Chucky Got a Makeover, and the Original Child's Play Creator Isn't Happy About It

In early July, horror movie fans got word that a reboot of Child’s Play was in the works at MGM with Polaroid director Lars Klevberg and It producers David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith. While the team has been pretty quiet about what to expect from the new film (production is only just now getting off the ground in Vancouver), the biggest question on fans’ minds is: What will Chucky look like? They got their answer late last week when Entertainment Weekly shared a sneak peek photo from the film.

While the photo only showed half of Chucky’s face (the other half was obscured by the knife the homicidal doll was holding), it was clear that this isn’t the same Good Guy doll so many fans have come to know and love (and fear). Klevberg told EW that they’ll be using both practical and digital effects to render Chucky 2.0 and that, “Our Chucky will be our Chucky and he will be presented when the movie comes out.”

One person who wasn’t thrilled with this news? Filmmaker Don Mancini, who turned what was supposed to be a congenial ginger doll into a murderous maniac with the release of the original Child’s Play in 1988. In the 30 years since, Chucky has become a major horror icon, thanks in large part to the full-blown horror franchise that Mancini inadvertently created—not to mention Brad Dourif, who has voiced Chucky in all seven films.

In July, Mancini told EW that he was offered the opportunity to get an executive producer credit on the reboot, but declined as he was concerned that the new film might “muddy” the brand. The sneak peek photo doesn’t seem to have eased his mind.

Shortly after EW’s image dropped, Mancini took to Twitter to give his take on the Chuckster’s new look:

Friends ‘til the end … or until a digital makeover.