## R.L. Stine Praises Goosebumps: The Vanishing as “Terrifying”
R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young adults, has expressed his enthusiastic approval of the upcoming *Goosebumps: The Vanishing* TV series. In an interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, Stine declared the second season a significant upgrade, claiming it’s “more terrifying” than his original books. The series, premiering January 10th on Disney+ and Hulu, promises an elevated *Goosebumps* experience.
The first season followed a group of high schoolers investigating a decades-old mystery surrounding the death of Harold Biddle, uncovering dark family secrets along the way. *Goosebumps: The Vanishing*, however, features an entirely new cast and setting, adhering to the anthology format. This season, comprising eight episodes (two fewer than the first), centers on teenage siblings who stumble upon a sinister threat within their own home, leading them to unravel a mystery involving five teenagers who vanished in 1994.
The cast boasts a talented ensemble including Arjun Athalye, Eloise Payet, Christopher Paul Richards, Kyra Tantao, Stony Blyden, and Sakina Jaffrey, alongside Sam McCarthy, Jayden Bartels, Elijah Cooper, Galilea La Salvia, Francesca Noel, and Ana Ortiz. David Schwimmer also joins the cast as Anthony, the father of twin siblings Devin and Cece. While the specifics of their roles remain largely undisclosed, the series promises a compelling narrative filled with suspense. The show’s creative team includes director Rob Letterman (who directed the first *Goosebumps* movie), Nick Stoller, and showrunner Hilary Winston.
Stine highlighted the show’s unpredictable nature, a key element also present in his books. He noted the series’ departure from the linear storytelling often found in children’s literature and horror, praising its unexpected twists. He specifically mentioned the show’s updated approach, featuring older characters and heightened scares. While acknowledging a death in the first two episodes, he emphasized that it occurred thirty years prior, maintaining the core *Goosebumps* principle of no immediate on-screen deaths. He concluded by calling the show “very different, and… terrifying.”
When asked which *Goosebumps* book he’d like to see adapted next, Stine surprisingly chose *Brain Juice*, a lesser-known title about children who consume a mysterious purple liquid, becoming incredibly intelligent before being abducted by aliens and gradually losing their intelligence. He admits it’s his personal favorite but anticipates its unlikely adaptation due to its relative obscurity.