Goosebumps Season 2 Premieres on Disney+ with New Cast and Darker Twists

Disney+ is bringing back the chills with the second season of its hit series Goosebumps, titled The Vanishing, which premieres Friday, January 10, 2025. Based on R.L. Stine‘s iconic young adult horror books, the new season introduces a fresh storyline, a relocated setting, and a star-studded cast led by Friends alum David Schwimmer.

The series, which reboots itself with each season, shifts from small-town Oregon to Brooklyn, New York, following a group of teenagers entangled in a mysterious missing-person case tied to an abandoned research facility. The plot weaves together dual timelines, exploring events from 1994 and their haunting repercussions in the present day.

Schwimmer plays Anthony, a botanist and single father whose tragic past is linked to the disappearance of his brother three decades earlier. His character serves as the adult anchor in a story dominated by teenage protagonists, including his twin children, played by YouTube star Jayden Bartels and Sam McCarthy. The season promises a mix of horror, humor, and intergenerational drama, with Schwimmer bringing a blend of dorkiness and sinister undertones to his role.

While the show retains its signature campy monsters—ranging from a seeping blob to carnivorous plants—it also delves deeper into serialized storytelling, a departure from Stine’s original standalone tales. Critics note that the series struggles to balance its horror roots with its aspirations to be a teen soap opera, but the addition of darker themes and gore adds a fresh layer of intrigue.

Season 2 also features a new creative team, including directors like Gillian Robespierre and Eduardo Sanchez, who bring their unique styles to the show. Despite its polished production, some fans argue that the series lacks the bite of Stine’s original works, opting instead for a more sanitized, Disney-friendly approach.

For those who enjoyed the first season, Goosebumps: The Vanishing offers more of the same—spooky adventures, teenage drama, and a nostalgic nod to the ’90s. However, whether it delivers enough genuine scares to satisfy die-hard horror fans remains to be seen.