Don Mancini To Direct Next Chucky Film

An exclusive report from Bloody Disgusting has confirmed horror filmmaker Don Mancini will be taking on the next theatrical installment in the Chucky franchise with an upcoming feature film. Mancini will also be writing the horror film; the latest killing spree carried out by the possessed, serial killer doll Chucky, a Good Guy doll who harbours the soul of a New Jersey-based serial killer called Charles Lee Ray.

The Chucky franchise began in 1988 with Child’s Play, which was co-written by Mancini, Jon Lafia and Tom Holland, with Holland also serving as director, and Brad Dourif playing Chucky. The film was a big success and grossed $32.1 million more than its $13 million budget, prompting a sequel in 1990, Child’s Play 2, with Lafia stepping in as director and Mancini as writer. A third film, Child’s Play 3, was released just nine months later in 1991 by director Jack Bender as the conclusion to the original storyline, focusing on Chucky attempting to place his soul into the body of a boy called Andy, who became his owner in the first film.

Bride of Chucky was released in 1998 by director Rony Yu and writer Mancini, introducing Jennifer Tilly as Chucky’s love interest Tiffany. This release saw the franchise and its central villain being given a new makeover with the franchise installments becoming more self-referential and comedic, as well as being titled ‘…of Chucky‘, such as the 2004 sequel Seed of Chucky, Curse of Chucky in 2013 and Cult of Chucky in 2017.

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2021 saw the Chucky franchise take to the small screen with the TV series Chucky, which ran for three seasons on SYFY until 2024. The series starred newcomers Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Teo Briones, and Devon Sawa, alongside Dourif, Tilly, Fiona Dourif and Alex Vincent returning from the later film releases.

There was also a remake of the first film in 2019 by director Lars Klevberg and writer Tyler Burton Smith, with Mark Hamill voicing Chucky, who is now a high-tech toy rather than a voice-box doll.

Mancini is aiming to return the franchise to its more horror, darker-based roots.

About the Author

Ros Tibbs

Editor

Ros is a film and lit graduate writing news and reviews at The People's Magazine. She also writes long-form film theory, film history, analytical or curated recommendations pieces on other platforms.

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