First published in 1986, Stephen King's It became an instant bestseller, then was adapted for television as a miniseries in 1990. The film version became a box office sensation when it was released in September 2017.
Can another King novel follow a similar pattern and become a big-screen success? First published in 1987, The Tommyknockers was adapted for television as a miniseries in 1993.
In March, we heard that a film version was on its way. Now comes word via Deadline that Universal has acquired the project for distribution. What do we know about The Tommyknockers and what makes it intriguing?
What's the book about?
A spacecraft is discovered in the woods near a small town in Maine. The alien ship discharges a gas into the atmosphere that transforms humans into very inventive people, yet also has very dangerous side-effects, eventually affecting the health and sanity of those infected.
Largely a sci-fi tale, The Tommyknockers is infused with horror elements that become more predominant as the story develops. The concerns it raises about unchecked technology and mass hysteria certainly sound relevant today.
King had been dealing with substance abuse for several years at the time he wrote the book and more recently described it as "awful." Still, he feels "there's a really good book in here, underneath all the sort of spurious energy that cocaine provides, and I ought to go back. ... The book is about 700 pages long, and I'm thinking, "There's probably a good 350-page novel in there."
Who is involved in the new production?
Filmmaker James Wan (The Conjuring 2, top) is serving as a producer, alongside It producer Roy Lee and Larry Sanitsky, who served as executive producer on the 1993 TV version.
What's the next step?
A writer needs to be hired. King has suggested that the book's printed length could definitely be lessened, so a feature-length narrative could develop the lead characters nicely while also serving up the horror and sci-fi elements that are inherent to the story.
When might we see the film version?
The project is still in its early stages. Our best guess is 2020 at the earliest, with 2021 more likely.
In the meantime, what other Stephen King projects are heading to the big screen?
Currently, It: Chapter Two is in the casting process; it's set for release in September 2019. Recently, Jason Clarke has been touted to star in a new version of Pet Sematary, which could also open in theaters next year.
