A release date of August 9, 2019 has been set by CBS Films and Lionsgate for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, a YA horror movie produced and co-written by Oscar-winning scary master Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water). Directed by Norwegian filmmaker André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe), the film is based on the original children’s horror short stories by Alvin Schwartz. CBS Films acquired the rights in 2013. Film production started in August 2018.

Dan and Kevin Hageman (Trollhunters:Tales of Arcadia) co-wrote the screenplay with Del Toro. The story involves a series of “sudden and macabre” deaths and the group of teenagers who attempt to solve the mystery. Zoe Margaret Colletti (Wildlife) stars along with Dean Norris (Breaking Bad).

Scary Stories will battle another horror movie on its release date – Ari Aster’s (Hereditary) Midsommar. Disney’s Artemis Fowl adaptation will also share the same opening weekend.