There are a lot of Stephen King movies in development, which isn’t surprising considering he’s an author who has almost supernaturally mastered the balance of quantity and quality. Starting with IT in 2017, there has been an unofficial Stephen Kingaissance, where adaptations of his novels and short stories aren’t nearly as polarizing as they had been in the past.

In the past few years alone, his adaptations have been treated with a deserving level of respect, and to call the results promising is an understatement. Recent adaptations like Gerald’s Game, 11.22.63, and the aforementioned IT have found success in theatrical releases, streaming services, and as TV shows, and the well of Stephen King stories is hardly at risk of running dry. Over the next couple of years, there is a long list of movies currently in development based on his work.

So, given the high volume of projects that fans of King’s work will have to look forward to, it helps to have a digestible understanding of what’s coming. Here is a breakdown of every Stephen King movie currently in development.

In the Tall Grass - October 4, 2019

Though Stephen King has written a considerable amount of stories on his own, quite a few of them are the result of collaborations with other writers. And, in 2012, he and his son Joe Hill penned a novella titled In the Tall Grass. Set at an abandoned rest stop, a brother and sister attempt to help a young boy crying from inside a field of tall grass, only to find themselves lost and unable to escape. Directed by Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice), In the Tall Grass stars Patrick Wilson, Rachel Wilson, Laysla De Oliveira, and Harrison Gilbertson, and will be released exclusively on Netflix.

Doctor Sleep - November 8, 2019

In 1977, Stephen King wrote what has become easily one of his most beloved novels, The Shining. It eventually spawned an adaptation from Stanley Kubrick, which King ultimately wasn’t a fan of, and it then took King 36 years to follow up the isolated tale of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance at the haunted Overlook Hotel with its sequel, Doctor Sleep. Now, in the midst of the Kingaissance, Doctor Sleep is getting its own adaptation from director Mike Flanagan (who also directed an adaptation of King’s novel Gerald’s Game), which stars Ewan McGregor and Rebecca Ferguson.

In Doctor Sleep, Danny Torrance is now an adult who isn’t just dealing with alcoholism (like his late father), but with the supernatural traumas he suffered through as a child; and after coming across a tribe of psychic vampires, he finds a purpose in protecting a young girl who shares his psychic ability.

The Tommyknockers - TBA

Stephen King’s stories are just as much rooted in horror as they are science fiction. And, in The Tommyknockers, the science fiction elements are front and center. This 1987 novel takes place in the fictional town of Haven, Maine, in which the locals become bewitched by a mysterious extraterrestrial artifact that’s been unearthed in the woods. In 1993, The Tommyknockers was adapted as a TV miniseries, and now, a feature length adaptation is currently in the works, with James Wan (The Conjuring, Aquaman) attached to produce.

The Talisman - TBA

In 1984, Stephen King teamed up with author Peter Straub to write The Talisman, a fantasy novel about a young boy who travels into a parallel world in order to find a magical talisman that might save his dying mother. There is currently an adaptation in the works, courtesy of Steven Spielberg (he’s owned the rights to the book since its release, and though he’s not directing the movie, his company is producing), but it’s been a slow journey getting it made to say the least. Josh Boone (writer/director of both New Mutants and The Fault in Our Stars) was announced to write The Talisman’s screenplay in 2017, but Buried’s Chris Sparling is now penning a new version. The Handmaid’s Tale’s Mike Barker will direct the film.

Revival - TBA

Stephen King’s stories often revolve around horror and religion, and his 2014 novel Revival is no exception. In fact, one of the two main characters is a priest who not only battles with his faith, but ends up opening a portal to another world. There are very few details surrounding production, aside from the fact that Josh Boone (who was attached to direct not only The Talisman, but King’s Lisey’s Story and a miniseries adaptation of King’s The Stand) will direct, according to Deadline.

Suffer the Little Children - TBA

A short story in Stephen King’s Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Suffer the Little Children revolves around an elementary school teacher who grows increasingly more suspicious of the children in her class. However, as she attempts to piece together the mystery, people in town begin suffering unexplainable deaths. According to Deadline, newcomer Sean Carter (Keep Watching) will pen the screenplay and direct, though very few other details have been released.

