔𝖈𝖙𝖔𝖗 𝓦𝖔𝖑𝖋𝖚𝖑𝖆 🌖 (@DoctorWolfula) February 5, 2022

BUT IT'S DISNEY PLUS!

👀OMG YES!

B-But it’s Disney plus!

B-But I really like Goosebumps!

But it’s Disney Plus!

But it could be so cool and I could see my favorite episodes of the show maybe improved—

BUT IT’S DISNEY PLUS!

But shows like TOH and Amphibia are great—

BUT ITS DISNEY PLUS-AUGH!!!!!! https://t.co/6VgRW5LWBx pic.twitter.com/TvpZnKbeGT
— American Elephant (@AmerElephant) February 4, 2022

Will it be "too spooky" ?

🚨🚨 this is not a drill 🚨🚨 new Goosebumps TV show coming to Disney+! Will it still be "too spooky" for kids under 7?? https://t.co/aCKaZhfgGQ pic.twitter.com/y9ZNyR2n6t
— Horror and Gothic Media Cultures (@HorrorGothCult) February 4, 2022

Make it make sense

Disney is okay with doing Goosebumps but they wouldn’t let Guillermo Del Toro do a Haunted Mansion movie? https://t.co/xzh1MM1Zib
— Spencer Stevenson (@Spence_Mountain) February 5, 2022

Don't know if Disney+ is the best home

really don't know the status of children's tv networks today so i don't know if disney plus is the best home for goosebumps but i'm glad this generation will get their own take
— stev • scream spoilers (@screamreboot) February 4, 2022

Has to stay family friendly

I'd be more excited if it was going on @hulu there it'd be allowed to actually get dark, with DP it has to stay family friendly
— Eric (@annericelover) February 5, 2022

Disney's going to ruin this

Disney's going to ruin this, make it safe so not to upset sensitive people, make it funny and light-hearted. Watch the 1995 series instead, that was proper Goosebumps, darker and more spooky than what Disney are likely planning.

Also, what makes this an original series? https://t.co/BDSUQcQcZ3
— 𝕱𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖙 (@Mad_Tobz) February 5, 2022

Under Disney?

Wait... Goosebumps?
Under Disney? https://t.co/oHItofDPe0
— JIMENOPOLIX (@JIMENOPOLIX) February 4, 2022

Feeling kinda disappointed

Hm.. reading the synopsis for the Goosebumps TV Series on Disney Plus. Feeling kinda disappointed honestly. Sounds too much like the previous movies and not actually an adaptation of the books like it really should be. pic.twitter.com/4SdQ2xhHik
— Tweets to Give You Goosebumps (@Getting_GB) February 4, 2022