The wave of Stephen King adaptations continues, and while many are still lost in development hell, many others are either confirmed to arrive in 2021 or could find their way out of limbo to finally see the light this year – and here’s every one of them. Stephen King’s career as an author began in 1974 with the publication of the novel Carrie, which was actually his fourth novel but the first to be published. Since then, King has written over 60 novels (including some under the pen name Richard Bachman) and five non-fiction books, along with approximately 200 short stories that have been published in book collections.
Although his next novel, Salem’s Lot, was also well-received by critics and readers, it was his third published novel, The Shining, which helped establish him as a preeminent author in the horror genre. The success and popularity of King’s works – which in big part can be attributed to him using parts of his life in his works, as he famously did in The Shining – have made way for a long list of adaptations of most of his stories, though not all of them have had the same success that the books did. Still, adaptations of King’s novels and short stories haven’t stopped, and after the recent success of IT and IT: Chapter Two, a new wave of Stephen King movies and TV shows arrived and isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
While many projects have gotten lost in development hell and show no signs of moving forward soon, such as the movie adaptation of The Breathing Method and the TV series Sleeping Beauties, others have a release date settled for 2021, while others came across some obstacles due to the coronavirus pandemic but can still see the light sometime this year. Here’s every Stephen King TV show and movie confirmed to arrive in 2021 along with those that can still be released this year.
Firestarter – Movie
Firestarter was published in 1980 and got the big-screen treatment in 1984, directed by Mark. L. Lester and starring Drew Barrymore as Charlie McGee, a girl with pyrokinetic abilities and who can also see the near future. The 1984 movie got a TV movie sequel in 2002 titled Firestarter: Rekindled, and a remake was announced in 2017. News about the remake have been slow, though Keith Thomas was announced as director in 2019 and Zac Efron and Michael Greyeyes have joined the cast as Andy McGee and John Rainbird, respectively, so the movie could arrive in late 2021.
From a Buick 8 – Movie
From a Buick 8 was published in 2002, and just like the 1983 novel Christine, it’s all about a supernatural car. An adaptation was announced in 2005 with George A. Romero attached to direct, and in 2007 he was replaced by Tobe Hooper, but the project was canceled after financing problems. A new chance to adapt this story was announced in 2019, and in August 2020, Jim Mickle was said to have signed on to direct, and while the project is listed as “in development”, there’s no word on when or if it has started filming, so its release could either be sometime in 2021 or later.
The Long Walk – Movie
The Long Walk was published in 1979 under the pen name Richard Bachman and is set in a future dystopian America ruled by a totalitarian and militaristic dictator. The story follows the contestants of an annual walking contest, where each one has to maintain a speed of at least four miles per hour – if they drop below that for 30 seconds, they receive a verbal warning, but if they slow down after three warnings, they are “ticketed”, a term that has a deathly meaning. An adaptation of The Long Walk was considered in the late 1980s, and George A. Romero was approached to direct, but the project never happened. In 2018, New Line Cinema announced it was working on an adaptation of the book, with André Øvredal directing the project. As with many other projects, no updates have been given since, but it can still arrive in 2021.
Salem’s Lot – Movie
Salem’s Lot was released in 1975 and it centers on writer Ben Mears who returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot (or simply Salem’s Lot) in Maine, where he lived when he was a child – but to Mears’ surprise, the town’s residents are becoming vampires. Salem’s Lot was adapted into a two-part miniseries in 1979, it got a sequel movie in 1987 titled A Return to Salem’s Lot, and was adapted to TV again in 2004. Now, a movie adaptation was announced in 2019 and in April 2020 Gary Dauberman (who wrote the screenplay for IT and IT: Chapter 2) was confirmed as director, but there haven’t been any more updates since. Unless the movie silently started filming (which isn’t a new or surprising move in the industry anymore), Salem’s Lot could still arrive in 2021.
Lisey’s Story – TV Show
Lisey’s Story was published in 2006 and follows Lisey Landon, the widow of novelist Scott Landon, and tells two stories: Lisey’s in the present as she deals with her husband’s death, and the story of Scott’s life. Filming for the series wrapped in October 2020 and is set to premiere sometime in 2021 on Apple TV+. Lisey’s Story stars Julianne Moore as Lisey and Clive Owen as Scott.
Chapelwaite – TV Show
Chapelwaite is the title given to the upcoming TV show adaptation of “Jerusalem’s Lot”, the short story published in the 1978 collection Night Shift. Set in 1850 in the fictional town of Preacher’s Corners, Cumberland County, Maine, it tells the story of aristocrat Charles Boone. Chapelwaite was announced in 2019 with Adrien Brody set to play Boone, and in March 2020 Emily Hampshire was cast in the role of Rebecca Morgan – however, filming was set to begin that same month, but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It finally started filming in July 2020 and was set to wrap up in December, and while no projected release date has been announced, it could very well arrive in 2021.
