Don Mancini Teases Ghosts, Seances, and Expanding The Mythology In Chucky Season 3
Chucky is up against his worst adversary yet… aging. Kristen Maldonado of Pop Culture Planet spoke with Don Mancini, horror legend and creator of the iconic Chucky, about how he keeps he evolving the franchise, expanding the ghostly mythology in Chucky season 3, and teases what we can expect in season 3 part 2.
This year marks 35 years since we first were introduced to the world of Chucky in Child’s Play. So how does creator Don Mancini continue to keep the franchise fresh after all this time? “I’ve spent a lot time thinking about Chucky over the last 40 years. So I actually feel fortunate that I have an outlet for the ideas because I just really love the character,” he told me. “I think I speak for everyone on the show [when I say] we all really enjoy the character and coming up with crazy new shit for him to do. We’re just really happy that we have an outlet for actually realizing it.
When it came to bringing Chucky to the “haunted” White House in Chucky season 3, it was something Mancini had been thinking about for “a long time.” “I’ve been interested in the lore that actually exists surrounding the White House and supposed ghost sightings,” he said, teasing part 2. “Most famously the Lincoln Administration where they actually held a seance at the White House. We do that too. You haven’t seen it yet, but it’s coming.”
The research on the White House was a project Mancini was working on separate from Chucky over the years, but then it occurred to him that it would be really interesting location to place Chucky in while also expanding the supernatural mythology of the world of Chucky further. “I mean, Chucky in a way is a ghost. In the very first scene of episode one, Henry and his mom sort of debate this. What is a ghost exactly?” Mancini shared. “It’s a spirit. It’s a thing that’s hovering around after you die. So what if it turned out that Chucky was in a place where he wasn’t the only one? I thought that was an interesting new wrinkle to explore.'“
What’s next for part 2? “It’s all about expanding the mythology. Once you get into the realm of doing a TV show, […] it’s great to have the opportunity to realize a whole bunch of different ideas, but at the same time you have to keep it fresh. You have to expand it beyond Chucky just saying “fuck you” and stabbing someone. It has to be about something. I thought [of] using Damballa as a context through which to explore this new facet of Chucky’s character. Now he’s faced with aging and obsolescence and being replaced in culture and being forgotten. What does that mean? All of these sort of existential questions that I think [are] amusing and interesting and hopefully a little surprising to challenge Chucky with.”
We’ve learned more about Chucky than any other iconic villain out there and now it’s time to up the ante. “It’s something I’ve often tried to do in the various movies as well. We’ve gotten to know Chucky’s love life and his family life and what his values are. We’ve learned a lot about him for a slash villain, more than most I would argue. So we want to keep expanding on that,” said Mancini. “We always think of the characters first and what might be a new dimension to explore and then we try to find the story that will help accommodate that.”
Speaking of ghosts, Mancini exclusively revealed to Pop Culture Planet that Brad Dourif, the iconic voice of Chucky, returns in live-action in part 2: “He’s a ghost!” What that will enail in the continuation of season 3, we can only guess at! Is he playing the ghost of Charles Lee Ray? Another White House ghost come to join in on the haunts? Only time will tell.
Stream all three seasons of Chucky on Peacock and look out for season 3 part 2 returning in 2024.
