(Clockwise from bottom-left): The Talisman (G.P. Putnam’s & Sons), Sleeping Beauties (Scribner), The Dark Half (Viking Press), Joyland (Titan Books), The Stand (Doubleday), The Institute (Scribner), The Dark Tower V: Wolves Of The Calla (Scribner), Revival (Scribner) Graphic: The A.V. Club
There’s no contemporary writer who has had as many individual adaptations of their work as Stephen King. Since his first novel, Carrie, was brought to screen by Brian DePalma in 1976, King has been a Hollywood mainstay, an ongoing source of new material for his constant readers (and watchers). And following the blockbuster success of It (2017), King fans are enjoying a new renaissance—not that he was ever too far from our screens.
Despite over 60 adaptations and re-adaptations of his work, novels, and short stories, there’s still plenty of material left for filmmakers to explore and reimagine. That includes some untouched greats that we’ll get to in this list. But there are also previously adapted novels that are prime for a modern update, many of which were in various stages of development before stalling during the pandemic.
This year alone will see the release of new versions of King’s novels Firestarter and Salem’s Lot, along with first-time film adaptations of the short stories Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and The Boogeyman. While some of the novels on the list have been optioned or even have screenplays out there, until they’re officially in production, they remain just possibilities. So, without further ado, allow us to present 15 Stephen King stories that deserve to have their shelf lives extended onscreen.
15. The Stand
The Stand Image Doubleday
Listen, I know we just got a nine-episode adaptation that aired on Paramount+ in 2020, which had the terrible timing of debuting amidst the pandemic. And I’ve got a deep affinity for Mick Garris’ 1994 miniseries, but the dream of seeing King’s sprawling apocalyptic tale of good and evil play out on a massive IMAX screen remains unfilled, despite many attempts. David Yates, Ben Affleck, and Scott Cooper were all set to direct a two-part feature film adaptation over the previous decade, and each time it fell apart. There was difficulty cracking the story, and studio insistence that it had to be trimmed to one film, and concerns over the expenses of shooting on location, and the list went on and on. Even the Paramount+ series, directed by Josh Boone, began life as a pitch for a four-part film series at Warner Bros, which then evolved into plans for a Showtime series that would serve as the lead-in to the theatrical film, to finally, a streaming miniseries that, despite a star-studded cast and a new ending written by King himself, wasn’t a hit with critics or viewers. While it will undoubtedly be a while before anyone attempts it again, some visionary filmmaker will inevitably come along and deliver an epic trilogy that will capture the transportive feeling of King’s novel and can stand alongside Peter Jackson’s The Lord Of The Rings.
14. The Long Walk
The Long Walk Image New American Library
Here’s another novel that filmmakers have tried and failed to bring to the screen many times over. The Long Walk, which King wrote under the pen name Richard Bachman, would’ve been the perfect addition to the dystopian teen films of the ’10s. King even noted with admiration that Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series shared some similarities with the conceit, which features an annual walking contest that 100 adolescent boys compete in for money and a prize of their choice in a nightmarish future America ruled by a dictator. The set-up is deceptively simple, but the character moments, the bonds and feuds formed in the midst of this walk, one in which any boy who stops is shot, makes for one of King’s most emotional narratives. George A. Romero, Frank Darabont, and André Øvredal have all tried to get it made, the latter as recently as 2019. This one feels like more of a question of when than if.
I won’t say that The Dead Zone necessarily needs a new adaptation. After all, the David Cronenberg-directed, Christopher Walken-starring film from 1983 is pretty marvelous. And there was a TV series that ran from 2002 to 2007, starring Anthony Michael Hall, which I admittedly haven’t seen. Yet, the concept of a man granted the gift and curse of psychic abilities, along with the knowledge that an up-and-coming political candidate will destroy the world feels like a project that could be really effective as a means to terrify and provide social commentary. As one of King’s more popular works, this novel feels prime for a new take by a horror director just breaking out of the indie scene. A fresh read on The Dead Zone doesn’t need to surpass Cronenberg’s, merely see it through a different lens. For comparison’s sake, consider it through the framework of Bryan Fuller doing a new adaptation of Christine. It’s not about coming for John Carpenter’s crown, but about watching a filmmaker with a distinct voice approach it from their angle.
