This actually makes perfect sense, considering Poltergeist is about ghosts that gain access to a suburban family via their TV: the 1982 Steven Spielberg-produced and co-written horror classic, which spawned two sequels of varying quality and a tepid 2015 remake, may be getting a new series.
Variety had the scoop, reporting Amazon MGM Studios is in “early development” on the project. No writers are attached as of yet—and there’s no word on the plot, other than “the show will be set within the world of the film,” which seems obvious—but Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce for Amblin Television, which produced the 1982 movie.
The trade also reminds us that this isn’t the first time Poltergeist has been adapted for TV, though it’s a safe bet to say few remember Poltergeist: The Legacy despite its four-season, late-1990s run on Showtime and what was then called the Sci-Fi Channel. (“The show followed a worldwide group known as the Legacy as they protected mankind from supernatural dangers,” which still doesn’t help jog the memory, does it?)
Amazon paid $9 billion for MGM Studios—the home of James Bond and Legally Blonde—back in 2021, so it makes sense to be digging into the IP to find more material. In April, it was reported that other genre projects in the works include series reboots for RoboCop and Stargate.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.