Last Updated on October 9, 2024 by Angel Melanson
There are few franchises as enduring as Child’s Play. Dating back to the original slasher classic in 1988, Chucky has managed to survive on screen for going on four decades. What’s more, part of what makes the franchise unique is that the continuity has never been rebooted, with creator Don Mancini’s version of the character, voiced by the legendary Brad Dourif, still the very same version of the character we know today. Now though, we’re left with a lingering question; where should the series go from here? I propose, quite simply, it’s high time that Chucky goes to space.
Recently, USA Network and Syfy decided to cancel the Chucky TV series after three seasons. Mancini had plans for a fourth season but that’s not going to move forward. However, on social media, the creator promised “He’ll be back!” So, it’s pretty clear that the cancellation of a TV show isn’t enough to kill the franchise. It just means it’s going to take another form. After all these years, isn’t it Chucky’s time to go where no killer doll has gone before?
Over the years, several long-standing slasher icons ended up going to space, adding a fresh element to the series. We’ve got Leprechaun 4: In Space. There’s the fan-favorite Jason X, which sent Jason Voorhees to the stars. Heck, even Pinhead went to space in Hellraiser: Bloodline. It never felt quite right to have Michael Myers to that route as the Halloween films have largely been more grounded affairs. Child’s Play, on the other hand, literally opens with a serial killer using voodoo to place his spirit into a children’s toy. Is going to space any more insane? I think not!
For what it’s worth, this isn’t just me baselessly trying to will something into existence. Mancini has said that he has an idea to bring Chucky to space. “My question is, ‘Do you want him to go to space?’ Do you personally want him to go? If there’s enough of a demand for that, eventually – I don’t know how quickly – I have an idea for that,” Mancini said earlier this year. So, evidently, it all comes down to fan demand. I humbly propose this as the start of a campaign to show Mancine that we want to make this happen.
One of the things that is so wonderful about this franchise – both the movies and the show – is that it has never been afraid to evolve, or go buck wild with big ideas. Curse of Chucky was a back-to-basics slasher, but Cult of Chucky? A full-on batshit crazy, borderline artsy commentary on the franchise’s own longevity. Hell, the most recent season of the show brought Chucky to the damn White House. This is only scratching the surface but you get the idea.
I’m not the creative type. I don’t write movies. So I’m not going to sit here and pitch hacky ideas for what Chucky in Space could be. That having been said, Chucky is that perfect blend of fun and violent that lends itself to something like this. Just imagine the one-liners, the hilarious kills. The setup alone of how he would end up in space could be a blast. Frankly, Chucky is one of the few Earth-bound horror franchises that feels like it could sustain a space-sent entry without jumping the shark.
Mancini has already confirmed that he is developing a new Child’s Play movie, so it’s evident that Chucky has life left in him, and we already know that the killer doll still commands a killer fanbase. It’s fair to say that Chucky has cemented his place on the Mount Rushmore of cinematic slashers, and to round out that legacy, Charles Lee Ray should have the opportunity to shed some blood in space. Your move, Hollywood.
Chucky is streaming now on Shudder. For more, check out our ranking of the best kills in Chucky season 3.
