Tubi's strategy for an R.L. Stine shared universe began with a clear goal: to bridge diverse audience demographics. According to Tubi's Vice President of Original Scripted Content, Josh Van Houdt, Stine's name recognition and unique brand of 'gateway horror' made him the perfect fit for the platform's 110 million monthly active users. This vision led to a partnership with Front Street Pictures, the production company behind the 2010 anthology series The Haunting Hour, securing the rights to adapt more of Stine's Nightmare Hour and Haunting Hour shorts.

The initial three-picture deal kicked off with R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, a modern spin on a classic short. Filmmaker Jem Garrard, who directed the first two films and is heavily involved in the universe's creative direction, worked closely with Tubi to define the boundaries of their TV-14 horror. Van Houdt humorously recalled the guideline for gore: "You can do vegetable gore, but not regular gore." This approach allowed for genuine scares without resorting to graphic violence, a hallmark of Stine's appeal.

Pumpkinhead proved a success, spending two weeks in Luminate's Top 10 after its October 2025 release. Its follow-up, Pumpkinhead 2, expanded the mythology by introducing the haunted town of Redhaven and bringing in Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) for a pivotal role. Garrard explained the importance of building this shared world: "When we were looking at a sequel and other stories in that universe, it was like, let’s use Redhaven as this town where these weird things happen, and expand on that mythology."

For Stine himself, seeing his stories adapted is a fascinating process. "But it was fun for me to see what other writers could do. They would take my story and then go off in their own directions with it," he told THR. Garrard emphasizes that the core of Stine's work is its emotional resonance: "What makes an R.L. Stine story is absolutely heart. He never talks down to his child characters. He’s never condescending."

The next installment in this burgeoning universe is R.L. Stine’s Afraid of Clowns, a project Garrard chose for its creature-feature potential and visual flair. While Pumpkinhead films were set in a timeless '90s-esque environment, Afraid of Clowns will feature a new cast and story, broadening the universe's scope beyond Halloween releases.

Looking ahead, Tubi is also developing R.L. Stine’s The Babysitter, a departure into the young adult horror space. Garrard is stepping into a more executive role for this film, writing and executive producing while Trevor Calverley takes on directing duties. This allows Garrard to oversee the expanding universe more broadly, akin to a showrunner. The Babysitter promises a different kind of tension, aiming for a sustained, feature-length suspense reminiscent of classic thrillers like When a Stranger Calls. Stine noted the inherent horror of the babysitter scenario: "She’s not in her own home. She’s totally vulnerable. It’s a perfect horror character, being a babysitter."

While each film is designed to stand alone, Garrard envisions potential character crossovers, with Cassandra Peterson's witch character being a prime candidate for a return. Beyond these announced projects, Tubi and Front Street Pictures are actively considering more R.L. Stine adaptations, including other Point Horror titles, ensuring a steady stream of spooky content for years to come.