A 23-year-old Stephen King film adaptation, with an underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes score of 49%, seems perfectly ripe for a Mike Flanagan remake. Since Mike Flanagan is best known for creating compelling adaptations of existing horror novels, it is not surprising that he has helmed on a few Stephen King adaptations as well. Considering his successful streak with adaptations, it is even less surprising that Flanagan is working on a few more Stephen King film and television adaptations.

As reports confirm, Flanagan is the director of The Life of Chuck, which is based on the King of Horror’s acclaimed novel of the same name. With Mike Flanagan as the showrunner, a Dark Tower TV show is also in the pipeline. With so many incredible Stephen King adaptations under Flanagan’s belt, it is hard not to believe he deserves to remake a 23-year-old Stephen King film adaptation that failed to reach its true potential.

Hearts In Atlantis Is One Of Mike Flanagan’s Favorite Stephen King Books – What It’s About

Hearts Of Atlantis Is A Supernatural Mystery Thriller

Given how Mike Flanagan has previously adapted several Stephen King novels and even one of his early feature films, Oculus, was loosely inspired by Stephen King’s short story, 1408, Flanagan undoubtedly admires the author’s work. Since even his upcoming film, The Life of Chuck, is based on a Stephen King novel of the same name, his love for King’s stories is quite evident. Interestingly, even though Mike Flanagan loves many Stephen King books, some of them, as an interview (via Suntup Editions) suggests, are his “true favorites“:

• Lisey’s Story
• Hearts in Atlantis
• Misery
• Dolores Claiborne
• The Wind Through the Keyhole
• Gerald’s Game

While most books mentioned in his favorites list already have adaptations, others are worthy of being traversed to the big or small screens. Hearts of Atlantis is perhaps the most intriguing choice on the list of Stephen King stories because it brews a compelling mystery thriller. Unfolding primarily from the perspective of a young boy, it highlights how his life completely changes when a strange man with supernatural abilities moves into the house he shares with his widowed mother.

Why The Hearts In Atlantis Movie Didn’t Work

The Film Lacks Cohesive Storytelling

Despite having talented actors like Anthony Hopkins, Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, and David Morse on its roster, Hearts of Atlantis failed to be as successful as several other Stephen King movies. Stephen King was also involved with the film as its co-writer, but it still did not leave its mark at the box office and even received underwhelming reviews from viewers and critics. One of the biggest complaints surrounding the film has been that, even though it does a decent job of setting up its mysteries, it does not assemble them too well, leaving one clueless and confused about its true message.

It shows the potential to become a memorable coming-of-age drama in some of its poignant moments and even briefly shines as a psychological thriller. However, it never commits to these narrative directions, leaving viewers dissatisfied with its inability to maintain storytelling consistency. According to many critical reviews, the film’s only saving grace is the performances of its talented cast members, who make it mildly engaging despite its narrative flaws.

Why A Hearts In Atlantis Remake Could Be A Lot Better

The 2001 Movie Did Not Capture The Original Story’s True Essence

The original Hearts in Atlantis comprises five interconnected narratives: “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” “Hearts in Atlantis,” “Blind Willie,” “Why We’re in Vietnam,” and “Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling.” Instead of walking through all five arcs, the 2001 movie only loosely adapts “Low Men in Yellow Coats” and “Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling.” Because of its book changes, the movie also avoids explaining its title properly, which is supposed to be a metaphor for Ted’s childhood.

Since the 2001 Hearts in Atlantis movie glosses over many crucial elements of the original Stephen King story, a remake could avoid treading the same path. If adapted correctly, an adaption of the book could also be in the same league as other coming-of-age classics like Boyhood or mystery thrillers like The Sixth Sense. With a talented auteur like Mike Flanagan at its helm, who has maintained a flawless track record with horror adaptations in recent years, the remake of Stephen King‘s Hearts of Atlantis could be epic.