This news seemed like a given after the report last week that the Creepshow anthology series has been breaking viewership records for the Shudder streaming service, and now it's official: Shudder has renewed Creepshow for a second season.
An extension of the world George A. Romero and Stephen King created with the feature films CREEPSHOW and CREEPSHOW 2 back in the '80s, the Creepshow series has special effects legend Greg Nicotero as its creative supervisor. Nicotero, who visited the set of the first CREEPSHOW and worked in the FX department on CREEPSHOW 2, made the wise decision to bring several people who worked on those films back for the show. CREEPSHOW composer John Harrison directed stories for the show, as did special effects artist Tom Savini. Some segments were based on stories written by King and his son Joe Hill, who appeared in the first CREEPSHOW. The animation on the show is done by the same animator who worked on the two movies, Rick Catizone.
Shudder GM Craig Engler had this to say:
Creepshow has met every expectation we had for Shudder’s first original scripted series and then some, with record numbers across the board. Greg Nicotero and his team delivered an amazing show that’s unlike anything else on TV and we’re thrilled and delighted to bring it back for another season."
Nicotero added:
For me, Creepshow has been a true labor of love. To be able to pay tribute to George A. Romero’s visionary project and have the show so embraced by fans everywhere is humbling to this horror kid from Pittsburgh. I couldn’t be more pleased and look forward to continuing the series with more ghoulish delight.”
The six episodes of Creepshow's first season each consist of two separate story segments. The stories are:
“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.“The House of the Head”
Written by: Josh Malerman
Directed by: John Harrison
Evie discovers her new dollhouse might be haunted.“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.“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.“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.“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.“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.“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.“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.“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.“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 season's cast includes Giancarlo Esposito, Tobin Bell, Cailey Fleming, Jeffrey Combs, Kid Cudi, Big Boi, Bruce Davison, Dana Gould, David Arquette, Tricia Helfer, DJ Qualls, and Adrienne Barbeau, who was also in the first movie.
Creepshow episodes have been released on Shudder every Thursday since September 26th. The season 1 finale reaches the streaming service tomorrow, Halloween.
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.