R.L. Stine’s (Goosebumps, The Ghost Next Door) horror book series, Just Beyond, will soon have its own series on Disney Plus after the streaming service ordered eight episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The novel collection published by BOOM! Studios highlights the life of three middle school kids, Jess, Josh and Marco.
While school may seem a drag to most children their age, these kids have another reason for hating their school- there is a deadly creature stalking their halls. And after finding the terrible realm that the creature came from in their school’s boiler room, they are lulled into unraveling a sinister mystery that forces them to contemplate the unimaginable- saving the kids that they find there and escape, or becoming trapped in the “Beyond” forever.
Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Beetlejuice 2), one of the executive producers and creative minds behind adapting the series, is ecstatic about bringing the Stine series to life on the screen.“I grew up watching Twilight Zone reruns and the original Amazing Stories with my parents,” said Grahame-Smith on Deadline. “I’ve always wanted to make a genre anthology series that families could enjoy together and do it in a way that delivered for kids and adults alike. R.L. Stine has been a part of millions of childhoods, and Disney+ has already proven itself as a place that knows how make high quality shows for the whole family. I couldn’t be more excited to be working with both of them.”
Stine is also thrilled to witness his series be enjoyed once more, as well as joining the project as a co-executive producer. He said “back in the day, we had a Goosebumps HorrorLand attraction at Walt Disney World. It was one of the thrills of my life. Now I’m thrilled to be back with Disney for the TV series based on my graphic novels. Writing Just Beyond for BOOM! Studios has been a joy from the beginning and I’m so happy to have the wonderful screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith bring the series to life on Disney+. How lucky can I be?” Deadline reports.
Other executive producers on the Disney 20th Century Fox Television project include David Katzenberg under his and Grahame-Smith’s production company, KatzSmith Productions. Stephen Christy (City Lights, Edlritch Code) and Ross Richie (2 Guns, The Empty Man) are also executive producers.
Grahame-Smith and KatzSmith are represented by WME and Ziffren Brittenham. BOOM! Studios is represented by UTA and Matt Saver.
A writers room is being assembled and the horror anthology is anticipating a fall 2021 premiere.