Yahoo Lifestyle ‘Chucky’ Canceled By Syfy & USA After 3 Seasons, Leaving Creator Don Mancini “Heartbroken” But “Grateful” Amid NBCU Cable Scripted Shift
Chucky’s murderous days are over — at least for now. The series, based on the classic horror movie franchise, will not return for a fourth season on Syfy and USA Network. The news comes four months after Part 2 of Chucky‘s third season aired its finale on both NBCUniversal cable networks.
Series creator/executive producer Don Mancini had been looking to carry on. He revealed in April that he had pitched a fourth season, saying at the time that “it’s something I really like to do.” His enthusiasm helped spring the #RenewChucky fan campaign, which has been rallying support for Season 4.
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Needless to say, today’s outcome is not what he had hoped for, but Mancini, who also created and wrote movie franchise, remained graceful in his reaction, vowing that this is not Chucky’s last spree.
“I’m heartbroken over the news that Chucky won’t be coming back for a fourth season but am so grateful for the killer three years we did have,” he said. “I’d like to thank UCP/Syfy/Peacock/Eat the Cat, our awesome cast and Toronto-based crew — the best in the business — and finally, to our amazing fans, a big bloody hug. Your incredible #RenewChucky campaign really warmed Chucky’s cold heart. Chucky will return! He ALWAYS comes back.”
This marks an end of an era for Syfy — Chucky was the last higher-end, UCP-produced original scripted series on the network. The other one, Resident Alien, recently moved to USA with a significant budget reduction.
Amid the sobering reality of the declining ad-supported cable business in the cord-cutting era, Syfy is now relying on Canadian (SurrealEstate, the upcoming Revival) and modestly budgeted independent productions, like Electric Entertainment’s The Arc, for its original scripted offerings.
Chucky was one of the signs for what was to come — originally greenlighted by Syfy, it ended up being shared with USA so the two networks could share the cost.
As for USA, after phasing out its scripted originals in the last couple of years, the network is back in the game with budget-conscious “Blue Sky” procedurals harkening back to the network’s heyday of hits like Monk, Psych, Suits and White Collar. The first series under the initiative is the upcoming The Rainmaker, based on the John Grisham novel.
Chucky, the series, follows the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll. Chucky crosses paths with archenemies, old allies and new prey, as he seeks to inspire fear and mayhem wherever he goes.
Season 3 saw Chucky ensconced with the most powerful family in the world — America’s First Family, inside the infamous walls of the White House. How did Chucky wind up here? What in God’s name does he want? And how can Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson), and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) possibly get to Chucky inside the world’s most secure building, all while balancing the pressures of romantic relationships and growing up? Meanwhile, Tiffany faced a looming crisis of her own as the police close in on her for “Jennifer Tilly’s” murderous rampage last season.
Chucky was executive produced by Don Mancini, Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, David Kirschner and Jeff Renfoe.
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