Show creator BenDavid Grabsinki was interested in the idea of focusing on the storytellers and their role in the horror action, almost more than in just the stories themselves. 

In an interview with TV Guide, the creator said, "The fun of that idea is the Midnight Society are fundamentally horror nerds who know everything about stories that are scary and having them deal with that creates a different dynamic because they know how these things play out."

The reboot focuses on the Carnival of Doom, one of the character's retellings of a terrifying nightmare come to life. Rafael Casal's Mr. Tophat is the protagonist of this demented carnival, one that begins as a simple scary story, until "they all wake up the next day and discover that the carnival is real," explains actress Lyliana Wray, the talent behind new girl Rachel.

Mr. Tophat is described as an "evil Willy Wonka," who heads the carnival and presides as the master of ceremonies. "More than scary, it was just awesome," Rafael said of the experience of working on this vintage anthology series. 

"The first time you see the shots you decide whether or not you buy it, and we knew in that moment [of watching the first take] that oh, yeah, this is working," Rafael continued. "This villain has to be the polar end of terror, so it has to sell. I was excited that it worked."