First two stories of Shudder’s Creepshow series revealed

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

I couldn't be more excited about Shudder's upcoming anthology series Creepshow, a return to the world created by George A. Romero and Stephen King with the anthology films CREEPSHOW and CREEPSHOW 2. It sounds like all the right decisions are being made on this show, starting with the perfect choice of hiring special effects artist / director Greg Nicotero to be the show's creative supervisor. Not only is Nicotero a protégé of both Romero and CREEPSHOW FX artist Tom Savini, but he even visited the set of CREEPSHOW and worked on CREEPSHOW 2, so he's quite familiar with what Creepshow should be. He then brought in Savini and John Harrison, CREEPSHOW's composer and director of such films as TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE, to work on episodes.

Now our friends over at Bloody-Disgusting have learned that the premiere episode of Creepshow is going to get the series started in the perfect way.

Each episode of Creepshow will contain two different stories. Since every story in the two CREEPSHOW films came from the mind of Stephen King, it's fitting that the first story to be told on the series will be a King adaptation directed by Nicotero:

“Gray Matter” 
Story by: Stephen King, adapted by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi
Directed by: Greg Nicotero
Doc and Chief, two old-timers in a small, dying town, brave a storm to check on Richie, an alcoholic single father, after encountering his terrified son at the local convenience store. The story, first published in 1973, is part of King’s best-selling 1978 collection, Night Shift. 

Giancarlo Esposito, Tobin Bell, and Adrienne Barbeau (who had a memorable role in the first CREEPSHOW) star in the Gray Matter story.

The second story in the premiere episode is one directed by John Harrison, and I like that it's a CREEPSHOW veteran who's helping get things started before the show segues to directors who are new to the franchise.

“The House of the Head”  
Written by: Josh Malerman 
Directed by: John Harrison
Evie discovers her new dollhouse might be haunted. 

Judging by the show's trailer, it looks like young Evie might be played by Cailey Fleming, who genre fans may know as Judith Grimes from AMC's The Walking Dead. Fleming's casting hasn't been officially announced, though.

The first episode of Creepshow will debut on the Shudder streaming service on September 26th. The first season consists of six episodes, and one will be released on Shudder every Thursday, building up to the season finale on Halloween, October 31st.

The other stories that will be told over the course of the season are: 

“All Hallows Eve”  
Written by: Bruce Jones
Directed by: John Harrison
Even then they’re a little too old, this group of friends still want to trick-or-treat but getting candy isn’t all they are looking for.
 
“Bad Wolf Down” 
Written by: Rob Schrab
Directed by: Rob Schrab
A group of American soldiers, trapped behind enemy lines during World War II, finds an unconventional way to even the odds. 

“By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain” 
Story by: Joe Hill, adapted by Jason Ciaramella
Directed by: Tom Savini
Her dad died looking for the monster living at the bottom of Lake Champlain, and now, will she?
 
“The Companion” 
Story by: Joe R. Lansdale, Kasey Lansdale & Keith Lansdale, adapted by Matt Venne
Directed by: Dave Bruckner 
A young boy, bullied by his older brother, sneaks into an abandoned farm that is protected by a supernatural force. 

“Lydia Layne’s Better Half”  
Story by: John Harrison & Greg Nicotero, adapted by John Harrison
Directed by: Roxanne Benjamin 
A powerful woman denies a promotion to her protégée and lover but fails to anticipate the fallout. 
 
“The Man in the Suitcase”  
Written by: Christopher Buehlman
Directed by: Dave Bruckner 
A college student brings the wrong bag home from the airport only to find a pretzeled man trapped inside, afflicted by a strange condition that turns his pain into gold.
 
“Night of the Paw” 
Written by: John Esposito
Directed by: John Harrison
A lonely mortician finds company in the ultimate  ‘be careful what you wish for’ story. 
 
“Skincrawlers”
Written by: Paul Dini & Stephen Langford
Directed by: Roxanne Benjamin 
A man considers a miraculous new treatment for weight loss that turns out to have unexpected complications.
 
“Times is Tough in Musky Holler” 
Written by: John Skipp and Dori Miller, based on their short story
Directed by: John Harrison
Leaders who once controlled a town through fear and intimidation get a taste of their own medicine.

“The Finger”
Written by: David J. Schow
Directed by: Greg Nicotero
An unhappy man discovers a severed, inhuman appendage on the street and brings it home, where it grows into a loyal companion with some deadly quirks.

We don't know what order these stories will be told in, or which will be paired together for episodes.

In addition to the actors mentioned above, other cast members include Jeffrey Combs, Kid Cudi, Big Boi, Bruce Davison, Dana Gould, David Arquette, Tricia Helfer, and DJ Qualls.

Shudder's Creepshow is produced by the Cartel with Monster Agency Productions, Taurus Entertainment, and Striker Entertainment. Stan Spry, Jeff Holland, and Eric Woods are executive producers for the Cartel; Greg Nicotero and Brian Witten are executive producers for Monster Agency Productions; Robert Dudelson, James Dudelson and Jordan Kizwani are executive producers for Taurus Entertainment; Russell Binder is executive producer and Marc Mostman co-executive producer for Striker Entertainment.