Between heavy-hitters like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, horror films are ripe with evil killers in every shape and size. With so many iconic characters waiting in the wings, it arguably seems like a genre ideally suited for crossovers. In fact, two of the most beloved silver screen slashers of all time are Chucky and Freddy Krueger, and now Child's Play writer Don Mancini has an excellent idea for a crossover that would bring the evil doll to Elm Street for a game of deadly one-upmanship. Mancini spoke out ahead of the upcoming release of Cult of Chucky and explained:
I've talked about this a lot over the years and it's actually an idea that I think is cool and doable. It's just... it would require arranging all the legal red tape between two different studios. But I think Chucky versus Freddy would be awesome. Because they both have distinct personalities, and they both talk, they would be a really fun double act. My idea for the movie is to do it as a horror movie version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It's called Child's Play on Elm Street. Chucky ends up in the bedroom of a house on Elm Street. And Freddy meets him there. And they're, like, fans of each other. So they have this rapport. But then they realize Elm Street isn't big enough for the two of them. It only can contain one killer.
This crossover (tentatively titled Child's Play on Elm Street) feels particularly ripe with potential if the rights get properly negotiated. Freddy Krueger and Chucky are arguably the two slasher villains with the most personality (in the sense that they talk to their victims), which means there is plenty of room to play with their banter and blend the horror genre with some subtle black comedy. It wouldn't just be a "versus" film in the sense of a traditional physical battle. There's room for bizarre psychology and a clashing of egos when Chucky ends up on Freddy's home turf. In an age when horror has become thoroughly deconstructed by projects like Cabin in the Woods, this crossover could neatly dissect the slasher sub-genre in a way that we haven't necessarily seen before.
The concept of two horror icons crossing over with one another isn't necessarily a new idea. Freddy vs. Jason offered a glimpse of what that could potentially look like back in 2003. While that film didn't necessarily become a critical smash when it premiered (it has a 41% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes), its core concept feels like something that works.
Don Mancini's description of Child's Play on Elm Street during his appearance on the Necronomicast (via Bloody Disgusting) opens up a range of possibilities in the realm of horror movie cinematic universes. The Conjuring franchise has arguably proven the viability of this concept, but a slasher-centric cinematic universe uniting guys like Freddy, Chucky, and possibly even Evil Dead's Ash Williams (I'm still waiting for Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash) could represent the next step forward. We've seen what happens when superheroes share the big screen; now horror villains could carry that torch even further.
As of right now, Child's Play on Elm Street is nothing more than a dream (or is it a nightmare), but we will keep you posted if any new developments come up. For now, Cult of Chucky will debut on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 3. As for upcoming theatrical releases, check out our movie premiere guide to see what else 2017 has in store!
