Goosebumps: The Vanishing star 'freaked out' by 'insane' detail on horror series set

Official trailer for Goosebumps: The Vanishing on Disney+ and Hulu

Goosebumps sensation Sam McCarthy has expressed how spooky he found the extraordinary detail in the set of Disney+ and Hulu's latest series of the cult classic horror show.

Horrifyingly delightful to fans of R. L. Stine's iconic children's books, the Goosebumps franchise has risen from the ashes with a fresh TV adaptation in 2023, with a follow-up for 2025 titled The Vanishing.

This spine-tingling chapter follows twins Devin and Cece, portrayed by McCarthy and Jayden Bartels, as they unravel paranormal mysteries upon moving back in with their dad Anthony (played by David Schwimmer), an eccentric botanist.

Leaning heavily on the thrills of Stine's novel Stay Out of the Basement, the sinister siblings are strictly cautioned against snooping around their father's vast and mysterious greenhouse, but to their amazement, the set's realism surpassed expectations.

McCarthy admitted his shock during an exclusive chat with Screen Time: "So, there was this plant in there. It's not that exciting..."

Goosebumps - The Vanishing star 'freaked out' by 'insane' detail on set (Image: DISNEY)

Bartels playfully interjected, teasing: "Well, to you it was!", prompting McCarthy to concede, "To me, it was insane."

He elaborated on one particularly strange example, puzzled by its extraterrestrial appearance: "There was this little plant in there that looked like... I can't describe it. Imagine like a mushroom, but without the mushroom head. Just, like an alien."

Questioning the authenticity, he continued his bewilderment with the botanical marvels: "But, I thought it was a fake plant. I was looking all over these things, like, 'These are fake plants!'"

Given the fantastical nature of Goosebumps, audiences might assume a dash of deception goes into the creation of such magical set pieces, yet the authenticity came as a ghastly surprise to even the actors themselves.

The Vanishing takes inspiration from Stay Out of the Basement (Image: DISNEY)

The craft and dedication behind The Vanishing are apparent, especially when it comes to set details. Both co-stars have praised the efforts, with Bartels exclaiming, "All of them were real!" regarding the plants on set.

McCarthy shared: "I wouldn't push my nail into a real plant, but I was just like, 'Oh it's plastic' and then it was alive! I was like, 'Oh my God'."

Bartels humorously remarked: "And that's the take you see in the show, they just used the real thing."

Though McCarthy admitted: "We weren't rolling on it. But we should have been."

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Every plant in Anthony's basement was actually real (Image: DISNEY)

"He was very entranced by it," Bartels recalled, leading McCarthy to muse: "I wanna know what those are called."

Despite this intrigue, he added with a hint of trepidation: "If they didn't scare me I'd want one in my house, but they scared me too much."

It's not just the botanical aspects of the new series that will send shivers down your spine; expect an abundance of eerie elements as the supernatural show gains traction on streaming platforms.

Fans better brace themselves for chills aplenty when the whole host of spectres hits screens this Friday.

Goosebumps: The Vanishing premieres Friday, January 10 on Disney+ and Hulu.

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