From Holly to Carrie, Here’s all the Stephen King News You Recently Missed [Derry Monthly]
Good evening, Constant Reader. It’s Lilja here, Dread Central’s Stephen King correspondent. Quite a lot has happened since we last spoke, so let’s dive right in.
The Big Stephen King News
This month’s main attraction is all about King’s next book! Scribner (King’s US publisher) and Hodder & Stoughton (the UK publisher) have announced his upcoming novel, Never Flinch. Previously titled We Think Not and Always Holly, this book will feature the character Holly Gibney again. While some fans (based on the reactions, quite a few) may be tired of her by now, she’s back whether you like it or not. I enjoy Holly, but perhaps it’s time for King to give her a Holly-day and explore new characters in future works.
According to Scribner’s website, Never Flinch is set to release on May 27 next year and spans 448 pages. They’ve already revealed their cover art, while Hodder has only shared a mockup. I won’t include the full plot summary here, but you can find it, as well as an excerpt, on my site. From the sounds of it, the novel promises to be another great read. In less than six months, we’ll know for sure.
Upcoming Stephen King Adaptations
2025 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for Stephen King adaptations, with four films and two TV series slated for release.
Movies
- Autopsy Room Four: The story is now to receive a feature film from Ranjeet S. Marwa.
- The Monkey: Premiering February 21, this adaptation already has a trailer and poster available. Star Theo James hints it may be a dark comedy.
- The Life of Chuck: Finally hitting theaters on May 30 after much anticipation.
- The Running Man: Set for a November 21 release, with Josh Brolin rumored to play the game show host. Set photos featuring Glen Powell surfaced recently, showing him more walking than running.
- The Long Walk: While no release date has been announced, Judy Greer teased that the film is “really, really, really dark” (her words, not mine).
TV Series
- Welcome to Derry: This prequel series for It is coming to Max. Bill Skarsgård has hinted that it will explore uncharted territory from the films.
- The Institute: Confirmed for MGM+ in 2025. Reactions from the trailer have been reported from a live event. Read the dark details here.
Carrie
Perhaps most exciting of all the recent news was when Mike Flanagan announced a TV series adaptation of Carrie. While no release date has been set, Flanagan shared that he plans to modernize the story. Initially, King was hesitant, asking, “Why? Leave her alone.” However, after hearing Flanagan’s vision—including scenes like Carrie walking through a metal detector or navigating social media—King agreed that it could be relevant and exciting.
While I’m cautiously optimistic, I trust Flanagan to deliver. Part of me wishes he’d focus on The Dark Tower instead. But let’s face it, there’s probably a lot of red tape delaying that project.
Other Updates
King’s first animated short film, Lily, has been released as part of Kate Siegel’s Dark Corners anthology. It’s a fresh take on his short story Here There Be Tygers. Fun fact: the Swedish translation of the title is Lilja. How about that?
And here’s a tantalizing tease from the King himself: after a brief hiatus from X (Twitter), King announced he was moving to Threads. On November 14, he dropped this cryptic message: “I’m back in Mid-World, also known as the Territories.” Could this mean a new Dark Tower book, a third Talisman installment, or perhaps both in one? Time will tell, but the thought alone is enough to keep us intrigued.
Until next time, take care, and have a wonderful holiday season!
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