How killer is Chucky's radical makeover for new 'Child's Play' reboot? See for yourself.
Not every doll is built to last for thirty years, but the pint-sized plastic killer, Chucky, is still slaying three decades after the first Child’s Play hit theaters in 1988. That said, the original toy—who made his most recent appearance in 2017’s Cult of Chucky — has undergone some major wear and tear over the course of his career. That’s why he’s getting a semi-extreme makeover for the upcoming reboot of the original film, which cuts its way into cinemas on June 21. Orion Pictures has revealed the very first look at the all-new, slightly-different Chucky, who will be voiced by Star Wars legend, Mark Hamill. Aubrey Plaza and Gabriel Bateman play the mother and son that welcomes Chucky into their home, and watches it become a battlefield. (See the first look photo below.)
Side-by-side comparisons illustrate that Chucky 2.0 still has his ancestor’s red hair, and is still rocking the striped shirt-beneath-overalls look we know and love. (They’ve also got a similar taste in oversized knives.) But the 2019 version is also a bit more lifelike, particularly in his sharp cheekbones and disturbingly realistic eyes. The teaser trailer that hit the Internet in February showcased additional modern-day features, like full-body scanning and smart phone compatibility. (A new trailer will be released on Thursday.)
Horror fans appear open to the idea of playing with Chucky’s 2019 model, although they are skeptical of those cheekbones.
I was fine and then I got this picture of #Chucky in my email and now I may never open an email again.
I have a legitimate fear of walking dolls and #ChildsPlayMovie has given me renewed nightmare fuel. pic.twitter.com/2YLwIcKSbD— Geek "I have nothing to prove to you."Girl Diva (@geekgirldiva) April 16, 2019
chucky got fillers pic.twitter.com/IXVfaMtdGD
— Laura Bradley (@lpbradley) April 16, 2019
Here’s a new official image of Chucky from the new Child’s Play remake. I actually do like the new look. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I just hope Mark Hamill will do a good job with the voice acting for this character! #Chucky #ChildsPlayMovie #ChildsPlay2019 pic.twitter.com/nQIikT4EBH
— Dante Dotson (@dotson_dante) April 16, 2019
Of course, there are those who definitely still prefer their killer toys to be of the vintage variety. That includes Jennifer Tilly, who joined the previous Chucky franchise with 1998’s Bride of Chucky. As the actress told Yahoo Entertainment in 2017, that’s the film that brought doll-on-doll lovemaking into the multiplex. Being part of that historic achievement has understandably made Tilly more than a little skeptical about the reboot.
New “Chucky” movie? Ummm...no. Tiffany and I are gonna sit this one out. #NotmyChucky pic.twitter.com/OcILcYLfXe
— Jennifer Tilly (@JenniferTilly) February 8, 2019
She’s not the only one: appearing on the Mick Garris podcast, Post Mortem, last year, franchise creator, Don Mancini, confessed to having hurt feelings about Orion’s decision to remake the original film, especially as his version of Chucky is still hard at work carving up bodies in direct-to-DVD movies. “It was hard not to feel like I was being patronized,” Mancini remarked. “They just wanted our approval, which I strenuously denied them.”
Child’s Play arrives in theaters on June 21. The original film is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
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