New Kid On The Block

Killer doll Chucky is getting an upgrade in the Child’s Play reboot

Released in 1988, Child’s Play beat Toy Story to the punch. But instead of sentient toys who keep their true nature secret from humanity, Chucky is a murderous doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer. After six (increasingly outlandish) sequels, the series has finally gone down the reboot route and given Chucky a 21st century makeover.

This time it’s Aubrey Plaza’s Karen Barclay who gives her 13-year-old son Andrew (Gabriel Bateman) a Buddi doll named Chucky for his birthday. However, this contemporary Chucky isn’t brought to life by voodoo magic. Instead, he’s a hi-tech AI toy with a glitch in his programming, allowing him to control technology and wreak bloody havoc.

“I learned early on that there wasn’t any voodoo involved, that it was an AI concept,” director Lars Klevberg tells Red Alert. “It was interesting how we could tie that into Chucky’s arc and his transition throughout the movie.”