If you had told me back in 1988 that there would be a film version of THE STAND, I would’ve come back with:
Nope. Not possible. Not gonna happen.
Remember how I told you I thought I knew everything back then?
Yeah, not so much.
Fortunately for all of us, in May 1994, Stephen King and Mick Garris teamed up to take on the challenge and brought Stu, Frannie, Flagg and the rest of the gang to life in a prime time, four-part television mini-series. King penned a fantastic adaptation of the novel (managing the impossible by including almost all of the good stuff) and Garris did a tremendous job behind the camera. The casting was better than anyone had a right to expect — with wonderful performances by Gary Sinise, Rob Lowe, Ruby Dee, Molly Ringwald, Jamey Sheridan, Ossie Davis, Miguel Ferrer, Laura San Giacomo, Bill Fagerbakke, Corin Nemec, Ray Walston, Matt Frewer, Adam Storke and a cool little cameo by Stephen King himself.
THE STAND mini-series was an unqualified success, watched by a record number of viewers and winning a handful of major awards. And for me, it accomplished the impossible — it brought the heart and soul of Steve’s amazing novel to my television screen.
* * *
Now, more than 20 years later, Flagg and company are headed back in front of the cameras — this time for the big screen and not one,
but two features films!
My friend and longtime CEMETERY DANCE reader Josh Boone (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS) is the man in charge, and I’ve learned my lesson this time around — I’m not only hoping for a great result, I’m expecting it.
Why so confident this time around?
Well, I could tell you that Josh just turned in his script and it’s rumored (ahem) to be excellent.
Or I could tell you that the casting for this feature film version will be surprising and stellar (and no I’m not giving you any hints).
Or I could talk about the hefty budget and how it should give this version a chance to be everything the book was.
Or, most importantly to me, I could tell you that Josh is a lifelong Stephen King fan who is determined to do the book — and author — justice.