All Things Stephen King

Started by MacGuffin, December 05, 2006, 07:24:52 PM

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MacGuffin

Damon Lindelof Compares Challenge of Adapting 'Dark Tower' To Zack Snyder's 'Watchmen'
Source: MTV

As "Star Trek" makes its case for the new J.J. Abrams age of the franchise this weekend, he and fellow "Lost" creator Damon Lindelof continue to have early discussions about Stephen King's cult series of books "The Dark Tower." Lindelof confirmed Abrams' assertion that "Lost" is priority number one at the moments, but said the project would require at least as much care as Zack Snyder's adaptation of "Watchmen."

"Having seen Zack go through what he went through on 'Watchmen' in terms of saying of where can I digress from the material I just get headaches thinking about changing anything," Lindelof told MTV News. "It was the defining literary tale of my young adulthood into adulthood."

Lindelof is keenly aware of how that level of attachment can affect his approach to the project. "My reverence for Stephen King is now getting in the way of what any good writer would do first when they're adapting a book, which is take creative license in changing stuff," he explained.

If the Hollywood power duo indeed moves on to King's fantasy/Western tale when they finish with "Lost" it may be an extended commitment in addition to being a demanding one, given the scope of the seven-book series.

"Paramount is certainly looking at it as a franchise movie and thinking about sequels but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves," Lindelof said. "Ideas have been thrown around that are very informal at this point."

And more formal conversations very well may not be in the cards until the fates of Oceanic Flight 815's passengers are firmly on the ground for the the "Lost" finale.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

MacGuffin

Stephen King's Cell to be TV miniseries?

You may or may not remember that torture-porn filmmaker Eli Roth was once going to shoot an adaptation of horrormeister Stephen King's The Cell. Well, now comes news that not only is Roth not going to make such a movie, it's also not going to be a movie at all.

Fangoria reports that John Harrison (Syfy's Dune) is writing a four-hour TV miniseries based on the 2006 novel, in which the population of America is transformed into mindless, rampaging killers by a signal sent through their cell phones.


Here's what the magazine reported:

Harrison is scripting Cell for the Weinstein Co., which had originally planned to turn the book into a theatrical feature (with Eli Roth attached at one point to direct), but decided to abandon those plans and will be shopping the project to networks instead. Having served as assistant director/composer on the King-scripted Creepshow and helmed Tales From the Darkside: The Movie (including an adaptation of the author's "Cat From Hell"), Harrison considers Cell one of King's best recent books, with opening chapters that will make an incredible first 30 minutes on screen. The filmmaker adds that he doesn't see this as a zombie story so much as a Village of the Damned-esque chiller and enjoys the fact that the infected populace possesses a hive mentality. While he has been officially contracted to direct, he would certainly like to.
In 2007, Roth (the Hostel films) told SCI FI Wire that he considers the story timely and relevant. "I love the idea that technology turns on us," Roth said in an interview while promoting his second Hostel movie. "I have always wanted to make an apocalypse movie, and I like that this isn't a straight zombie movie, that these are humans who are crazy, whose brains have been scrambled by cell phones. I read that a quarter of the U.S. bee population has died off, and they don't know what's killing the bees. Is it a virus? There are people who think it could be cell phones, that they're screwing up the bees' radar, and they can't get back to their hives." (In fact, the study suggesting this has been discredited, the Los Angeles Times reported.)
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

modage

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment have closed a deal to turn Stephen King's mammoth novel series The Dark Tower into a feature film trilogy and a network TV series, both of which will be creatively steered by the Oscar-winning team behind A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code.
Source: DeadlineNY

Ron Howard has committed to direct the initial feature film, as well as the first season of the TV series that will follow in close proximity. Akiva Goldsman will write the film, and the first season of the TV series. Howard's Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer will produce, with Goldsman and the author.

When Deadline revealed in April that Howard, Goldman and Grazer planned to team with King, Universal was battling Warner Bros—home of Goldsman's Weed Road--for the property. The multi-platform deal was so comprehensive, it took months to close. It will be announced later today by Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson, co-chairman Donna Langley, NBC Universal Television Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin, and NBC & Universal Media Studios Primetime Entertainment president Angela Bromstad, all of whom pulled it together.

