R.L. Stine talks about Goosebumps: The Vanishing and his upcoming adaptation

Following R.L. Stine’s iconic children's horror books, Disney+ has released Goosebumps: The Vanishing, a sequel to the 2023 series. Known for blending supernatural elements and an exciting narrative, the 2025 show follows 17-year-old twins Devin and Cece, who are visiting their father, Anthony, in Brooklyn in 2024.

When the siblings arrive, they make new friends, including Trey, CJ, and others. They hear about a mysterious event from 1994, involving a teenager named Matty, who suddenly vanished after a strange occurrence in an abandoned hospital, where he and his friends spent a night.

Curious about the case, the twins and their new friends decide to uncover the truth and visit the hospital. As they step in, the group of friends dark secrets, and connections between past and present. They also encounter supernatural threats and discover painful family secrets.

This chilling narrative in Goosebumps: The Vanishing comes straight from R.L. Stine, who penned a series of books. However, in a recent interview with Deadline, the author expressed surprise to see how the setting of the series has been changed from suburban neighborhoods to Brooklyn. Stine said:

"I’m shocked by it. I have a superstition. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, in a suburb, so most of the Goosebumps books take place like in the backyard, a suburban backyard, which I think most kids can identify with."

He added:

"I’ve never set a book in New York ever, it’s sort of a superstition with me. But then they went ahead and they shot in Brooklyn and Queens, and there they are in New York. And it looks nice."

R.L. Stine explained that it's unusual for him to see a Goosebumps story taking place in Brooklyn because he set most of his books in the suburban neighborhood, a place where he grew up. Despite the shift in Goosebumps: The Vanishing, he acknowledges that the setting looks nice.

Continue reading to learn what else R.L. Stine talked about during the interview.

Author R.L. Stine talks about Goosebumps: The Vanishing and adding personal touch

The new series is darker than the original (Image Source: Disney+)

R.L. Stine didn't just talk about the shift in the series' setting but also shed light on the dark tone and scary effects. Stine mentioned the Goosebumps: The Vanishing has scarier scenes than the original show like tendrils coming out of a character’s arm, offering viewers an unusual and discomfiting experience.

The finale of the show is inspired by Stine's Welcome to Camp Nightmare, in which he gave a personal touch to the story. He wrote the book based on his negative experience at his son’s summer camp. Stine shared:

"I wrote that about my son’s camp. I hated his camp. I went up for Visitors Day, I didn’t want to get out of the car. So, that’s how I wrote that book."

As for the future adaptations, R.L. Stine is excited about the future of the Goosebumps series. While some of his favorites have been already adapted, the author is hopeful that Goblin Monday to be adapted. Stine also shared an exciting update for Goosebumps fans that he's working on new books, which will carry forward the chilling stories.

Goosebumps: The Vanishing is available to stream on Disney+ now.