Chucky is coming to television. In a competitive situation, Syfy has landed the rights to develop a Chucky TV series. It will focus on the character at the center of the horror/slasher Child’s Play film series, the red-haired, freckled-faced doll possessed by the soul of notorious serial killer, Charles Lee Ray.

The project comes from the Chucky movie franchise creator/writer Don Mancini and producer David Kirschner as well as TV writer-producer Nick Antosca (Hulu’s The Act). Mancini will write the adaptation for Universal Cable Prods.

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Syfy has been expanding the scope of its genre programming beyond sci-fi to other areas, including horror, most recently with the horror anthology series Channel Zero, created/executive produced by Antosca, on which Mancini served as writer-producer.

Chucky also is part of the Syfy’s programming strategy that caters to existing fanbases with high-end series based on well known IP, like Krypton, Nightflyers, The Magicians and Deadly Class.

“It’s very rare that you get the opportunity to bring such an iconic character to your network, let alone with the original creator attached,” said Bill McGoldrick, President, Scripted Content, NBCU Cable Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Don, David and Nick on putting their blood, sweat, and more blood into bringing the Chucky story to television.”

There had been speculation about a Chucky TV series in the works since June when Mancini sent out a Twitter gif tease touting “Child’s Play: The TV Series.”

“I’ve long wanted to bring Chucky to television and Syfy is the perfect network for us,” Mancini said today. “The show will be a fresh take on the franchise, allowing us to explore Chucky’s character with a depth that is uniquely afforded by the television series format, while staying true to the original vision that has terrorized audiences for over three decades now.”

Mancini and Kirschner executive produce alongside Antosca via his banner Eat the Cat, through his overall deal at UCP.

“I worked with Don on Hannibal and on Channel Zero for Syfy, so developing Chucky with UCP really feels like coming home,” said Antosca. “Syfy is the perfect place to tell the next chapter in the Chucky saga and having the original creative team lead the project will help elevate the story we are excited to tell.”

The long-running Child’s Play film series (referred to as “Chucky,” the demonic doll who is the star of the show, since 1998’s Bride of Chucky) started in 1988, running through six sequels, most recently 2017’s Cult of Chucky.

The films are centered around serial killer Charles Lee Ray (actor Brad Dourif), whose soul is transferred inside a Good Guy doll after a voodoo ritual as a way to avoid going to hell. Trouble ensues.

Said Chucky, “In these troubled times, I believe it’s my obligation as a horror icon to reach the widest possible audience, on TV,. For over 30 years, I’ve been scaring the sh*t out of you. But now at Syfy, I look forward to really making a difference.”

Mancini and Antosca are repped by WME and attorney Lev Ginsburg.