Multiple Stephen King Projects Announced for Film, TV, and Stage
It seems that the works of Stephen King are the hot item in Hollywood these days. Coming just this year are IT, The Dark Tower, “Mr. Mercedes,” and Gerald’s Game; and “Castle Rock” is currently in production for Hulu. Now, Deadline is reporting that multiple additional King projects are in the works, and it’s a MASSIVE amount of titles!
So sit back, put your feet up, and get ready for all this information I’m about to drop on you!
First up is an adaptation of Rose Madder, which will be directed by Assaf Bernstein, whose Israeli TV drama “Fauda” drew great acclaim. He states, “Stephen King’s literary universe has greatly influenced me as a writer and filmmaker, and Rose Madder is a terrifying and exhilarating thriller that will make for a compelling parable of the battle between the sexes. Rose and Norman undergo a fascinating transformation, sometimes horrifying, at other times touching, and occasionally both at the same time. Rose is a once-in-a-lifetime role for an actress.”
Next is Lloyd Segan, “The Dead Zone” executive producer, and his intention to turn King’s 1994 novel Insomnia into a scripted VR series. They’re in talks with Google to make this a reality, and rumors are that The Fate of the Furious‘ F. Gary Gray will be tapped as director. The site explains that the plan will be “…to film an hour, initially, broken into five- or 10-minute segments that can be viewed at home with systems like Valve, PlayStation, Xbox.”
DreamWorks is currently trying to negotiate a deal for an adaptation of King’s short story “House on Maple Street,” which he wrote back in 1993. If all goes through, it will be the first animated film based on King’s work.
For TV, the first project revealed is “The Breathing Method,” which will be produced by Weinstein Television and Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum. Per the site, “Scott Teems [will write] and Doctor Strange’s Scott Derrickson [will direct] a dark miniseries about a club of lawyers that is intertwined with an horrific death of a pregnant woman en route to deliver a baby from an illicit affair with one of the club members.”
Next is “The Ten O’Clock People,” a short story that is being optioned as an English-language TV series that will be aired in Europe.
King’s short story “N” is being adapted with backing by Gaumont. The plan is for an hourlong series with the pilot being directed by David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation, Lights Out). Per the site, the show revolves around “…a letter that gets passed around, one that makes those who read it go insane.”
When it comes to “Mr. Mercedes,” if the show performs strongly, the site explains that further seasons will “…be fueled by the King novels Finder’s Keepers and End of Watch, both of which feature Gleeson’s detective character.”
Lastly, a stage adaptation of The Shining is in early stages and is being worked on by Tony-winning playwright Simon Stephens.
WHEW! At this point, I think it’s safe to say that we’re going to basically get enough King-based material to last us quite a while!
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