‘Tales From the Crypt’ Will Use Online Fanfiction to Drive Plot
TNT’s revamped Tales From the Crypt is generating fresh horror ideas on the web. The anthology television series will utilize genre trends and story material from free online fiction site Wattpad, home to 45 million active users and roughly 20 million uploaded stories per month, The Wall Street Journal reports.
As part of the newly announced partnership, Turner Broadcasting will incorporate data from the Wattpad community to pinpoint emerging horror subjects and sub-genres – and even specific stories from contributors – for the new M. Night Shyamalan-produced series. TNT and sister network TBS will also use the content for other shows.
“This is about finding really great stories with that attached fanbase, or writers who can create something new. It’s not just promotional,” Aron Levitz, head of Wattpad Studios, told The Wall Street Journal. He added that while Wattpad writers “will take part financially,” he declined to provide specific figures.
TNT’s 10-episode Tales revamp is based on the iconic, gory EC Comics series from the 1950s, which spawned creepy, signature host the Crypt Keeper. That character was revived for HBO’s series adaptation, which ran from 1989 to 1996 and earned four Emmy nominations. TNT has teased a “newly reinvented Crypt Keeper” as part of the new show.
“To be part of such a beloved brand like Tales From the Crypt, something I grew up watching, and to also have the chance to push the boundaries of genre television as a whole, is an inspiring opportunity that I can’t wait to dive into,” Shyamalan said in an initial statement announcing the project.