The new trailer for the Child’s Play reboot has landed, and it features a major technical upgrade of everyone’s favorite homicidal doll. The trailer opens with a commercial for the Kaslan Corporation’s latest model of the Buddi doll, a technically advanced AI reboot of Chucky. Karen Barclay (Aubrey Plaza) buys her son Andy (Gabriel Bateman) the Buddi, but they quickly discover that the doll is hiding an evil secret. They are soon joined by Detective Mike Norris (Atlanta‘s Brian Tyree Henry) who is investigating a series of murders.
This is a big departure from the traditional Don Mancini Chucky origin story, in which the dying soul of a serial killer is magically transported into the body of the doll. Chucky 2.0 appears to be following a killer robot narrative. A visit to the Best Buddi website contains more information, including Buddi’s “20 sensors and cameras”, adaptive learning functions, and “cloud-backed voice recognition.” Chucky’s in the cloud now? We’re never getting rid of that guy.
The move to make Chucky a smart toy is a clever way to update the franchise, and gives the film more opportunity for creative kills and inventive set pieces. The film was written by Tyler Burton Smith (Quantum Break) and directed by Lars Klevberg (Polaroid). It is also being produced by the creative team behind Stephen King’s It reboot.
However, several people have expressed concern and disinterest over the reboot. Jennifer Tilly, who voiced Chucky’s bride Tiffany Valentine, will not be returning to the role. Tilly, who has appeared in Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky, Curse of Chucky, and Cult of Chucky, posted the following on Twitter:
New “Chucky” movie? Ummm…no. Tiffany and I are gonna sit this one out. #NotmyChucky pic.twitter.com/OcILcYLfXe
— Jennifer Tilly (@JenniferTilly) February 8, 2019
In addition Don Mancini, the creator of the Child’s Play franchise, had zero involvement in the new reboot. Mancini, who wrote all seven films and directed the last three, said on the Post Mortem podcast, “Obviously my feelings were hurt, you know, I had just done two movies…forgive me if I sound defensive, [they] were both at 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Even though they didn’t get theatrical releases, they were well regarded. And I did create the character and nurture the franchise for three fucking decades.”
Meanwhile, Mancini is moving ahead with his Chucky series for Syfy. In a statement he said, “The show will be a fresh take on the franchise, allowing us to explore Chucky’s character with a depth that is uniquely afforded by the television series format, while staying true to the original vision that has terrorized audiences for over three decades now.”
The Child’s Play reboot hits theaters June 21, 2019. Will you be seeing it or are you a die-hard Mancini enthusiast?
(via io9, image: Orion/MGM)
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