Horror television has taken something of a backseat to other genres over the past few years. While American Horror Story has proven its staying power, there's not much else in terms of quality horror TV. Of course, back in the '90s, it was the complete opposite: sure, not all of the series were great, but at least viewers looking for something spooky had more than one choice.
Maybe that's why TNT has decided to launch a brand-new horror programming block, helmed by director M. Night Shyamalan. TNT announced the two-hour programming block at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour (via The Hollywood Reporter) earlier today — and, while the details surrounding the block are still slim, TNT has confirmed that Shyamalan will be working as a producer on some of the block's original programming.
Speaking of original programming, TNT also confirmed the block's marquee show: the network will be rebooting the classic horror anthology show Tales from the Crypt, complete with new stories. Oh, and as an added bonus: it's all set to launch later this year.
It may not be as highly revered as The Twilight Zone, but Tales from the Crypt holds its own spot in horror anthology history. Looking back on HBO's series from 20 years ago, it's easy to see that Tales is a microcosm of everything horror in the '90s, which means that there's a heaping helping of cheese to go along with the scares.
Sadly, details about the reboot are still scarce: TNT confirmed that Shyamalan will act as the series' executive producer, but that's about it. There's no telling what stories will be featured, if any of the classic tales will be remade, or if the Crypt Keeper will be making a return. One thing the network did confirm is that Tales is an anthology series — don't expect to see any season-spanning stories once the show airs.
From Mr. Shyamalan:
"I couldn't be more excited...To be part of such a beloved brand like Tales From the Crypt, something I grew up watching, and to also have the chance to push the boundaries of genre television as a whole, is an inspiring opportunity that I can't wait to dive into."
The best part is that the Tales from the Crypt revival is just the beginning: the network is expect to announce a number of new horror series throughout the year. Again, details are scarce — but who doesn't want more horror on TV?
While TNT has yet to reveal a launch date for Tales of the Crypt or its larger horror-themed programming block, both are set to debut sometime later this year.
