Tubi is building a cinematic universe centered on R.L. Stine’s horror works, with a three-picture deal involving Front Street Pictures, the production company behind the anthology series The Haunting Hour. The initiative represents an effort by the ad-supported streaming platform to create content that bridges multiple audience demographics, from nostalgic adults who grew up reading Stine’s books to younger viewers.
The first project, an adaptation of Stine’s short story “Pumpkinhead,” follows a teenage protagonist searching for his missing brother in a town affected by a supernatural crop curse. Filmmaker Jem Garrard and Tubi’s Vice President of Original Scripted Content Josh Van Houdt navigated content guidelines by embracing what standards and practices officials termed “vegetable gore” rather than traditional violence, allowing for pumpkin-related imagery within the TV-14 rating. The film drew reference points from 1980s and early 1990s horror films with younger protagonists, including Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Gremlins, and The Gate.
Tubi opted for a contemporary setting rather than a period piece, incorporating modern elements alongside nostalgic touches to appeal to its predominantly Gen Z audience while maintaining the spirit of Stine’s original work. The production team emphasized the balance of sentiment and scares that characterizes Stine’s writing, with particular attention to how the author treats child characters with respect rather than condescension.
Stine, who has written over 300 middle-grade and young-adult horror titles adapted across various platforms including Disney+, Netflix, and Warner Bros., noted that the “Pumpkinhead” short story provided strong material for adaptation due to its compelling narrative structure. After its October 2025 release as part of the platform’s “Terror on Tubi” programming block, the film attracted the mixed-demographic audience Tubi had targeted, supporting the viability of expanding the R.L. Stine universe with additional film and series projects.
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