I spoke with Goldsman and Howard, who have polled enough of their peers to be convinced what they are doing here has never been attempted: using a major studio's film and TV platforms simultaneously to tell a story. It is reminiscent of when Peter Jackson directed three installments of The Lord of The Rings, back to back, so that they could be released in three consecutive years.

"What Peter did was a feat, cinematic history," Howard told me. "The approach we're taking also stands on its own, but it's driven by the material. I love both, and like what's going on in TV. With this story, if you dedicated to one medium or another, there's the horrible risk of cheating material. The scope and scale call for a big screen budget. But if you committed only to films, you'd deny the audience the intimacy and nuance of some of these characters and a lot of cool twists and turns that make for jaw-dropping, compelling television. We've put some real time and deep thought into this, and a lot of conversations and analysis from a business standpoint, to get people to believe in this and take this leap with us. I hope audiences respond to it in a way that compels us to keep going after the first year or two of work. It's fresh territory for me, as a filmmaker."

Considered King's answer to JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth trilogy, The Dark Tower revolves around Roland Deschain, the last living member of a knightly order of gunslingers, and humanity's last hope to save a civilization that will crumble unless he finds the Dark Tower. Howard and Goldsman describe the world as "an alternate Americana, one part post-apocalyptic, one part Sergio Leone."

Goldsman first mentioned The Dark Tower to Howard and Grazer while they worked on A Beautiful Mind nearly a decade ago.

"Akiva said, 'Stephen will not let go of it, but it's like nothing else you've ever read,'" Howard recalled. "It was frustrating because it's one of those works where you read it, and then at odd times, the imagery and sensations just pop up in your mind. This is going to be an amazing life experience for us, trying to do justice to the story and the universe."

King granted an option—for $19, a number relevant to the plotline--to JJ Abrams and his Lost partners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. They never cracked the sprawling plotline and all the characters. Goldsman pounced when the rights were available, but saw the same problems until Howard suggested using film and TV platforms. Though Howard famously grew up on a TV screen on The Andy Griffith Show, he hasn't directed TV since the early 80s, but is eager to return.

The plan is to start with the feature film, and then create a bridge to the second feature with a season of TV episodes. That means the feature cast—and the big star who'll play Deschain—also has to appear in the TV series before returning to the second film. After that sequel is done, the TV series picks up again, this time focusing on Deschain as a young gunslinger. Those storylines will be informed by a prequel comic book series that King was heavily involved in plotting. The third film would pick up the mature Deshain as he completes his journey. They will benefit from being able to use the same sets cast and crew for the movie and TV, which could help contain costs on what will be a financially ambitious undertaking.

"We will certainly be looking to maximize both creative and fiscal opportunities by creating one enterprise that encompasses TV and movies," Goldsman said. "Some of the shooting will likely encompass both platforms, and that has never been done before. It's thrilling, we feel like kids in a candy story."

Goldsman is writing, and Howard said he and Grazer have cleared the decks to do this quickly. "I'm finishing The Dilemma, and then I don't have anything scheduled and I plan to work hard on this with Akiva and Brian," Howard told me. "We will refine our take on the feature and TV shows. We have a clear view of what we want to do, and we're lucky to have a company with the nerve to back us up on this venture."
Christopher Nolan's directive was clear to everyone in the cast and crew: Use CGI only as a last resort.


Reel

 Felt like ranking my top ten favorite Stephen King movies, nothin better to do...

1. You already know. No use in mentioning it, everyone's favorite.
2. Pet Sematary
3. Sometimes They Come Back
4. The Dead Zone
5. Misery
6. Carrie
7. The Shawshank Redemption
8. Stand By Me
9. Secret Window
10. Thinner

Shit I've seen, but I'm not familiar with enough to rank:

Cujo
Christine
Silver Bullet
The Green Mile

Shit I'm embarrassed to not have seen:

Children of the Corn
The BoogeyMan
Sleepwalkers

RegularKarate

What a weird fucking list.  Pet Sematary is number two and Hearts in Atlantis is actually on there?

