It’s been a busy week for Alfonso Cuaron. Mind you, it’s probably always a busy week for the chap who helmed last year’s critical and financial smash, Gravity. Raking in the cash and the critics clearly won favour with Warner Bros., as earlier this week, rumours began wafting about the web concerning his continued role in the Harry Potter universe. Apparently he’s in talks for J.K Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them; a New York-set magical fable. Now the lucky bugger has struck gold again, according to website Schmoes Know, who’ve heard that he’s been offered the chance to direct The Overlook Hotel.
Stick this one on a plate and sprinkle liberally with salt. It’s true, sometimes there are nuggets of truth to unconfirmed reports that later appear in official press releases, but more often than not it’s speculation. Either way, considering this would be a prequel to one of cinema’s greatest horror films, ever – colour us EXCITED! Prequels and sequels are dished out all too often to directors without experience, who on occasion, err, balls them up.
To create another entry into The Shining canon would be a huge risk… but also a gigantic win if approached with love, care and attention to detail. Lest we forget The Shining director Stanley Kubrick’s obsessive need for multiple takes. But hey, it worked. It still stands today as a crowning achievement in the genre. Cuaron could be just what one of the most tired divisions of cinema needs: fresh eyes.
From what IS confirmed, the crew assembled so far for the film are devout to the horror milieu. The Walking Dead showrunner, Glen Mazzara, is writing the script, with Laeta Kalogridis (the Scream series, Terminator: Genesis), Bradley Fischer (Black Swan), and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) all tackling producer roles. Taking a look at their accumulated experience, they’ve all worked on unique, trendsetting chillers.
This bodes very well for The Overlook Hotel. Which, we know very little about in terms of plot. Stephen King’s original novel delved into the history of hotel at times through conversations, and who wouldn’t want to see original caretaker Delbert Grady lose his shit?! Or to have the mysterious final image (above) decoded? Of course, King never penned a prequel, instead venturing forward with the sequel, Doctor Sleep, published earlier this year. It’s an absolute must-read for fans, and will no doubt be on our screens in the next few years.
So, what do you make of today’s rumour? Excited for Cuaron to be considering it? Or just generally giddy at the prospect of a prequel to The Shining? Let us know what you reckon to The Overlook Hotel, in all of your eloquent glory below.