12. Roadwork
Roadwork Image New American Library
Writing again as Richard Bachman, this is one of King’s lesser-known novels, but one of my personal favorites. Roadwork is a raw, angry tome, written by King in the aftermath of his mother’s death. It follows a working-class Midwestern man driven to insanity and violence over the death of his son, the failure of his marriage, and the loss of his home and job due to construction of a new interstate. It’s a tale not only about grief, but about how much a person can take when it feels like the world is paving over them. This is an adaptation that the right actor could truly make a meal of, showing the steady descent into madness as a man takes a violent stand to hold onto what little he has left. Adapting the novel now, amidst the current political climate and a lack of gun control, may prove to be a challenge. But then again, depiction doesn’t equal endorsement, and maybe the fact that it hits close to home would give a sense of urgency. A film adaptation, set to be produced by It director Andy Muschietti and director Pablo Trapero was announced in 2019, but there’s been no word on the project since.
Another Bachman book, the last on this list, to close out King’s early years. Now, one could argue that The Running Man has previously been adapted, courtesy of the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. And I can understand why that film has its fans despite, or perhaps because of, its schlocky spandex action and bad puns. But it’s a far cry from the novel, which still has Ben Richards caught in a dystopian game show, but one that isn’t limited to an arena. Richards is allowed to go anywhere he pleases, after a 12-hour head start, but it’s not merely Hunters who are sent to capture him, but ordinary citizens who are also seeking prize money. King’s novel is a gritty, bleak look at capitalism, and the subjugation of the poor. Richards isn’t a musclebound action hero, but an underfed, impoverished everyman who can’t afford medicine for his sick daughter and whose wife has resorted to prostitution to pay the bills. Given the recent success of Squid Game, which tackles similar themes, an adaptation of The Running Man that sticks close to the book’s building tension and moral depravity would be right on time. As of 2021, Edgar Wright is attached to direct for Paramount. Fingers crossed it actually happens, given the filmmaker’s running list of potential projects.
10. The Talisman
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub Image G.P. Putnam’s & Sons
King’s collaboration with horror contemporary Peter Straub has long been one of fans’ most requested adaptations. The Talisman, and its sequel Black House, were supposed to be part of a trilogy, one that remains unfinished, and yet each entry tells a complete story. The Talisman follows 12-year-old Jack Sawyer who, in an attempt to save his dying mother, uses a crystal talisman to travel to an alternate dimension, a twisted, fantasy version of the United States populated by Twinners, parallel individuals that share unique connections with dimensional opposites. It’s a high-concept story that blends fantasy, horror, and coming of age, while also sharing some key connective tissue with King’s Dark Tower series. The Duffer Brothers are set to develop it as a series at Netflix, following the conclusion of Stranger Things. Given the current popularity of multiverses, general audiences might have a much easier time following The Talisman’s concepts than non-readers would have a decade or two ago.
9. The Dark Half
The Dark Half Image Viking Press
Maybe it’s because there’s been a lack of horror films with writers as the lead characters of late. Or maybe it’s because James Wan’s Malignant made parasitic twin Gabriel a breakout cult icon among horror fans. Either way, the sparrows deserve to fly again and The Dark Half needs a new adaptation that can really dial up the horror elements and provide some lead actor with the chance to build two distinct characters. The 1993 film starring Timothy Hutton isn’t George A. Romero’s best work, and it’s one of the few studio films he did, in part because of the financial challenges he encountered during the project. The adaptation, while it does feel like a ’90s television movie, does a decent job in exploring the duality of man when author Thad Beaumont attempts to bury his pen name George Stark, only to find his alternate persona manifest in the physical world and wreaking havoc on his life. The novel was obviously inspired by King’s own work as Richard Bachman and the more cynical stories told through that lens. But there’s a fascinating concept of what dark places writers allow themselves to go, and how they unburden themselves through that process. If done well, a new adaptation could be one of the all-time great cinematic stories about the process of telling stories. And if a studio can manage to obtain the rights to both, The Dark Half would be a great lead-in to the next entry on this list.
