Phantasm Franchise Set for Television Expansion

Dread Central reports the Phantasm franchise is being developed for television, though details about writers, directors, a platform or storylines have not been released. The move follows a trend of streaming services and studios expanding horror properties for serial formats; Peacock is set to premiere Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th prequel, and A24 is developing a series inspired by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The original 1979 Phantasm focused on two siblings who uncover strange occurrences at their local funeral home, including the eerie Tall Man — played by Angus Scrimm — flying chrome spheres and corpses transformed into pint-sized servants. Over four sequels the series expanded its mythology with increasingly otherworldly concepts, offering a wide range of directions a TV adaptation could explore.

Television has already helped revive interest in other horror franchises; the Child’s Play spin-off Chucky ran for three seasons and brought the character to a new audience.

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