John Carpenter, the renowned filmmaker known for his work in the horror genre, has expanded his creative pursuits by launching a line of artisanal chocolate bars with his wife and creative partner, Sandy King. The couple introduced the confectionery venture late last year, blending Carpenter’s iconic legacy with a new, sweeter endeavor.
King, who founded Storm King Productions and Comics, leads the chocolate project alongside Carpenter. The pair, who met on the set of Carpenter’s 1984 film “Starman,” have collaborated on various creative projects over the years, including films, television, podcasts, and comic books. However, this marks their first entry into the food industry.
The chocolate bars were officially unveiled at New York Comic Con in October and are now available at various comic and horror conventions across the United States. They are also sold at selected comic book stores and at Horror Boodega, a themed snack shop in Burbank, California. Unlike many mass-produced candy brands, Carpenter and King have chosen to keep production quantities limited and rely on word-of-mouth promotion, which has resonated well with their dedicated fan base in the horror community.
The line features two main varieties: John Carpenter’s Boo Bar, a milk chocolate bar with crunchy potato chips and Pop Rocks candy, and Dark & Stormy, a dark chocolate bar incorporating candied ginger and toffee. The latter is named as a nod to King’s comics and production companies. The bars weigh nearly half a pound each, emphasizing quality and unique flavor combinations.
The idea for the chocolates originated in early 2024 during a conversation with a neighbor in Los Angeles, who suggested it would be fun for the couple to create their own candy for Halloween. Rather than producing small, bite-sized treats, King and Carpenter decided to develop full-size bars that stand apart from typical mainstream options.
With no prior experience in chocolate making, King undertook extensive research to find a chocolatier who could meet their standards for quality and originality. A key connection came through the same neighbor, who introduced King to Asher’s Chocolate Company, a fifth-generation confectionery firm founded in 1892 in Pennsylvania. After discovering Asher’s chocolates during a hotel stay while attending a convention, King visited one of their factories in July 2025 to finalize production arrangements.
King described Asher’s chocolates as comparable in quality to European offerings, highlighting the high standards upheld in both their milk and dark chocolate varieties. Asher’s, while primarily focused on its own branded products, occasionally partners with other brands, bands, and organizations to produce specialized chocolate items.
The venture reflects a new creative outlet for Carpenter and King, merging their appreciation for storytelling and community with a shared enthusiasm for quality craftsmanship in an unexpected domain.