Fear Street has a bright future ahead if Netflix allows an expansion of the franchise, but what kind of spinoffs could be explored? Based on R.L. Stine's YA novel series of the same name, the streaming giant released a trilogy directed by Leigh Janiak. The filmmaker co-wrote the three full-length movies, initially believing the titles would be released in theaters before the distribution rights were given to Netflix. Now, the streamer has an opportunity to be the home of an expansive Fear Street universe consisting of movies and TV shows.
Over the course of three weeks in July 2021, the Fear Street trilogy unfolded. Fear Street Part One: 1994 heavily centered on a group of teens from Fear Street Part Three: 1666 after learning the truth about the alleged witch, Sarah Fier.
Based on the positive reception surrounding the three Fear Street movies, it seems like a no-brainer that Netflix will continue the franchise. In fact, Janiak wants to create an MCU horror universe centered on her Fear Street mythology. As viewers wait to see what the future holds for the franchise, here are various Fear Street movie and TV show spinoff ideas, including which option would be the best to create.
The Grifter
Nine decades before the events of Fear Street Part One: 1994, Shadyside fell victim to "The Grifter," a masked menace who took multiple lives. Aside from a newspaper article with the headline of "Grifter Guts Girls" and the quick scene showing The Grifter drowning someone in a lake, details are slim on the murderer from 1904. That said, there's plenty of room to explore in a Fear Street movie or series based on the character's limited screen time. Centering on The Grifter, who clearly enjoys drowning victims, would be another way to use the local lake as a setting, which was underutilized in Fear Street Part Two: 1978.
Billy Barker
Nearly two decades after The Grifter wreaked havoc on Shadyside, the town was forced to deal with Billy Barker, the youngest killer featured in the Fear Street trilogy. Billy, wearing a creepy doll-like mask, bludgeoned his brothers with a baseball bat. One of the kills was briefly shown in the movies, while Billy himself made a quick appearance in Fear Street Part Three: 1666. Still, there's a lot of Billy's tragic story left to be told. By following the event in 1922, Fear Street could further prove how evil the Goode family truly was, considering they carried on a curse that took hold of young children.
The Humpty Dumpty Killer
Unlike The Grifter and Billy Barker, "The Humpty Dumpty Killer" from 1935 didn't directly appear in the Fear Street movies. Instead, the killer's past was revealed through Josh's newspaper clippings with a gruesome headline: "Body Parts Found, Humpty Dumpty Strikes Again!" According to Janiak, Humpty Dumpty was in the original script, and he even had an established backstory detailing his history of "killing people and taking their body parts and making new people out of them." Though The Humpty Dumpty Killer didn't make the final cuts, Janiak has an interest in introducing him in a future Fear Street project.
The Milkman
Harry "The Milkman" Rooker's unsettling presence alone would make for a fitting horror series or Fear Street movie spinoff. The figure from the early '50s used his job as a milkman to prey on innocent housewive with his signature weapon: a switchblade. The Milkman appeared in 1978 when Ziggy and Cindy tried to find Sarah Fier's body under the hanging tree before using the blade to slash Ziggy's stomach. The attack resulted in her death, but Ziggy was resurrected by a teenage Nick Goode. The killer was later seen in 1666's mall sequence, where he almost killed Ziggy a second time. More insight into The Milkman's background would likely be welcomed by viewers, seeing as he became one of the most chilling figures.
Ruby Lane
Ruby Lane's killings occurred in 1965, but she had an impact on the decades that followed. The teenager murdered seven people, including her boyfriend, with a razor blade after her possession. While she had a presence in 1994, targeting Sam and attacking Simon in the process, her story also came into play in 1978. The sequel introduced her mother, Mary Lane, who served as Camp Nightwing's nurse. Her daughter's possession led to a deep investigation into the witch's curse, which almost pushed the woman to the brink of madness. It would be interesting to see the Lane family return to expand Ruby's story, including an explanation as to why she always sang “You Always Hurt The One You Love” as she hunted her victims.
The Farmer Of Death
"The Farmer of Death" wasn't shown in the Fear Street movies, nor was the figure directly mentioned. Instead, the killer was listed on Josh's investigation wall, claiming the person was active in 1890 before the curse moved to The Grifter. Though there aren't any details on The Farmer of Death, the moniker alone puts a chill up the spine. Before neighborhoods and shopping malls inhabited Shadyside, it's likely the townspeople relied on farming. Documenting a farmer-turned-killer would be a good option for a spinoff based on the number of deadly tools a person in that position would have.
The Gap Between 1666 & The Farmer
While analyzing the known Fear Street timeline of events, one might notice a few gaps when it comes to revealed Shadyside massacres. Among the gaps is the period between 1666 and The Farmer of Death's slayings in 1890. Focusing on the 18th and 19th centuries gives a spinoff plenty of room to work with in developing killers not yet mentioned in the franchise. It would also be enticing to see what came of the 1666 settlement in the decades following Sarah Fier's hanging and how the area slowly transformed into Shadyside.
An '80s Setting
Speaking of gaps, there's also a notable absence of a killer from the 1980s. Nick Goode chose Tommy Slater in 1978 and Ryan Torres in 1994, but why was there a 16-year gap? Perhaps another member of the possessed wasn't shown in the list. A Fear Street spinoff movie or show could fill in those gaps, explaining why Nick waited so long to carry on the curse while detailing his transformation from a camp counselor to the Shadyside Sheriff.
Ziggy After The Camp Nightwing Killings
The Fear Street universe certainly has a number of serial killers to use as the basis of a spinoff, but there's also an opportunity to explore another chapter of an established character in Ziggy Berman. Viewers were given a look into the worst day of Ziggy's life in 1978 while also revealing her fate in the '90s storyline. A lot obviously occurred to Ziggy, or C. Berman, as she became known following the terror at Camp Nightwing. The potential follow-up title could showcase Ziggy's struggles in the period when nobody acknowledged the existence of the curse.
Modern-Day Shadyside
While the aforementioned ideas would make for suitable spinoffs, Fear Street fans would likely want to see some of the surviving core characters like Deena, Sam, and Josh return for a new story. Even if the timeline isn't set in the modern-day 2020s, anything after the millennium has potential if it centers on a new kind of terror taking over Shadyside. Obviously, 1666's credits scene implies that the curse may not be over for good, but some time will probably to fool the town into thinking the horror has ended. Considering many of the core cast was playing characters well younger than their respective ages, it wouldn't be difficult to pull off a time jump.
Why An Anthology Series Is The Best Fear Street Spinoff Idea
There's no doubt Fear Street can expand in several different directions, but instead of picking and choosing what killers to possibly focus on, there's a way all of the above-mentioned figures can be featured. Fear Street could potentially give each killer their own episode by creating an anthology series, building on previously seen characters, and adding new layers to the fictional universe. Figures like The Grifter, Billy Barker, and The Farmer of Death will get substantial screen-time without overstaying their welcome. Likewise, an anthology focused on the possessed murders would further develop proven threatening faces such as The Milkman and Ruby. This method could also tie up loose ends before moving onto a brand new Fear Street trilogy of movies.
