Barbeau joins Creepshow series for segment based on King’s Gray Matter

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Thirty-seven years after appearing in the George A. Romero / Stephen King anthology film CREEPSHOW, Adrienne Barbeau is returning to the world of that franchise by taking a role in an episode of Shudder's upcoming Creepshow series.

Barbeau will be starring alongside Tobin Bell and Giancarlo Esposito in a segment based on King's short story Gray Matter. Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero will be directing the Gray Matter adaptation, which has been written by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi. The story centers on 

Doc and Chief, two old-timers in a small, dying town who brave a storm to check on Richie, an alcoholic single father, after encountering his terrified son at the local convenience store. 

Barbeau had this to say about joining the Creepshow series: 

I was thrilled when Greg asked me to join the Creepshow world once again. And then working with Tobin and Giancarlo, with Greg as our director, well, that was the icing on the cake — no, not that cake. Oh, you know what I mean."

Nicotero added that 

I feel I’m in great company getting the opportunity to direct a story written by Steve. Between Salem’s Lot, Pet Sematary and The Stand, I’ve always found his stories rich in relatable characters forced into supernatural situations beyond their control—the everyday person’s primal fears. To visualize Gray Matter for Creepshow with the help of Adrienne, Giancarlo and Tobin was about as good as it gets for a horror fan from Pittsburgh!"

The first season of Creepshow will consist of six episodes, each episode split into two segments. In addition to Gray Matter, the announced stories are: 

“Silvery Waters of Lake Champlain” by Joe Hill 

“House of the Head” by Josh Malerman 

“The Companion” by Joe R. Lansdale 

“The Man in the Suitcase” by Christopher Buehlman 

“All Hallows Eve” by Bruce Jones 

“Night of the Paw” by John Esposito 

“Bad Wolf Down” by Rob Schrab 

We had heard that Nicotero would also be directing an adaptation of the King short story Survivor Type for the Creepshow series, but Shudder hasn't confirmed that so it's starting to seem like Survivor Type might have gotten put on the backburner. Maybe they're just waiting to confirm it since word leaked out early.

Also directing Creepshow segments are Rob Schrab, Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, and the original CREEPSHOW's composer John Harrison, who is taking the helm of a story he co-wrote with Nicotero.

Creepshow will premiere on Shudder later this year.

The series is being produced by the Cartel with Monster Agency Productions, Taurus Entertainment, and Striker Entertainment. Nicotero serves as an executive producer with Stan Spry, Jeff Holland, Eric Woods, Brian Witten, Robert Dudelson, James Dudelson, Jordan Kizwani, and Russell Binder. Marc Mostman is co-executive producer.