John Carpenter to Direct Pilot Episode of Syfy’s ‘Tales for a Halloween Night’ Series

John Carpenter is developing a new Halloween-themed anthology series for the Syfy network based on his Tales for a HalloweeNight graphic novel compilations, and in a new interview Carpenter’s wife Sandy King reveals that the legendary director will likely helm the first episode of Tales for a Halloween Night.

Speaking to Rue Morgue, Sandy King Carpenter explains that while the TV show will follow the comic’s anthology format, it won’t have direct adaptations, stating, “The idea behind the books is that you can have an evening of reading short scary stories, none of which are alike, and they’re all the different faces of horror. There are ghost stories, there are sea-monster stories, there are cursed rings; there’s intellectual horror and bugs, and all sorts of things.”

She continues, “So the idea behind the series is to not just barf back the books and do the same things and say, ‘Here’s the books in TV form.’ We want to give you that same feeling of seeing all the facets of horror.”

She also confirms that John Carpenter will most likely direct the first episode of the Syfy series.

“He would direct the pilot, at least,” she says. “And then we’ll hopefully bring on some great horror directors—and just great directors—so that it’ll be a high-end show. We want anything that has our brand associated with it to be a satisfying experience for readers, watchers, whatever we’re doing.

Excited yet?! (I know I am.)

Tales for a HalloweeNight Volume 3 was released on October 10, and Sandy King Carpenter also states in the interview that Volume 4 is already in the works with Steve Niles and art by Kelley Jones.

John Carpenter is also currently overseeing the rebirth of Michael Myers as executive producer of the new Halloween movie, scheduled to arrive in theaters on Oct. 19, 2018.

Check out the official cover art by Tim Bradstreet, as well as a preview panel by Richard P. Clark, for John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight Volume 3 below!


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Matt Artz

Founded Halloween Daily News in 2012 and the Halloween International Film Festival in 2016. Professional writer/journalist/photographer since 2000.