Tubi is bringing R.L. Stine's fan-favorite chiller "The Babysitter" back to screens, with a fresh adaptation of the author's work set to arrive on the free streaming platform in 2027. The project, which Hollywood Buzz News can confirm exclusively, marks the latest small-screen reimagining of a title that first made its debut as a feature film nearly a decade ago.
The original "The Babysitter" landed on October 13, 2017, directed by McG and running a tight 85 minutes. A genre-blending ride that mixes teen comedy with bloody horror, the movie follows young Cole Johnson, played by Judah Lewis, who sneaks out of bed past his bedtime and stumbles onto a nightmare. What he expects to be a quiet evening under the watch of his attractive sitter, Bee, turns into a fight for survival when he learns she belongs to a Satanic cult willing to do whatever it takes to silence him.
That premise, drawn from Stine's storytelling instincts, drove the 2017 film to a solid reception. On TMDb, the movie holds a 6.195 out of 10 rating, a respectable score for a title that leans hard into camp and gore. The cast helped cement its cult following: Samara Weaving played Bee, with Robbie Amell as Max, Hana Mae Lee as Sonya, Bella Thorne as Allison, Emily Alyn Lind as Melanie, Andrew Bachelor as John, and Doug Haley as Samuel rounding out the ensemble.
A Proven Title Gets a New Life on Streaming
Tubi's decision to revisit "The Babysitter" fits a broader pattern at the platform, which has increasingly invested in original and adapted genre content to compete in an crowded streaming marketplace. The 2017 film's mix of laughs and scares - officially catalogued under Comedy and Horror - gives the new version a tonal template that is easy to sell to younger viewers who grew up on Stine's books and to horror fans who appreciate a brisk, 85-minute runtime.
The original movie's English-language production and Hollywood roots mean the new adaptation will carry the same cultural DNA. There is no indication the 2027 version will shift the setting or recast the core premise; the logline remains the hook that made the first film work.
Why Stine's Name Still Carries Weight
R.L. Stine has long been a gateway for young audiences into horror, and his name attached to a Tubi project signals the streamer's intent to court viewers who want accessible thrills. The 2017 "The Babysitter" was not a direct adaptation of a specific Stine novel but rather a project that bore his brand of suburban suspense - a babysitter with a dark secret, a kid in over his head, and a night that spirals out of control.
That formula proved durable enough to spawn a sequel in the years after the first film's release, and it is now poised for another iteration. Tubi has not yet announced casting, a director, or a specific premiere date beyond the 2027 window, and details on whether the new take will be a remake, a reboot, or a reimagining remain under wraps.
What is clear is that the streamer sees value in the title's built-in audience. With a runtime that never overstays its welcome and a premise that balances humor with genuine menace, "The Babysitter" is the kind of property that can be reintroduced to a new generation without a massive budget - a key consideration for a free, ad-supported platform.
For now, fans of the 2017 original can revisit the McG-directed version, which remains available on select services, while awaiting word on how Tubi plans to reinterpret Cole's disastrous night. If the platform stays true to the material's tone, the 2027 adaptation will aim for the same blend of laughs, screams, and a babysitter you definitely should not trust.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
