Disney+ is soon releasing the horror television show author R.L. Stine's graphic novels of the same name, published by BOOM! Studios.
The show's creator, Seth Graham-Greene, is no stranger to quirky horror-themed adventures, having written both the original novel and subsequent screenplay adaptation for The Haunting of Hill House) and Lexi Underwood.
The works of R.L. Stine seem to be experiencing renewed popularity at the moment. The Fear Street films were highly successful for Netflix, and Sony Pictures Television has already greenlit a revival The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits for tweens. As a Disney+ original, the series will obviously try to appeal to a younger demographic to fit in with the streamer's brand, and the lighter tone won't ward off family viewership.
Fear Street, despite its success, arguably has more of a niche appeal as an ode to older slasher films like Friday The 13th. The trilogy is also three in a long line of horror content on Netflix, whereas Just Beyond represents a legitimately different venture for Disney+'s original programming as a horror property. So far, Disney+ doesn't have much original genre content to offer outside of Marvel content like What If...?, Star Wars, and older films and television specials. This is the first time that original programming is set to compete with the type of genre fare that's widely available on Netflix or other rival streaming platforms.
Whether Just Beyond is likely to be better than Fear Street is difficult to say, especially because the two are so different from each other. What the show does provide is brand new storytelling grounds for Disney+, which could use more original content to attract a younger audience with more diverse tastes who might not be as interested in High School Music spin-offs or Disney Channel-esque sitcoms. The series might also serve as a fun gateway into the rest of the world of horror, just as R.L. Stine himself inspired many a burgeoning genre fan to seek out scary stories throughout their adolescence.
