Ghostwriter (2019 TV series)
Revival of the 1992–1995 children's mystery series.
Ghostwriter is a children's mystery series created for Apple TV+ by J.J. Johnson and Andrew Orenstein. It first aired on November 1, 2019, the same day the streaming service launched. The show is a revival of the original Ghostwriter series that ran from 1992 to 1995. Its third and final season debuted on October 21, 2022.
In the first two seasons, the story follows Ruben Reyna, a boy struggling to adjust to a new middle school after he and his mother move in with his grandfather above the family bookstore. A ghost called Ghostwriter communicates through written notes and by bringing fictional characters to life—but only Ruben and three other kids can see or hear these manifestations. As the four become friends and learn to work together, the ghost sends them characters from stories that relate to challenges they face in their own lives.
For season three, the setting shifts forward in time. A different ghostwriter selects three children he knew when he was alive to help return an ancient scroll called the Eloquent Peasant to Egypt, where it was originally discovered. Like the previous ghost, this one uses storybook characters brought to life to guide the kids.
The main cast for seasons one and two includes Isaac Arellanes as Ruben Reyna, Amadi Chapata as Chevon Redmond, Justin Sanchez as Curtis Palmer-Moreno, and Hannah Levinson as Donna Palmer-Moreno. Season three introduces Nour Assaf as Samir Yousef, Princess Mapp as Nia Joy Barnes, Daire McLeod as Charli Allen, Josette Halpert as Sydney Allen, Romel De Silva as Oliver Ramos, Tony Ofori as Malcolm, and Lisa Berry as Layla Barnes. Numerous actors also portray characters from books, such as Devyn Nekoda as Alice, Neil Patrick Harris as the White Rabbit, Randall Park as the Cowardly Lion, and Jay Baruchel as Ralph S. Mouse, among many others.
Apple picked up the revival in 2019. Luke Matheny wrote and directed the series, with J.J. Johnson, Andrew Orenstein, and Christin Simms serving as executive producers. Filming took place in Hamilton, Ontario, starting in December 2018 and wrapping up in summer 2019. A series of bonus videos titled *Ghostwriter: Beyond the Page* was released on April 1, 2021.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 100% approval rating, with an average score of 9.5 out of 10 based on six reviews.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Children's series · Mystery · Fantasy
- Starring
- Isaac Arellanes · Amadi Chapata · Justin Sanchez · Hannah Levinson · Nour Assaf · Princess Mapp · Daire McLeod
- Composer
- Erica Procunier / Janal Bechthold / Sasha Gordon
- Country
- United States · Canada
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 3
- Num Episodes
- 39
- Executive Producer
- J.J. Johnson · Andrew Orenstein · Christin Simms · Blair Powers · Kay Wilson Stallings · Luke Matheny
- Producer
- Sari Friedland
- Location
- Hamilton, Ontario
- Runtime
- 22–26 minutes
- Company
- Sinking Ship Entertainment · Sesame Workshop
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series follows Ruben Reyna, who struggles to fit in at his new middle school after moving with his mother to live with his grandfather above a bookstore. A ghost known as Ghostwriter communicates through written messages and manifestations of fictional characters, visible only to the four main children. In seasons 1–2, Ghostwriter sends them characters from stories with themes relevant to their lives. In season 3, a new ghostwriter selects three children to help return a scroll called the Eloquent Peasant to Egypt, again bringing storybook characters to life.
Reader's Guide
Ghostwriter (2019 TV series) is significant as a revival of the 1992–1995 series, updated for a new generation on Apple TV+. It was one of the original series launched with the Apple TV+ service in 2019. The show's premise of using classic and contemporary storybook characters to teach life lessons continued the educational mystery format of its predecessor. Filmed in Hamilton, Ontario, the series received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season, based on 6 reviews. The third season introduced a new cast and a new ghostwriter, expanding the mythology. A series of bonus videos called Ghostwriter: Beyond the Page premiered on April 1, 2021.
Did You Know?
- The series premiered on November 1, 2019, the same day Apple TV+ launched.
- Filming took place in Hamilton, Ontario, from December 2018 to summer 2019.
- Season 3 features a new ghostwriter and a new cast of children.
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