Why is it so hard . . .

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raggedyman79

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
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Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Stephen King is one of the most successful writers in history. You'd think it wouldn't be so difficult to get feature-film adaptations of The Stand and The Dark Tower and It produced and done with a modicum of success. I find it annoying that Hollywood keeps churning out mindless movies with zero depth like Transformers with no problem, and they're making billions of dollars, but something that has a chance at being truly rewarding as a motion picture gets developed for several months and then shoved aside. Latest case in point, today it was announced that Josh Boone is abandoning his adaptation of The Stand in favor of an adaptation of Revival. While I enjoyed Revival, it just seems sort of low-key for a movie.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
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I read the article linked on the front page about Josh Boone, at Deadline.

I was curious why The Stand is still not about to go to cameras. I think at some point CBS Films, which the article says now has the rights, should just get going on it. I have to assume it is about money, which is fair enough, but just make a budget, and get the filmmakers to adhere to it. Plus, not everything from the book has to make it in (if this is one movie we're talking about; they should just do the movie/TV-combo thing, with different actors for each, if necessary).
 

raggedyman79

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
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Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
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USA
Those stories are too big and too expensive to produce well. Bottom line. Mr. King's books never have translated well to film, with a few notable exceptions, because so much goes on in the minds of the characters. There is external, visible action, of course, but a LOT of the stories in each book are day to day life of normal people... or abnormal people, but doing normal things :) Great to read, because we get inside their heads and 'see' the thoughts going on while they go about their mundane lives, but not good for a visual medium. When many filmmakers try to pump up the visual action in the books, it comes off as hokey precisely because a lot of the terror (or sorrow, or humor) comes from what the characters are thinking.

Revival wasn't one of my favorites (though I wouldn't write it off, as I've only read it once), but I do think it will be much easier to film than The Stand would be, and much less expensive. I cringe at the thought of that ending, though. If it stays as-is, I fear there will be a lot of unintended laughter in theaters. I do NOT think the things at the end will translate as fearsome on the big screen.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
I'd rather those books live in my imagination. The miniseries are bad enough

There is indeed an argument for that approach.

I'd actually rather see It get the green light before The Stand. I do think Revival will make for an entertaining film, especially considering what could be done with the ending (there is the risk that Skimom mentioned though to consider).
 

raggedyman79

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
126
602
44
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Those stories are too big and too expensive to produce well. Bottom line. Mr. King's books never have translated well to film, with a few notable exceptions, because so much goes on in the minds of the characters. There is external, visible action, of course, but a LOT of the stories in each book are day to day life of normal people... or abnormal people, but doing normal things :) Great to read, because we get inside their heads and 'see' the thoughts going on while they go about their mundane lives, but not good for a visual medium. When many filmmakers try to pump up the visual action in the books, it comes off as hokey precisely because a lot of the terror (or sorrow, or humor) comes from what the characters are thinking.

Revival wasn't one of my favorites (though I wouldn't write it off, as I've only read it once), but I do think it will be much easier to film than The Stand would be, and much less expensive. I cringe at the thought of that ending, though. If it stays as-is, I fear there will be a lot of unintended laughter in theaters. I do NOT think the things at the end will translate as fearsome on the big screen.

I agree. The ending is very delicate, and I would say it's one of those things that could translate poorly if it's not handled with the proper care. And it's not something you can really leave out either, since it's the turning point of the novel.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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Here is the link to SK's interview, conducted several years ago but unpublished until today, as a companion to the Boone/Revival article:

Stephen King On What Hollywood Owes Authors When Their Books Become Films: Q&A | Deadline

And here is the Boone/Revival article, which sheds some light on the status of The Stand and is an interesting read on its own for SK fans:

Josh Boone Pauses Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ To Next Direct ‘Revival’ | Deadline
I see you found it, sorry just now got your message.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
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Spokane, WA
I feel like producing Revival as a movie is just asking for a flop. Too much internal dialogue and build-up. Not enough action for audiences.
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
 

raggedyman79

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
126
602
44
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
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United States
You gotta remember what was done with Delores Claiborne- that entire book is nothing but a woman sitting in an office in the police station and talking for hours. I think they did an excellent job with the film (of course the screenplay was written by none other than the great William Goldman, who added a storyline about Selena).
Good point. I think the right creative person can get around those obstacles. Many said Gerald's Game was unfilmable because of the nudity, but I think even that can be circumvented. Fight Club was another movie fans said wouldn't work on film.
 

raggedyman79

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
126
602
44
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Good point. I think the right creative person can get around those obstacles. Many said Gerald's Game was unfilmable because of the nudity, but I think even that can be circumvented. Fight Club was another movie fans said wouldn't work on film.

Revival just seems like it would work better as a play. For the most part, it's just Jamie and Jacobs going back and forth, with a couple of peripheral characters popping up here and there. Until the reveal of the Null, there's not really anything you can't accomplish with lighting and props.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
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Revival just seems like it would work better as a play. For the most part, it's just Jamie and Jacobs going back and forth, with a couple of peripheral characters popping up here and there. Until the reveal of the Null, there's not really anything you can't accomplish with lighting and props.
Interesting. That would be a challenge in itself, with all of the different state locations. Flashbacks. I'd watch it.