Horror Doug Liman to direct Stephen King’s The Stand

[Sawyer]

I guess it worked for you but the transition from how the defeat to the Great Hall was kind of awkward. He's just walking around the Great Hall passing by people. I would've liked if people started spilling out from inside to where they could see the end of the duel.

Oh, I think there's a huge chunk of a deleted scene missing there, sure. But I'm mainly talking about Harry/Voldy facing off while Hogwarts battle the remaining Death Eaters. I liked that better than Harry and Voldemort talking at eachother while everyone just looks on.

 

[Octoberist]

I've been watching The Stand miniseries and it's filled with early 90's cheese. I hope the new Randell Flagg gets a power mullet too!

 

[Crockett]

This. Is. Great. News. I'm happy that Yates is collaborating with Kloves again, they actually did a good job adapting the HP series, I've some small issues with it but otherwise good. Here's hoping they do the same here laws, yes!

 

[LOBO3315a]

The miniseries had it's moments, but overall, it was a very poor representation of a fantastic novel.

One thing, however, must remain intact...
[YT]WUAvTn3uz5w[/YT]

I agree, that beginning is pretty iconic. However,maybe a darker cover of the song with non PG-13 corpses.

 

[kvz5]

I hope they manage to get a stellar cast. This movie has so much potential for greatness.

 

[danoyse]

Oh, I think there's a huge chunk of a deleted scene missing there, sure. But I'm mainly talking about Harry/Voldy facing off while Hogwarts battle the remaining Death Eaters. I liked that better than Harry and Voldemort talking at eachother while everyone just looks on.

In the book that was great, but it was pages of explanations and backstory that I think would have dragged down the pacing in a movie, with the added distraction of lining up good guys and bad guys around to just watch.

I loved the way it was done in the book, but I thought the movie version was pretty damn brilliant as well.

I'm liking the potential of this team taking on The Stand, especially since they don't plan on cramming the whole thing into one movie. If it works, maybe they do a new version of IT next.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

I'm a bit leery of this. Films based on King's books have been pretty hit or miss. Plus, I thought The Stand made for a better TV miniseries and was done somewhat well the first go around.

 

[Crockett]

I'm actually surprised if Yates is committed to this, I thought he wouldn't jump on a potentially new movie series so soon after he had finished the Harry Potter series. Not that I mind, I will have good faith in him and Kloves. I'm wondering if they would could go with a R-rating for this, I doubt it though but it's a worth a shot.

 

[danoyse]

I'm a bit leery of this. Films based on King's books have been pretty hit or miss. Plus, I thought The Stand made for a better TV miniseries and was done somewhat well the first go around.

I'd rather see a new version of IT first (or finally a good version of Salem's Lot - can't someone get that book right?)...but I'm intrigued by an updated theatrical version.

I liked the original miniseries too, for the most part.

 

[Sawyer]

I'm a bit leery of this. Films based on King's books have been pretty hit or miss. Plus, I thought The Stand made for a better TV miniseries and was done somewhat well the first go around.

Nope.

 

[Brother Jack]

Really hope this works out. Considering Potter, those guys seem to be pitch-perfect for The Stand, another sprawling, long and complex narrative of good vs. evil.

 

[Sawyer]

I wonder what King's got to say about this.

 

[Marvolo]

I'm assuming this book will be split?

 

[DocHoliday]

Well King had been dubious that it could be done as a film when it was announced the studio was developing it. (he tried himself for a long time but couldn't figure out how to break it down) but with there being at least two films he might be a little more curious (only he knows lol).

The mini-series in large part, doesn't work that well. There are aspects I like (Gary Sinise, Miguel Ferrer, Kathy Bates). True story though I have a paperback copy of "The stand" which is the mini-series edition. It has Ringwald and Sinise on the front.

