'Goosebumps 2' News, Release Date: Jack Black Might No Longer Return as R.L. Stine
The sequel to the first "Goosebumps" film has been in production since early this year, and new reports suggest a change in its cast and crew. According to reports, "Goosebumps 2" might no longer feature one of its original stars, Jack Black, who played R.L. Stine in the first film.
"Goosebumps" was released in theaters in 2015 and was one of Sony's most successful films that year, raking in at least $156 million at the domestic box office. The film was also a critical success thanks to its family-fun scares and action-packed plot.
The original film revolved around a group of teenagers who accidentally unleashed all the monsters from the books of R.L. Stine, a reclusive author who was eventually forced to recapture each and every monster he created to prevent them from wreaking havoc throughout the city.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
As the production for "Goosebumps 2" goes into full swing, rumor has it that Sony is keeping its costs on the sequel low by removing Black. According to reports, the studio hired "Alexander and the Terrible" and "Very Bad Day" screenwriter Rob Lieber to write the final draft of the screenplay, and this draft does not include Black's character.
Currently, there is reportedly no deal in place for Black to return for the sequel, as Sony, looking to cut costs, sees the actor's $6.8-million salary as a good starting point.
While most reports say that Black will no longer return as Stine in the upcoming film, some reports claim that other scripts for the sequel actually include Stine and that Black might still be on board if his schedule allows. Sony has yet to comment on either report.
Meanwhile, the "Goosebumps" sequel is titled "Goosebumps: Horror Land" and is originally slated for January 2018 release. Due to the recent shakeup, however, it remains to be seen if the film will move ahead as scheduled.