8. Needful Things
Needful Things Image Viking Press
One of The Dark Half’s supporting characters, Alan Pangborn, becomes more central in Needful Things, which sees the arrival of mysterious shopkeeper Leland Gaunt in Castle Rock. Gaunt’s collection of curiosities has seemingly everything that the denizens of Castle Rock need, but each item carries an expensive price, small pranks that steadily escalate until the whole town is at each other’s throats. The novel was previously adapted in 1993 and starred Max von Sydow as Gaunt and Ed Harris as Pangborn. Although the lead performances are strong, this adaptation leaves much to be desired and doesn’t succeed at the dark humor or the horror of human nature. Given the contemporary division lines that exist in America, a new adaptation Needful Things is primed to provide biting social commentary. I’ll add that Fangoria’s Scott Wampler recently wrote about the need for a new adaptation of Needful Things in the latest issue of the magazine, so allow me to second that notion. Few King stories feel more topical at this moment than a small American town being torn apart by an elderly manipulator with designs on playing god.
7. Insomnia
Insomnia Image Viking Press
In 1994, King returned to another of his most famous townships, Derry, Maine. Only this time it wasn’t a clown causing sleepless nights but insomnia. Ralph Roberts’ condition allows him to see life force auras that are governed by entities, The Purpose and The Random, which create order in the universe. A third entity, The Crimson King, seeks to sow chaos in the universe. As Ralph gains access to these forces of reality and the secret nature of all things, connected by the Dark Tower, he is drawn into conflict with a former friend, Ed Deepnau, who is being manipulated by the Crimson King and whose anti-abortion stance sets the course for an act of domestic terrorism that will unbalance the forces of the universe. Obviously, Insomnia is grappling with a lot and it’s one of King’s weirder novels. There’s also the fact that it doesn’t stand alone like the other novels on this list, being tied to King’s magnum opus, The Dark Tower. Yet, despite these complexities there is something alluring about the story as King trades small town people for cosmic forces, musings on the larger effects of death on the multiverse, and political stances that are, ironically and sadly, the same misogynistic and anti-health care practices we’re dealing with at this very moment. It’ll be a tough one to adapt, but maybe, just maybe, if we can get a new adaptation of The Dark Tower going, Insomnia will follow.
6. Under The Dome
Under The Dome Image Scribner
What happens when a small American town, already rife with grievances, is trapped in a glass cage? Well given that this is King, nothing good. You may remember that this sprawling tome of a novel was made into a CBS series in 2013 and it ran for three seasons. The show was very much a result of the post-LOST search to find the next mystery box television series. While Under the Dome did last longer than most of those others, it still faced the same inherent issues in that the mystery that took place in a single setting that wasn’t meant to be stretched out, and the appearance of new characters broke the plausibility of the small town of Chester’s Mill being cordoned off. While the ending may have left some readers wanting, there’s no denying that King excels at creating a sprawling cast of characters who reflect America as a microcosm. The underlying message of climate change, and the ways in which the rich and powerful exploit a shared space for their own benefit is sadly just as relevant now as it was in 2009.
5. Joyland
Joyland Image Titan Books
King’s recent publications have seen him delve into pulpy crime stories, though not without their share of horror. Joyland follows Devin Jones, whose summer job at a North Carolina amusement park offers him romance, ghosts, and the search for a serial killer. While certainly not as dense as many of King’s other works, there’s a beautiful simplicity to its Americana and coming of age narrative. Plus, carnivals and amusement parks still feel like an untapped setting that offers a rich aesthetic and a colorful cast of characters. Though a TV series was pitched at Freeform in 2018, no progress has been made since. Joyland feels as though it would be best served as a small budget feature from a filmmaker who can capture all the longing and nostalgia of early adulthood.
