The incredibly prolific novelist Stephen King and populist filmmaker Steven Spielberg have been trying to get several projects off the ground based on a King novel for a while. Back in 2006, Spielberg was close to getting The Talisman to the screen at TNT but it fell apart due to budgetary concerns. However, the two are still adamant to work together and this time they are close to getting another King novel to the screen.
The pair have set up the adaptation of King’s 2009 epic novel: Under the Dome at the Showtime network. The channel that is responsible for many of TV’s most popular shows such as Dexter, Weeds and The Big C.
Spielberg and King will serve as executive producers for DreamWorks TV, who have partnered with the network to bring the show to the screen as a miniseries. There is no writer yet attached, however I wouldn’t be surprised if King has his name on one or two of the episodes.
King and Spielberg have been wanting to work together for a long time. Spielberg asked King way back in the 80’s if he would work on Poltergeist for him but scheduling wouldn’t work out and since then they have tried many times but have always failed to work together. Under the Dome is probably the best bet they have in getting a project to fruition.
I’m currently in the process of working my way through the 900 page tome and it is gripping stuff, perfectly suited to the miniseries format. It tells the story of a fictional Maine town which becomes shut off from the rest of civilization when a huge force field surrounds the town. Tensions begin to fray and as expected relationships begin to fall apart.
The project will take a couple of years of pre-production and filming before it makes its way to our screens, so expect to see this sometime in late 2013.
We’ll keep you posted on any further developments.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter