How Chucky's Don Mancini brilliantly reinvented his Child's Play franchise

No one could have predicted the everlasting popularity of the Child’s Play franchise when it launched in 1988—not even creator Don Mancini. But people seemingly (and thankfully) can’t get over the evil, hilarious menace that is Chucky (voiced by Brad Dourif). And it’s a treat to watch this Good Guy Doll’s story continue and bring on new audiences with SYFY’s Chucky, which wraps its killer third season on May 1.

After seven films, Mancini breathed new life into the franchise with this weird and inventive TV show. In it, Chucky continually adds to his body count and battles foes old and new—oh and, of course, romances Tiffany Valentine (Jennifer Tilly) whenever his murderous schedule allows. Chucky reaches its peak in season three, in which he faces his biggest crisis yet: rapid aging and possible death while living at, of all places, the White House.

The A.V. Club spoke to Mancini about his approach to reinventing Chucky’s gore and humor, Dourif’s long-awaited onscreen appearance, series star Devon Sawa’s multiple roles, his dream cast for the show, and more.

Don Mancini: That was certainly part of it. Just the implication of putting Chucky in the White House is amusing, to say the least. Usually in episode one of a new season, we set him up in a new situation. We all know from precedent and the way he’s operated over the years that he tends to infiltrate households and families for the most part. So I just thought, What if it’s the most famous and focused-on household and family in the world? Your mind goes to a lot of different places once you start to pull back on that.

So I knew we had that going for us and with it, the political commentary was available to us. We didn’t wanna be too partisan about it. I mean, I think it’s pretty clear that our franchise is very left-leaning and queer as hell, but that’s why we made the President an independent because we thought it’s the best way to have our cake and eat it too and tell a story about how even the most well-intentioned politicians and people in that situation can get swept away on a tide of misfortune, the slippery slope of corruption, and the need to do a cover-up. It worked out in a not-too-facile way, I hope, because there’s something inherently compelling about the idea that Chucky landed up there because he was looking for the most evil house in the world.

AVC: There’s a new location each season, as you said, with the show going from suburban New Jersey to a convent to the White House. How do you approach that and do you feel the need to dial up the antics?

DM: The goal is—as it has been even with the movies, but now with the show—that we just want to make some kind of semi-radical change, whether it’s a tonal shift or how we follow the same characters and relationships in different places. I try to think of situations that are going to put the most interesting obstacles in their path. And with Chucky, part of the fun is that it’s emerged over the years with the many movies and now three seasons that he’s a relatively complex character for a slasher villain. We know a lot more about him now. So I think it’s fun to give him semi-relatable and realistic dilemmas.

This time around, it’s the notion of looming obsolescence because he’s dying. But it’s not just death. It’s also the loss of strength in the world and the zeitgeist. It’s a very relatable thing. It’s certainly something I have dealt with more recently in my life after having been doing this for a long time and facing crises like the Child’s Play remakes and that sort of thing. It’s like, “Oh shit, this is an existential crisis,” in a way. I wanted to give Chucky that this time.

AVC: The Child’s Play franchise has been around for almost 40 years, and even today, it still feels innovative. Do you think you’ve cracked the formula to achieve that?

DM: I’d like to think so. I feel that all of us on the show, and a lot of us have worked together on the movies as well, including the actors and puppeteers, we’re in good shape to handle it by now. It’s one thing I do love about doing the TV show. You’re in it constantly so you stay in shape. It manifests a lot in the puppeteering. Fans have observed and remarked on that: how it’s gotten so great over time and it’s better than ever in season three. It’s one of the big reasons I hope we get a fourth season. We’re all getting good at what we’re doing here; it’s a well-oiled machine now.

AVC: Why was it the right time to finally see Brad Dourif appear in Chucky’s last couple of episodes instead of him only voicing the doll?

DM: I always want to give all of our actors, but especially Brad Dourif, new stuff to do and challenge them with. He’s one of the greatest actors of our time, and we just have him at our disposal. So I would be remiss in my job as the custodian of this thing to not bring him in. After Good Chucky and Colonel Chucky and all these different variations, I thought I’ve got to give him scenes in the flesh now. I wanted to give him scenes with the doll, too; I wanted to give him scenes with his daughter, Fiona Dourif. And it’s fulfilling to see him in the big finale alongside all the other actors who’ve played Charles Lee Ray at different ages. It’s cool we could make it happen.

AVC: We have to talk about how Devon Sawa has played five different roles in a span of three seasons. Was that always the intention when he was cast?

DM: I didn’t know at first that we’d do it. I just knew that I was casting him as twin brothers in season one but we all loved working with him so much. He’s an excellent actor, a great guy, and a horror royalty himself. I felt like we were happy and lucky to have him. And I like doing this, getting actors to play multiple roles in the franchise. I guess I like writing for actors I know. We’ve been doing it for Fiona, Brad, and Jennifer Tilly. Devon’s maybe done the most, though. We should give him an SNL–type Five-Timers jacket [laughs].

AVC: Speaking of, season three had fun cameos from Kenan Thompson and Sarah Sherman. Do you have any other dream guest stars?

DM: Well, first, anyone on SNL. I love that show. I started watching it in the ’70s and I’ve kept up with it religiously continuously. Having met a lot of those people through Kenan, I’ll just say they all have a standing invitation. I would also like The Kids In The Hall. It would feel parochial in a good way because we shoot in Toronto. And then Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara are my dream guests. I tend to gravitate towards funny people.

AVC: Oh gosh, imagine Chucky killing Catherine O’Hara. Glorious.

DM: Actually, imagine Catherine O’Hara as Tiffany Valentine’s mom, right? Especially now that season three ends with Chucky and Tiff reuniting and making out in the backseat of a car. It was time. That needed to happen. Although I will say that I had once considered casting Deborah Harry in the role of Tiffany’s mom.

AVC: Chucky is gory and bloody, but there’s such humor in Chucky’s dialogue, the way he references things, and his awareness of pop culture. How do you wield that tool to bring in the comedy?

DM: Chucky’s appeal is very much his sense of humor. He sees the world through a very particular lens, and that lens is irreverent and mean-spirited. He’s cranky in a specific way. I find it’s fun to write his responses to what’s going on in the culture. He’s not just about making bad puns. In fact, I like to think he’s done very little of it. He’s got a more sophisticated style.

AVC: Do you ever revisit the movies and think of storylines or characters you want to fold into the show? Or plots you’d like to tie up somehow?

DM: There are. People enjoy the occasional Easter eggs and characters who have appeared in the distant past cropping up now and then. As long as it’s at the service of telling a good story and not just doing it for its own sake, it works. People ask about Catherine Hicks, who played Karen Barclay, and Chris Sarandon, who played Mike Norris. They were in the original Child’s Play, so I would love to have them on the show. I think we can make it happen. Part of it is corralling people’s schedules and whatnot. I’d also love to have Perrey Reeves [Kristin da Silva in Child’s Play 3] back. I’ve been in touch with her recently so that would be fun. It would be interesting to see the effect she’d have on Andy Barclay [Alex Vincent] now.

AVC: Do you have a plan in mind for season four? And do you feel pressure to keep reinventing each time you have to find a different Chucky storyline?

DM: Sure. I always feel pressure because I always want to do well. That applies to any creative person when you’re doing something and you put it out there: You want it to do well. That never goes away for me. But I think I panic less about it now. That’s the one upside of having done Child’s Play and Chucky for so long. We can solve whatever problems crop up. And I’m always still very excited about the opportunity to tell more stories. I’ve already pitched a season four idea to the network. I hope we get to do it.