Not only is Stephen King one of the most recognizable names in literature, but he’s also one of the most adapted writers ever to put pen to paper. With over 240 writing credits to his name, filmmakers and showrunners return to his work time and again in an attempt to deliver new takes on classic tales of drama and horror.
While his work remains popular, the name of Stephen King is not always a guarantee of quality when it comes to movies and television. Screenwriters and directors have often taken his source material and delivered interpretations that have been decidedly below par – for example, 2003’s Dreamcatcher, or 1993’s The Tommyknockers. Ultimately, however, these unfortunate attempts only serve to make the successful projects, like It, all the more impressive.
Speaking of which, after seeing how well Pennywise performed at the box office, it sounds like everyone wants to get in on the fun. Or at least, that’s according to the author himself, as he recently told Entertainment Weekly that all his stories are being adapted right now.
“Well, [film rights] on everything are basically taken. I think just about everything I’ve written is in some kind of development, or under option,” King revealed. “I’m not bragging, I’m just…you know. It ain’t bragging if it’s true!”
So, what else can we expect to see in the near future? Well, It: Chapter Two is already brewing in pre-production, while that remake of Pet Sematary is also starting to come together nicely. Those aside, there’s also a film based on Rose Madder on the way, while The Breathing Method and N. are coming to the small screen as TV miniseries. Then, of course, we have Hulu’s Castle Rock, which is set in the fictional town which features in many of King’s tales.
Suffice it to say, it’s a very good time to be a fan of Stephen King. Like we mentioned above, not every adaptation is well executed, but a lot of them are and again, given how well It performed, it’s really no surprise that producers are clamoring to pump more of the author’s work into theaters and onto our television screens.
With so much on the way, though, tell us, which Stephen King adaptation are you most looking forward to? Sound off in the usual place and if you haven’t done so already, be sure to place your pre-order for Andy Muschietti’s aforementioned horror hit, which arrives on Blu-ray on January 9th.