Hearts - TBA

Hearts is one of the more interesting King adaptations currently in the works for a few reasons. For one, it’s based on one of King’s collections of short stories and novellas titled Hearts in Atlantis, which was adapted into a movie with Anthony Hopkins and a very young Anton Yelchin in 2001. Only, that adaptation was actually based on the novella titled Low Men in Yellow Coats, while this adaptation, retitled Hearts, is based on the actual novella titled Hearts in Atlantis within the collection that shares its name. It’s also one of the few adaptation within this recent Kingaissance that doesn’t include any horror or fantasy elements, similar to other adaptations like The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me.

Hearts is a coming-of-age story that revolves around a group of college students in 1966 who are personally affected by the Vietnam War. Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, The Strangers: Prey at Night) has been attached to direct since 2016, but there have been few details concerning the project since.

Rose Madder - TBA

Even though Stephen King’s vast collection of work is a well from which most film studios would happily draw, some adaptations struggle getting off the ground. Case in point: Rose Madder. Based on King’s novel of the same name, this fantasy thriller dealing with the real-life horror of domestic violence has been in development for years, with screenwriter Naomi Sheridan (In America) once attached to pen the screenplay in 2011. At the moment, however, it resides in Development Hell.

Drunken Fireworks - TBA

From Stephen King’s collection of short stories titled The Bazaar of Bad Dreams is a short story titled Drunken Fireworks. It revolves around the theme of new money and old money, in which a fireworks competition results in some unexpectedly heavy consequences. James Franco is attached to star in the adaptation, according to Variety, and will also double as a producer. The screenplay is being penned by Matt Rager, who also wrote As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and In Dubious Battle, in which Franco also starred and directed. There is currently no release date set for the movie.

Firestarter - TBA

In 1984, a very young Drew Barrymore starred in an adaptation of Stephen King’s sci-fi horror novel Firestarter. She played a young girl named Charlie who is born with a unique gift allowing her to start fires with her mind, which ultimately prompts a government organization known as The Shop to hunt her down. Now, Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures are moving forward with an updated take on the story, and though it’s still in the very early stages of pre-production, The Edge of Heaven’s Fatih Akin is attached to direct, while Scott Teems (Narcos: Mexico) will pen the screenplay.

The Jaunt - TBA

Another Stephen King adaptation currently in development is based on the short story titled The Jaunt. First published back in 1981 in The Twilight Zone Magazine, The Jaunt later become an entry in King’s collection of short stories, Skeleton Crew, telling a futuristic story about people who can teleport, and the potential horrors that come with it. In 2015, it was announced that Andy Muschietti, who has since gone on to direct both IT and IT: Chapter Two, would direct, but that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.

‘Salem’s Lot - TBA

Salem’s Lot is one of Stephen King’s most iconic stories, and it’s finally being adapted for the big screen, after previously being adapted twice as a TV series in 1979 and 2004. Annabelle and The Conjuring producers and directors James Wan and Gary Dauberman are producing the film. Dauberman wrote the scripts for both IT and IT Chapter Two, so he’s at least familiar with King’s style and has been able to turn those stories into blockbuster successes.

Lisey’s Story - TV Series

Lisey’s Story is a 2006 horror-romance novel from Stephen King centers around the titular Lisey who’s dealing with the death of her husband. However, in dealing with her husband’s death, she ends up entering a dark world in which her husband frequented when he was still alive. Although originally envisioned as a movie, Lisey’s Story is now being adapted for television. Stephen King himself is writing the scripts for all eight episodes, which will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot for Apple TV+, starring Julianne Moore as the eponymous Lisey.

The Stand - TV Series 2019

One of the most significant upcoming adaptations of Stephen King’s work won’t be a movie at all, but a TV limited series. The Stand, which was adapted into a miniseries in 1994, will get the TV treatment yet again, courtesy of CBS All Access. The Stand is an epic story centering around certain individuals who survive a superflu that wipes out most of the population, and Josh Boone - who already has his hands full with other Stephen King projects - is attached to direct. The Stand has reportedly cast James Marsden (Stu Redman), Amber Heard (Nadine Cross), Whoopi Goldberg (Mother Abigail), Greg Kinnear (Glen Bateman), Odessa Young (Frannie Goldsmith), Henry Zaga (Nick Andros), and Marilyn Manson in the lead roles, with King himself writing a new, canon ending for the 10-hour series.

Next: Stephen King Stories Set In Derry (Besides IT)

  • Doctor Sleep Release Date: 2019-11-08 Pet Sematary Release Date: 2019-04-05 IT Chapter Two Release Date: 2019-09-06