4. Revival
Revival Image Scribner
We were robbed. Revival is King’s scariest novel in years, containing an ending I still can’t shake. In 2020 it was announced that modern horror maestro Mike Flanagan would be adapting the novel for a feature film. Anyone who saw Doctor Sleep (2019) and Gerald’s Game (2017) knew we were in for something special. Flanagan completed the script later that summer, which met King’s approval. And then Warner Bros. canceled the project. I still haven’t gotten over it. To backtrack a bit, Revival is King’s Frankenstein, his own means of playing with the concept of resurrection and the power of gods. It begins with the arrival of a young preacher, Charles Jacobs, and his friendship with a young boy, Jamie Morton, and follows these characters through the years as they struggle with faith and attempt to change the course of life and death through experiments with “secret electricity.” It’s a stunning and horrifying novel that truly deserves a big-screen adaptation. But I’ll add this caveat—while most of these adaptations could be handled well by a multitude of filmmakers, it should be Flanagan who revives Revival, as it fits perfectly within the themes he’s explored throughout his filmography.
3. Sleeping Beauties
Sleeping Beauties Image Scribner
In the midst of a shifting political climate Stephen King collaborated with his son, Owen King, to co-write Sleeping Beauties. The novel, set in a small Appalachian town, sees all of the world’s women fall asleep, encased in mysterious cocoons, leaving men to rule the world. When the women re-emerge in an alternate dimension, a post-apocalyptic version of their town, they have the chance to rebuild without the influence of men. On the surface, Sleeping Beauties is a story about gender dynamics, but it’s also a story about human nature, and the roles to which we resign ourselves. As another one of King’s sprawling, multi-character works, Sleeping Beauties could be best served as a premium cable or streaming miniseries. AMC picked up a pilot in 2019 but no further developments have been made, though with the current gender debates now feels like the right time to revive the project, and to do it with an inclusive cast of trans and non-binary actors, further exploring the man-made concept of gender-specific roles.
2. The Institute
The Institute Image Scribner
Like Firestarter, The Institute centers on kids with special abilities, telekinesis and telepathy who are captured by a secret government organization with intentions to exploit their powers. Luke Ellis, a 12-year-old genius, finds himself captured and used as part of a program that guides the world through telepathic assignations. There’s a sound allegory in the novel about the ways in which adults gamble with children’s futures for their political and social ambitions. But the true strength of The Institute is its compelling cast of young characters, which has drawn comparisons between the novel and It, along with The Body (adapted as Stand by Me). Though King doesn’t directly connect the stories, it’s easy to imagine the powers the children exhibit as forms of “the shine,” and perhaps the same abilities that Carrie White manifested. The Institute may also be a contemporary version of Firestarter’s agency, The Shop, meaning that some ambitious filmmaker could attempt to tie the concepts together in a direct way in which King has not. Spyglass Television optioned the novel for a limited series ahead of publication in 2019 but it has not moved forward.
1. The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Image Viking Press
I couldn’t let you go without serving the beam. The Dark Tower is the white whale, the project that nearly every King fan has dreamt of seeing adapted. The eight-book series that has followed King throughout his career, and woven itself into a significant amount of his other works, is his magnum opus, a series that’s just as much about King himself as it is about the gunslinger Roland and his quest for the mysterious Dark Tower, the nexus of the multiverse that will allow him to reset reality. It is all of the genres King has expressed a love for: horror, fantasy, science fiction, Western, crime, and romance. It also displays his penchant for huge casts of characters, settings with deep histories and mythos, and allusions, both to his own works and those done by others. It’s no wonder the series has proved such a challenge to adapt. J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, Ron Howard, and Glen Mazzara have all sought to faithfully adapt King’s books across film and television, though story structure, budget, and skeptical studios all proved to be insurmountable. The film adaptation in 2017 starring Idris Elba attempted to cram far too much into a 95-minute runtime and it just doesn’t work. It’s certainly not the worst film ever made from King’s work, but it doesn’t capture The Dark Tower. Just when it seemed Mazzara had the solution with a TV series that would begin with young Roland’s exploits, as covered in the fourth novel, Wizard & Glass, Amazon pulled the plug. But Ka is a wheel and hopefully it won’t be too long until some filmmaker reaches the Dark Tower and explores all of its in infinite possibilities.
