When Jack Black signed up to star in Goosebumps, he knew that the film’s take on the R.L. Stine iconic book series would be the best way possible to bring the author’s wild and haunting imagination to life. Black plays a fictionalized version of the author who has sold over 400 million copies of his horror for kids tales, and our story takes shape when a teen (Dylan Minnette) and his single mother (Amy Ryan) move next door to the movie version of the author and his daughter (Odeya Rush).
Trouble brews when the two teens find themselves drawn to one another, to the scorn of Black’s Stine. Somehow, the creatures from Stine’s books emerge and come to life and collectively seek to terrorize this small Delaware town.
Black was given huge freedom to create this fictionalized Stine, but still reported that meeting the man proved priceless.
“We met him before we started filming. We asked him for his blessing. He loved the script and he didn’t mind that I was doing a different characterization of him. He’s got a great sense of humor. So, he was fine that I was portraying him as this antisocial grouch. He understands drama and the necessity for liberties to be taken.”
When it came to crafting this version of Stine, Black admitted that he turned to classic cinema to shape his character.
“I just literally watched Citizen Kane 40 times then went straight to the set. I’m no Daniel Day-Lewis!” Black said. “I wanted to give him a little extra gravitas. I wanted to do someone who was considered a genius and maybe had a dark secret, and it just seemed like Orson Welles fit the bill.”
Goosebumps is the third time that Black has worked with director Rob Letterman (after Gulliver’s Travels and Shark Tale). Their chemistry is evident from the first moment Black appears on screen. Clearly, the director gets the most out of the talented funnyman.
“I just trust his instincts. It took me a while to let go. I have real control issues but now that we’re on our third movie I was like, ‘Now… just let him do his thing,’” Black said.
“I think Rob’s greatest strength is just his calm in the eye of the storm. There is no panic in his game. He just is very methodical and it has a relaxing effect on the whole cast [and] on the whole set.”
From the Abominable Snowman to a giant praying mantis, there are some serious monsters challenging Black and the entire cast — as seen in this wicked Goosebumps teaser. Does the star have a favorite?
“How could it be anyone but Slappy, and not just because of the eerie resemblance. He really is quite charismatic. He kind of steals the show,” Black said of the “dummy” who is the true puppet master of all the mayhem. In fact, Black said that his favorite scene in the entire movie involved the ventriloquist’s sidekick.
“I like my scene with Slappy when we’re in The Shining set at the high school. It was just me and Slappy… mano-a-mano.”
Although he has a favorite monster, he did appreciate the variety of scares coming at him and the cast each day. “It was a lot of fun on the set. We had a different monster every day. Like today is mummy day. It’s ghouls and zombies. Every day was an adventure. The make-up and costumes were unbelievable,” Black said.
Black is no stranger to being a favorite of the younger audience. From his work on School of Rock on, there’s something about the mega-star that is endearing to children. “I have a lot of childish qualities myself. I’m like a big man-child, so I can relate to what kids think is funny and cool.”