No Jack Black in Goosebumps 2? Actor’s Return in Doubt

Will there be no Jack Black in Goosebumps 2? According to VarietySony Pictures has tapped Rob Lieber (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) to pen a new version of the sequel script that doesn’t include Black’s caricature of YA horror author R. L. Stine. While there is no deal in place for his return as of now, the studio continues to leave the door open for Black to reprise the role should his schedule allow. Black is currently filming another classic YA horror adaptation, The House with a Clock in its Walls, opposite Cate Blanchett. That Eli Roth-helmed film currently has the same September 21, 2018 release date the Goosebumps sequel has.

Besides scheduling difficulties, Black’s price tag of between $6-and-$8 million dollars may have also been a sticking point, as the studio is looking to reign in costs.

The sequel was previously given the title Goosebumps: Horrorland, and had the first film’s director Rob Letterman (Shark TaleMonsters vs. Aliens) and screenwriter Darren Lemke (Turbo) attached, with Deborah Forte (The Golden Compass) and Neal H. Moritz (22 Jump Street) also coming back as producers. The studio may go back to Lemke’s script should Black return.

The first Goosebumps made $150 million on a $58 million budget, and hit #1 on the sales charts when it was released on home video. Since there are 62 books in the original “Goosebumps” series, the filmmakers will have plenty of material to wade through in order to craft a story.

Based on Scholastic’s worldwide best-selling book series, with over 400 million copies in print, Goosebumps starred Jack Black (School of Rock) as “Goosebumps” author R.L. Stine, along with Dylan Minnette (Prisoners), Ryan Lee (Super 8) and Odeya Rush (The Giver). When Zach (Minnette) unwittingly unleashes magical monsters on the town, he must team with his new friends Champ (Lee), Hannah (Rush) and Stine (Black) to send the ghouls back where they came from before it’s too late.

Movie News

Marvel and DC

X