“Tales from the Crypt” is seeking creepy stories from the crowd.
TNT, the cable network behind a coming revamp of the famed anthology series, plans to incorporate horror trends and story material culled from the online fiction community Wattpad, a free fiction site that claims 45 million active users and some 2 million stories uploaded per month.
Announced Monday, the new partnership between Wattpad and TNT parent Turner, is designed to use data from the story-sharing site to identify horror subjects and subgenres that are bubbling up, and in some cases scoop up specific writings from Wattpad contributors for use in “Tales from the Crypt.” TNT and sister Turner networks TBS are planning to draw on Wattpad data and content for other shows, too.
Produced by M. Night Shyamalan, the 10-episode “Tales From the Crypt” is planned for 2017. It’s based on the EC Comics title of the same name created by William Gaines and Al Feldstein in the 1950s. The biggest star to come out of the brand was the cackling Crypt Keeper puppet that hosted the HBO series that ran from 1989 to 1996. TNT, in greenlighting the new show as part of a bigger block of horror programming, promised a “newly reinvented Crypt Keeper.”
Wattpad says its data will give “Crypt” producers a window into what kind of characters, settings and subjects real horror fans are devouring on the fiction site now. Of course, Wattpad also offers TNT a big platform for marketing the new show using contests and other interactive forms of hype. But the career opportunity for budding horror writers is real, says Aron Levitz, head of Wattpad Studios, a new division created to connect Wattpad creators with established entertainment companies, such as publishers and digital networks.
“This is about finding really great stories with that attached fanbase, or writers who can create something new. It’s not just promotional,” Levitz said. He added that Wattpad writers “will take part financially” if any of their content gets developed for “Crypt,” but he declined to offer specifics.
Horror thrives on Wattpad, Levitz said, but it isn’t the most popular genre. Romance rules the community, especially fan fiction. For example, one of the biggest stars to emerge from Wattpad is Anna Todd. With her online erotica inspired by One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles, she scored a multi-book deal with a Simon & Schuster imprint and sold movie rights to Paramount.
