A big-screen take on Alvin Schwartz’s beloved children’s book anthology, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, is moving forward at CBS Films with none other than Crimson Peak and Pan’s Labyrinth helmer Guillermo del Toro directing. Today, Variety brings word that, as the project approaches production, The LEGO Movie scribes Dan and Kevin Hageman have come aboard to do a polish on the film’s screenplay.
First published in 1981, the first book of what became a three-book series (it was followed by More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones) is officially described as follows:
This spooky addition to Alvin Schwartz’s popular books on American folklore is filled with tales of eerie horror and dark revenge that will make you jump with fright. There is a story here for everyone — skeletons with torn and tangled flesh who roam the earth; a ghost who takes revenge on her murderer; and a haunted house where every night a bloody head falls down the chimney. Stephen Gammell’s splendidly creepy drawings perfectly capture the mood of more than two dozen scary stories — and even scary songs — all just right for reading alone or for telling aloud in the dark. If You Dare!
Gammell’s illustrations were replaced with art by Brett Helquist for a recent 30th anniversary edition of the books, which led to some heavy criticism from fans who grew up with the original artists’s truly terrifying images. It was revealed last year the Scary Stories film will actually address the change.
“Without sort of spoiling things about the movie,” screewriter John August told CraveOnline, “I will say that the difference between those original illustrations and the second set of illustrations are an important aspect of the movie experience.”
Before August came aboard the project, Saw screenwriters Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton were tapped to script the Scary Stories movie.
Brothers Dan and Kevin Hageman are also attached to provide the screenplay for the upcoming LEGO’s Ninjago, set to hit the big screen September 22, 2017.
In addition to directing, del Toro will produce Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark alongside The Sean Daniel Company’s Jason Brown and Sean Daniel as well as 1212 Entertainment’s Elizabeth Grave.
