Are You Afraid of the Dark? is getting a TV minseries revival. The successful ’90s era horror themed anthology series was one of Nickelodeon’s most popular titles during both its initial run from 1990-1996 and its much shorter, secondary run from 1999-2000. Having gained its share of praise over those years, many fans have been patiently waiting (and hoping) for the day the series returns.
Taking on the role of similar anthology horror-themed series’ like The Twilight Zone, or a modern equivalent such as Black Mirror, Are You Afraid of the Dark? told stories of supernatural hauntings and ghoulish creatures, though said tales were framed more for children and teens than adults. That being said, neither the creatures nor the hauntings that took place in the series were particularly tame. Focusing on a group of friends known as The Midnight Society, the central characters of Are You Afraid of the Dark? would meet up around a campfire in the woods at the start of each episode and tell a tale of the macabre.
Given that Are You Afraid of the Dark? has a dedicated fanbase still eager for more, there has long been hope that the series would return at some point. This has proven to be true as THR is reporting that a new miniseries revival of Are You Afraid of the Dark? is on its way at Nickelodeon. The revival is part of a handful of new programming and revivals at the popular children’s network.
Prior to confirmation of a new TV miniseries of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, the big news for the show’s fans was the feature film adaptation of the show, which is on its way from Paramount. The film will arrive in October of this year, which is exactly when Nickelodeon has planned to release the TV miniseries revival. Though none of the original writers were hired on for the film, Gary Dauberman, the writer behind 2017’s IT adaptation, as well as The Nun, is one of film’s two screenwriters.
It’s been a while since Are You Afraid of the Dark?’s heyday, but that shouldn’t be viewed as a disadvantage. With the appropriate amount of time and effort, there’s every reason to believe that it will deliver on all the chills, scares, and fun that it once did. Sony Pictures’ Goosebumps adaptation proved that there is still life in that popular 1990s era children’s horror series, and if Are You Afraid of the Dark? can follow suit - if not also improve on what Goosebumps pulled off - then fans might have an October to remember when both a TV revival and feature film arrive just in time for Halloween.
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Source: THR
