Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Movie Gets New Director Andre Ovredal
Director Andre Ovredal will replace Guillermo del Toro as director of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, the classic 1980s collection of horror stories (supposedly aimed at children,) has auspicious plans with a movie adaptation that’s long been in the works. As recently as 2016, the creative powers of Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) was still attached to direct, working off a version of the oft-rewritten script by sibling scribes Dan and Kevin Hagerman (The Lego Movie).
However, that creative configuration is about to be broken up with the appointment of a new director to replace the increasingly busy del Toro.
Øvredal directed 2016’s The Autopsy of Jane Doe, a horror film with an element of mystery. That was the first feature he had directed since 2010 Norwegian giant monster movie Troll Hunter, which, itself, came after a decade break from 2000’s Future Murder. However, it appears that he’s ready for more steady work, since he’s already in post-production for the 2018-scheduled Norwegian fantasy film Mortal and is attached to a sci-fi project called Bright Skies. Yet, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will clearly be his highest profile project, one that comes attached with the expectations of generations who grew up being terrified by the book trilogy.
While del Toro had shown clear passion for the project over the past few years, his plate has become quite full since he took the gig, having since landed potent projects like the acclaimed sci-fi-themed potential Oscar hopeful The Shape of Water, as well as Disney’s live-action film adaptation of Pinocchio. Thus, CBS Films has finally taken the measure to find del Toro’s replacement, tapping horror-movie-inclined Norweigian director Øvredal. However, del Toro will reportedly remain onboard the project as a producer.
The terrifying nature of Schwartz’s books, which adapts existing folklore and urban legends and feature memorable stories like “The Haunted House” (you know, the one with creepy skull face lady), “Harold” and “The Big Toe,” were boosted by the iconic, childhood-scarring illustrations of artist Stephen Gammell, which gave the stories a notably nightmarish gravitas. Because the images were so terrifying, the books often found themselves immersed in controversy, landing on the ban lists of several libraries. Thus, the 2011 reissue edition of the books featured less-terrifying art by Brett Helquist.
However, that creative configuration is about to be broken up with the appointment of a new director to replace the increasingly busy del Toro.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark News
André Øvredal will step in to replace Guillermo del Toro as director of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, reports Deadline.Øvredal directed 2016’s The Autopsy of Jane Doe, a horror film with an element of mystery. That was the first feature he had directed since 2010 Norwegian giant monster movie Troll Hunter, which, itself, came after a decade break from 2000’s Future Murder. However, it appears that he’s ready for more steady work, since he’s already in post-production for the 2018-scheduled Norwegian fantasy film Mortal and is attached to a sci-fi project called Bright Skies. Yet, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will clearly be his highest profile project, one that comes attached with the expectations of generations who grew up being terrified by the book trilogy.
While del Toro had shown clear passion for the project over the past few years, his plate has become quite full since he took the gig, having since landed potent projects like the acclaimed sci-fi-themed potential Oscar hopeful The Shape of Water, as well as Disney’s live-action film adaptation of Pinocchio. Thus, CBS Films has finally taken the measure to find del Toro’s replacement, tapping horror-movie-inclined Norweigian director Øvredal. However, del Toro will reportedly remain onboard the project as a producer.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Details
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will use the trilogy of horror story collections by Alvin Schwartz – 1981’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, 1984’s More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and 1991’s Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones – as the center of a series of mysteriously macabre small-town murders –presumably emulating the horror stories of the books – that a group of young teens will attempt to solve.The terrifying nature of Schwartz’s books, which adapts existing folklore and urban legends and feature memorable stories like “The Haunted House” (you know, the one with creepy skull face lady), “Harold” and “The Big Toe,” were boosted by the iconic, childhood-scarring illustrations of artist Stephen Gammell, which gave the stories a notably nightmarish gravitas. Because the images were so terrifying, the books often found themselves immersed in controversy, landing on the ban lists of several libraries. Thus, the 2011 reissue edition of the books featured less-terrifying art by Brett Helquist.