New Stephen King Movie From Master of Horror Mike Flanagan Gets Exciting Updates
Chad Collins
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Stephen King’s If It Bleeds, a 2020 collection of novellas, has already been adapted once before. Netflix optioned and produced Mr. Harrigan’s Phone from director John Lee Hancock, a movie that’s better than its reception suggested (so long as you go in with the right expectations). Ben Stiller has acquired the rights to Rats, and HBO might take on the titular story, largely because of their history with the Holly Gibney character (please, I beg of you—watch The Outsider). We also know that King aficionado Mike Flanagan is preparing to adapt The Life of Chuck for Intrepid Pictures. Here’s everything we know so far.
The Story
The Life of Chuck is split into three different acts in reverse chronological order. Broadly, it is a biography of Charles Krantz, starting with his death from a brain tumor at 39, working backward toward his childhood in an ostensibly haunted house. It’s emotionally resonant material, and if anyone can make it work, it’s gonna be Mike Flanagan, a filmmaker who has twice proved (see: Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep), that he can turn King’s densest material into filmic gold.
The Script is Complete and Filming Has Begun
While the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike put several projects on hold, Flanagan finished The Life of Chuck’s script before then. Additionally, under a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, filming is already underway in Alabama. The Life of Chuck will be ready for a 2024 release, most likely.
It’s a Drama
The production has noted that The Life of Chuck will draw tonally from other King adaptations, principally Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile. While that might disappoint fans looking for serious scares, it’ll be interesting to see what Flanagan can do as he shifts into genre-adjacent territory.
The Cast
Alongside the announcement of Flanagan’s involvement, we learned both Tom Hiddleston (Thor) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars) were attached to star. Recently, it was announced that Chiwetel Ejiofor (Rob Peace), Karen Gillan (Oculus) and Jacob Tremblay (The Toxic Avenger) had joined the cast. Both Gillan and Tremblay have worked with Flanagan before, while this will be Ejiofor’s first time working alongside him.
That’s what we know so far. What do you think? Are you looking forward to The Life of Chuck? If you’re familiar with the novella, what did you think? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins!
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