In recent years, there have been many modern adaptations of legendary horror authorStephen King’smost notable works.Andy MuschiettibroughtItto life with a modern adaptation that delivered two films filled with terror led byBill Skarsgard’s iconic performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown.Mike Flanagangained a prominent reputation as the king ofKing adaptations withGerald’s GameandDoctor Sleep. Streaming services have also been pumping out new takes with Paramount+’s take onThe Stand,Creepshowhaving been revived on Shudder, and Hulu’s ode to the author’s fictional universe,Castle Rock.
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Believe it or not, there are even more adaptations of King’s stories coming in 2022 and beyond, with most hitting the big screen. For the most part, not much is known about where upcoming adaptations are at in their development, but some are right around the corner.Blumhouseis actually set to kick off their summer slate with a new take onFirestarterand there are plenty of exciting adaptations set to follow, some more exciting than others.
10.Pet Sematary(Prequel)
Of all the upcoming King adaptations, the upcoming Paramount+Pet Semataryprequel is easily the riskiest by far – mainly because it’s not a story that comes from King.
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The prequel is an original idea from writerJeff Bruhlthat’ll uncover the origins of the cursed burial ground and feature a younger version of Jud Crandall, played byJackson White. This prequel story, currently being helmed byLindsey Beer, certainly shows potential to build on the story’s lore and have more surprises than the 2019 adaptation, but fans should be wary of uncharted territory.
9.From a Buick 8
From a Buick 8is one of the stranger stories to come from King. It features a haunted car, something that’s not too unusual for King, but it comes with a Lovecraftian twist.
It’s the story of a police officer discovering a horrifying truth about his father connected to a monstrous entity embodied in the titular Buick 8. No doubt, this premise could deliver a unique adaptation, especially if someone special steps in front of the camera. Currently, actorThomas Jane, who’s been a part of some of the best King adaptations includingThe Mistand1922, is working behind the scenes on the adaptation, but could easily end up being its star.
8.Firestarter
Currently, Blumhouse’s upcoming adaptation ofFirestarteris the only one on this list that has a trailer, but that trailer didn’t exactly give the best first impression.
In terms of the tone and some visual effects presented,Firestarterlooks a little rough around the edges. However, the film starring the likes ofRyan Kiera Armstrongas a young girl dealing with dangerous fire powers andZac Efronas her protective father shows some promise, especially withThe Vigil’sKeith Thomasdirecting.
7.The Long Walk
There are a lot of reasons to be excited forScary Stories to Tell in the DarkdirectorAndre Ovredal’s upcoming adaptation ofThe Long Walk.
It’s a dystopian story of a large group of boys being forced to walk or die presents an intensely suspenseful story and Ovredal is more than capable of delivering tense and terrifying experiences, but there hasn’t been any update in a while. To be fair, Ovredal has been busy and new news onThe Long Walkcould be just around the corner, hopefully.
6.Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
An adaptation ofMr. Harrigan’s Phone, a short story that’s a part of the short story collectionIf It Bleeds, is in the works at Netflix withThe Little Things’John Lee Hancockdirecting.
There’s certainly a lot to be excited about with this adaptation asDonald SutherlandandJaeden Martellare set to star and Netflix has gained a reputation for having great King adaptations. The modern updates of turning the titular haunted phone into a smartphone could see some ire from fans, but it could turn fans around when a trailer eventually drops before it hits Netflix sometime in 2022.
5.Christine
AChristineremake is currently in the works at Blumhouse withHannibal(TV Series) creatorBryan Fullerset to direct the film. Often cited asone of King’s best novels, there’s a lot of fanfare around the possibility of a modern-day take.
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John Carpenter’s 1983 adaptation set a high bar with how it delivered an authentic portrayal of the novel as well as some heart-pounding scares. While it’s a little tough to see the iconic Plymouth car fitting in the modern era, a modernChristineadaptation could be a big hit and producerJason Blumhas talked about the film’s script being done and production possibly starting this year.
4.The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
DirectorLynne Ramsayhas flirted with the horror genre with her previous films, likeYou Were Never Really Here, but it looks like she’s diving headfirst into the genre with her upcoming adaptation of King’s 1999 cult hitThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
Following many of King’s favorite tropes while delivering on some new twists, this is consideredone of his best novels of the ’90s. The novel’s story of a young girl becoming lost in the woods and hunted by a dangerous force feels right up Ramsey’s alley for personal horror stories and is definitely one to watch out for as more news comes out about it.
3.The Running Man
While many King fans were upset thatPaul Michael Glaser’s 1987 adaptation ofThe Running Manlargely departed from the source material, fans should be thrilled to know that a more faithful adaptation is coming fromEdgar Wright.
TheLast Night in Sohodirector is currently set to create a more faithful adaptation of King’s 1982 dystopian novel that sees a man on the run as he becomes the bounty for the general public. Not much is known about where the film is at, but Wright’s involvement givesThe Running Mansome promise.
2.Salem’s Lot
Another adaptation of King’s 1975 novelSalem’s Lotis currently set to release this September and is helmed byAnnabelle Comes HomedirectorGary Dauberman.
The film, which tells the story of a struggling writer returning to his hometown for inspiration only to find that it’s in control of a bloodthirsty vampire, boasts an impressive cast withLuke Pullmanleading andAlfre Woodard,Bill Camp,Pilou Asbaek, andSpencer Treat Clarkin supporting roles. Look forSalem’s Lotto possibly be one of the biggest horror films of the fall.
1.The Boogeyman
DirectorRob Savagehas been on a hot streak withHostandDashcamand now is about to deliver his biggest film yet with his upcoming adaptation of King’s short storyThe Boogeymanfor Hulu.
Recently, the film added stars likeSophie Thatcher,Chris Messina,David Dastmalchian,Marin Ireland,Madison Yu, and more. The writing team on it, includingA Quiet PlacewritersScott BeckandBryan WoodsandMalignant’sAkela Cooper, is top notch and Savage could have a breakout film on his hands.
