Amazon’s MGM Studios has a television show based on Tobe Hooper’s classic horror movie Poltergeist in the works, and it’s currently in the early stages of development.
They’re Here (Just Not Yet)
Variety exclusively revealed the news and while no director or stars are currently in place, Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey will executive produce on behalf of Amblin Television.
It marks the second attempt at turning the franchise into a television show after Poltergeist: The Legacy in the late ’90s. It’s the first new Poltergeist project since a lukewarm reboot movie in 2015.
Poltergeist was a 1982 horror movie written by Steven Spielberg. Craig T. Nelson stars as Steve Freeling, who lives with his wife, Diane, (JoBeth Williams), and their three children, Dana (Dominique Dunne), Robbie (Oliver Robins), and Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke), in Southern California, where he sells houses for the company that built the neighborhood.
It starts with just a few odd occurrences, such as broken dishes and furniture moving around by itself. However, things take a sour turn, and eventually, ghosts abduct Carol Anne. Realizing that something evil haunts his home, Steve calls in a team of parapsychologists led by Dr. Lesh (Beatrice Straight) to investigate, hoping to get Carol Anne back.
The success of the Amblin-back horror saw it rake in around $121 million worldwide against a reported budget of under $11 million. It spawned two sequels with Heather O’Rourke and Zelda Rubenstein returning. Amazon hopes its popularity will hook fans in for the show, which will undoubtedly air on Prime Video.
Other properties in the MGM library to be dug up for new streaming content include RoboCop, Legally Blonde, and Barbershop.
