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5 Stephen King Tales That Are Probably Unfilmable

posted 8 years ago by Yorick_Brown
3 replies | jump to latest

There have been a lot of stories in the world of literature that have been described by critics as “unadaptable,” and there have been many filmmakers who have gone out of their way to prove them wrong. Whether it’s David Cronenberg tackling William S. Burrough’s Naked Lunch, James Franco taking a shot at Cormac McCarthy’s Child of God, or Denis Villeneuve crafting Enemy from José Saramago’s The Double, challenging material can be a call-to-action for visionary filmmakers to do something truly unforgettable. Yet with a prolific writer like the one-and-only Stephen King, the term “unadaptable” almost never applies, especially considering just how much of his high-concept scare fare has bled into the world of cinema.

In King’s case, many have assumed that Gerald’s Game would remain his unfilmable novel, one in which the subject matter, narrative style, and reputation of the story would keep any studio from taking a chance on a big-screen adaptation. Against all odds, Gerald’s Game is coming to screens later this year from Hush collaborators Mike Flanagan and Netflix, and King himself has labeled an early cut as “horrifying.” So with that in mind, Shock Till You Drop has assembled five other potentially “unadaptable” Stephen King stories that may never join the ranks of King’s frightful filmography…

http://www.comingsoon.net/horror/features/814211-5-stephen-king-tales-that-are-probably-unfilmable#G9ISRrtKv3bgjS0z.99

We try but we didn't have long
We try but we don't belong...

-Hot Chip (Boy from School)

[–] moonphase9 (7) 8 years ago

" Against all odds, Gerald’s Game is coming to screens later this year from Hush collaborators Mike Flanagan and Netflix, and King himself has labeled an early cut as “horrifying.” So with that in mind, Shock Till You Drop has assembled five other potentially “unadaptable” Stephen King stories that may never join the ranks of King’s frightful filmography…"

Holy crap, Gerald's Game? I love that book. I'm surprised they're making a film of it. The direction will need to be excellent to keep the audience engaged.

[–] Strannger (2007) 7 years ago

Probably, short stories like in night shift. To many are a few pages and need real big script improvements and characterization.

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

Yes, I believe there is one in that volume that concerns a child's army guys coming to life and warring with another set of army guys in the boy's bedroom, or, perhaps it's in the toy store. Can't quite remember and I no longer have that book. It's a riot. The war rages hammer & tong till one side detonates a to scale nuclear device. Maybe with FX it could be attempted, eh?

I may have some the particulars messed up, but, it's a great short story.

ADDENDUM:::Yes, just about positive it takes place in a closed for the day toy store. Toy planes are involved, the whole gamut.