R.L. Stine Says Jack Black is Still in Touch After ‘Goosebumps’ Role

Renowned author R.L. Stine has maintained a close relationship with Jack Black, who portrayed him in the well-known ‘Goosebumps’ movies.  The 81-year-old writer discussed his friendship with Black, describing the actor as a truly nice and considerate guy who remains in contact, while promoting the new horror movie ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’.

R.L. Stine recalled how they collaborated so well on ‘Goosebumps’ (2015) and its 2018 follow-up, ‘Haunted Halloween’. They got along well on set, and their friendship endured long after the movie was over.

Black was unable to attend R.L. Stine's recent speech at a Laguna Hills, California, library, but he made sure to send a sincere message expressing his support and wishing he could be there.  According to R.L. Stine, the action demonstrated Black's integrity and honesty.

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 A personal story about R.L. Stine's grandson Dylan, who has been a Jack Black fan since he was a toddler, was also revealed by the ‘Goosebumps’ author.  R.L. Stine shared that his grandson Dylan has been a fan of Jack Black so much so that "Jack Black" was among the first words he ever spoke. He has already watched Black’s latest film, ‘A Minecraft Movie’, multiple times, with three viewings under his belt.

The iconic monsters created by the author were brought to life by Jack Black's portrayal of R.L. Stine in ‘Goosebumps’, a movie that included characters from many book series released into the real world.  Black's rendition of R.L. Stine, along with up-and-coming performers Dylan Minnette and Odeya Rush, gained popularity with both new and devoted fans.  With several TV adaptations and the release of the second season of the revived ‘Goosebumps’ series earlier this year, the franchise's influence is still being felt today.

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‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’, which is based on Stine's 1992 book, will bring fans back to the eerie world of Shadyside.  The protagonist of the story is Lori Granger, played by India Fowler, a determined outsider who unexpectedly runs the prom queen.  The tension rises to a terrifying pitch as her competitors start to vanish for no apparent reason.

R.L. Stine pointed out that compared to his previous works, this new rendition takes a darker, more dramatic approach.  Although he has consistently avoided R-rated content in his writing and even makes light of the fact that his personal life doesn't involve any R-rated content, he wholeheartedly endorses the film's elevated frights.  He went so far as to quip that, in contrast, Stephen King's ‘Carrie’ feels like a Hallmark special in ‘Prom Queen’.

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 Through new, blood-soaked adaptations of his popular novels or enduring connections with celebrities like Jack Black, R.L. Stine continues to captivate audiences of all ages with a blend of nostalgic charm and modern horror thrills.

–Farheen Ali