MGM's upcoming remake of Tom Holland and Don Mancini's killer doll classic CHILD'S PLAY from director Lars Klevberg (POLAROID) has started filming with Aubrey Plaza (LEGION) as Andy's Mom, Brian Tyree Henry (ATLANTA) as Mike and Gabriel Bateman (LIGHTS OUT) as Andy. Yesterday we shared all-new festive phone galleries from the movie's official website (check them out HERE) and today we have a killer update on the flick.
Producers David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith (IT, IT: CHAPTER TWO) have just announced they'll be partnering with Emmy Award-winning FX studio MastersFX (THE PREDATOR, SINISTER, ROBOCOP) to bring the BUDDI doll to life, a contemporary version of the iconic Good Guys doll aka Chucky!
MastersFX founder, Todd Masters:
Reconceiving a well-loved classic always feels like wading into tricky waters, however, Lars’ fresh vision for this film turned what could have been a challenging process into a seamless and beautiful collaboration. MGM and Orion’s Child’s Play is not a remake or retelling but a completely new style and concept and we believe that BUDDI fits with this vision perfectly.
MastersFX brings new Chucky doll to life like never before with "a mixture of practical on-set puppet work and digital FX enhancements." Masters and his team took six weeks to prepare and assemble seven practical animatronic puppets, each with interchangeable arms and heads. The FX team, led by ace puppeteer Keith Arbuthnot, along with Mike Fields, Jason Ward and Josh Raymond each controlled a different part of the doll.
Katzenberg said in a statement:
It was important to Lars that we use animatronics as much as possible. As fans of Todd’s work, we were thrilled when he and his team of exceptional artists and puppeteers agreed to take on the challenge of creating our take on a classic character.
I don't know about you, but I'm so fucking glad to hear that the powers that be behind the scenes of this new Chucky movie will be using practical on-set puppet work for Chucky. The digital FX enhancements I can live with. It happens. But at least they're trying to bring the old puppet spirit back into the works. No pun intended.
The upcoming remake's official synopsis reads:
A mother (Plaza) gives her son (Bateman) a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature.
The remake is directed by Lars Klevberg (POLAROID) from a screenplay written by KUNG FURY 2 writer Tyler Burton Smith with STEPHEN KING'S IT producers David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith producing. Aaron Schmidt and Chris Ferguson executive produced. Beatrice Kitsos, Ty Consiglio, and Carlease Burke co-star. CHILD'S PLAY stalks and slashes its tiny terrifying ass into your local multiplex come June 21, 2019.