90% of Stephen King movies are shit.  His name is cursed.

But here are the top movies not even on your weird list:

Creepshow
Firestarter
Cat's Eye
The Running Man
Apt Pupil
The Mist

and don't feel embarrassed for not seeing Sleepwalkers (laughably bad) or the Boogeyman (isn't even a whole movie).

polkablues

The Dark Half. Everybody forgets about The Dark Half.
My house, my rules, my coffee

Reel

Quote from: RegularKarate on May 17, 2012, 11:17:40 AM
90% of Stephen King movies are shit.  His name is cursed.

Yeah, the outcome of his movies can be so all over the place, that's why I thought it was important to rank them according to my PERSONAL taste, and really by how much they scare me. I obviously haven't seen all of them, so my opinion is biased. I'm just working with what I know right now.

Quote from: RegularKarate on May 17, 2012, 11:17:40 AM
Firestarter
Cat's Eye
The Running Man
Apt Pupil

good to know these are worth seeing, but I really didn't like The Mist. Reading his biography and seeing how much his stories are fucked with when they become movies ( like the whole Lawnmower man premise ) has made me want to read more of his books lately.

EDIT: on second thought, Hearts really shouldn't be on there, that was just a throwaway to round out the list. I meant to put Thinner on there, but forgot, so that takes it's place. How you like dem apples?

72teeth

Quote from: Reelist on May 16, 2012, 05:07:48 PM

The Green Mile


it's funny, i was actually going to bring this one up in the "Greatest Ending" thread...

One time: i was watching Green Mile, in the living room, with the family, on VHS, when it had first came out... it was so rare to find a movie that we all agreed upon, but this one was unanimously favored by the fam-clan. I remember almost getting up to take a piss, but then "WTF! Are bees flying out of his mouth!?" I sat my ass back down. At some point, i remember us all getting brought to tears, i really should see it in its entirety again sometime... anyhoo- point being: we were hooked. Once the film ended, we wiped our faces clean, took the deep breaths we needed, and turned to each other with smiles of satisfaction and confirmation of approval. a good evening. Success. It wasnt til i got up retreat to my room that i realized i had completely and totally pissed my pants. and not like a "oops, i shouldnt have giggled so hard"-squirt, but like toddler potty-training/black-out drunk complete pants dousing..

so there you have it, the best ending ive ever seen, i guess, based on the fact that not even a full bladder and complete pants pissing could distract me from the story i was watching
..but maybe it was something biological? because surely a reaction like that should have skyrocketed this to my #1 spot, and like i said, other then snippets from tv, that was the only time i had ever seen the whole thing in its entirety... and i never even bothered to buy it.  and this isnt my first or only pants pissing story. 
Doctor, Always Do the Right Thing.

Yowza Yowza Yowza

Reel

Quote from: 72teeth on May 17, 2012, 04:22:51 PM
i really should see it in its entirety again sometime..

I've been meaning to do the same, I think it's been over a decade since I've seen it, when I was just little boy much like you. I'll watch it later tonight after a couple beers, hopefully I don't end up in the same situation. Sucks you couldn't ask your fam for the courtesy of a pause, that a goddamn three hour long movie!

72teeth

pauses were frowned upon in the household

i never realized that...

:shock: this might actually explain alot about alot
Doctor, Always Do the Right Thing.

Yowza Yowza Yowza

72teeth

No more deconstructing-

I like Dolores Claiborne and Maximum Overdrive.
Doctor, Always Do the Right Thing.

Yowza Yowza Yowza

Reel

I'm glad someone does.

Those are two that I haven't seen in their entire, unedited versions. I love the look of Dolores Claiborne, though.

Reel

Quote from: 72teeth on May 17, 2012, 04:22:51 PM
i had completely and totally pissed my pants.

found the sound clip from The Green Mile. lol

72teeth

 :shock: :yabbse-huh: :? :yabbse-sad: :yabbse-huh: :yabbse-smiley: :) :yabbse-grin:

:rofl: thats crazy, toooodally fergot about that part!

I Am Become Movies
Doctor, Always Do the Right Thing.

Yowza Yowza Yowza