 

[kvz5]

Deadline sort of confirmed the Hitfix' report:

http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/jon...ings-jfk-book-as-author-heats-up-hwood-again/

It looks like Jonathan Demme is the latest big name to jump on a Stephen King project, with the director confirmed to have picked up rights to King's yet-to-be-released novel 11/22/63, about a teacher who travels back in time in an attempt to stop John F. Kennedy's assassination. Demme, who recently signed with WME after seven years at ICM, is expected to write, produce and direct the adaptation. King's new book (it comes out in November) and movie deal is just the latest for the horror-thriller icon, who in the 1980s and '90s saw pretty much everything he wrote turn into a movie. Now, he's really back in the Hollywood spotlight: Of course there's the author's seminal seven-book The Dark Tower, which Universal was flirting with adapting into three features and two limited-run TV series; he studio recently nixed the deal that had Ron Howard directing and Akiva Goldsman writing, and the project remains in limbo. Also, David Yates and Steve Kloves are circling and adaptation of King's The Stand, and Warner Bros is developing It, about a terrifying clown, which was turned into a 1990 TV movie. On the TV side, A&E just greenlighted a four-part miniseries based on Bag of Bones starring Pierce Brosnan and Kelly Rowland.

 

[Sawyer]

You know whose name just popped into my head for Randall Flagg?

Benicio del Toro.

 

[GoldGoblin]

So the guy who made the Harry Potter movies is making The Stand?

 

[Rocketman]

So the guy who made the Harry Potter movies is making The Stand?

Yes.

And it rocks.

 

[Rocketman]

Any updates on this?
I'm re-watching the mini-series from 1994, and, call me crazy, but it's not so bad.

 

[Sawyer]

Ehhh... it's pretty bad. I mean, sure, there's alot of good actors involved and it doesn't stray particularly far from the novel, but Mick Garris is just a terrible director.

Awful Randall Flagg too.

 

[Teelie]

All I remember of the mini series is Gary Sinise was in it and I watched it but that's all. I think I had a particularly bad flu at the time too so I may well have been delirious so I can't remember if it was good or bad or even how well it followed the book, which I do remember reading and was quite good.

 

[Victarion]

I honestly felt like his Flagg was too chummy. Not enough scary.

 

[Rocketman]

Okay, here's the thing about The Stand miniseries from 1994. It's really NOT bad for what it is. It's 17 years old, it was made-for-TV, it had a considerably low budget. These things are not the fault of anyone in particular.

When you're adapting a 1,000+ page book, you can't make a cinematic masterpiece, when 1) It's going to be over 6 hours, and 2) It's going to be on TV. If it's going to be 6 hours (which it should be), the budget for proper equipment is impossible. It was shot on 96 locations in 6 states with over 110 actors with speaking roles, and it was shot over 5 months. You can't expect Gone With The Wind.

And regarding Mick Garris... give him a break. Stephen King wrote the script for the miniseries, and was with Garris every step of the way during the production. King knew what he was doing, and was very enthusiastic about it (he even acted in the movie). If you listen to the commentary on the DVD, King loved the miniseries.

Secondly, because of its made-for-TV budget, the movie was shot on 16mm. They couldn't afford 35mm, which is the film used for almost all movies. 16mm is what makes the movie look crappy. It has no style or fancy cinematography. Really, "cinematography" is virtually non-existent in this miniseries. There aren't any amazing camera angles or intriguing lighting, and most of the shots of characters speaking are simple close-ups from the shoulders up.

In other words, any time you try to adapt a 1,000+ page novel into a 6 hour TV movie, and you're only given 5 months to do it, it's destined to fail.

So, having said that, this new Hollywood version from WB might not be better. I'm not sure how Steve Kloves could write a better script since Stephen King himself already wrote a script (and you would think that King of all people could adapt his own material), and I'm really pumped about David Yates directing.

This is what I'm excited about:

- The possibility of making it R-rated.
- More freedom from the studio.
- A bigger budget.
- A better director.
- Better cinematography. This is the important one, because the miniseries didn't have it.

As far as the cast goes, you can't get much more epic than the combined effort of Gary Sinise, Ruby Dee, Ed Harris, Kathy Bates, Rob Lowe, and so on. I loved that cast.

Even as I finish writing this, I have to give props to Mick Garris, honestly. That dude had a monumental task, and the pressure must've been incredible.

 

[Teelie]

I'll have to watch the mini series again some day since I genuinely don't remember most of it and you're right that it had limitations but a big screen adapatation could be even better if it were given the proper budget and freedom. I'm thinking it would need to be a two parter with a minimum of two and a half hours each which has recently become more accepted in Hollywood and by audiences. Just look at how many movies over the past few years have been two parters.

 

[HighFivingMF]

The only thing I remember about the old one is Don't Fear The Reaper.