As a lifelong Constant Reader, I must say that this week’s news has been a mixed bag for me. On one hand, it’s exciting to finally have a release date for Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck” – a film I’ve eagerly anticipated since its TIFF win. But on the other hand, the May 30, 2025 release date seems to put it in some tough competition, especially with big-name franchises like “Mission: Impossible” and the live-action “Lilo & Stitch.
Initially, there seemed to be cause for apprehension regarding the upcoming Stephen King series on HBO, “Welcome To Derry,” especially since it wasn’t clear if Bill Skarsgård would reprise his role as Pennywise The Dancing Clown from the “IT” films. Although it was intriguing to see the filmmakers of “IT” and “IT: Chapter Two” expanding the universe with a prequel series, the uncertainty over Skarsgård’s return dampened the excitement. However, relief came in May when his return was confirmed, and his recent comments about the project have both invigorated fans and stirred up a bit of unease.
This week’s edition of The King Beat highlights Stephen King as the main focus, but there are other significant developments too. The past few days have brought some disappointing news about the radio stations cherished by King in Maine, and we now know the release date for Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck. Let’s dive right into the details!
Bill Skarsgård Teases Doing Something New As Pennywise For IT: Welcome To Derry, And I’m Fascinated
In 2017, moviegoers were unsure about Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal of Pennywise The Dancing Clown in director Andy Muschietti’s IT, as he was already known for being part of the talented Skarsgård family (with his father Stellan Skarsgård and brother Alexander Skarsgård). However, there was uncertainty about how he would bring to life one of literature’s most famous monsters, especially after Tim Curry’s chilling portrayal in the 1990 IT miniseries left a lasting impression on many.
Any and all consternation was eventually eliminated as Bill Skarsgård delivered what is recognized as one of the greatest villain performances in modern horror, and his recent comments about his work on IT: Welcome To Derry have provided tremendous anticipation for his return as the embodiment of the sinister Deadlights.
In the upcoming weeks, moviegoers can anticipate seeing Skarsgård’s name frequently due to his remarkable portrayal as the title vampire in Robert Eggers’ praised remake of Nosferatu. Moreover, he recently shared insights about his resumption of the role of Pennywise for an interview published in the latest SFX Magazine (available on newsstands from December 3). He confessed that there was a certain uniqueness in revisiting the malevolent presence tormenting the town of Derry, Maine. Interestingly, this feeling was unexpectedly reinforced by his encounter with a group of familiar faces once again.
Returning felt quite peculiar, as it was Andy and Barbara Muschietti who were working on the project again, and I hold them in high regard. Many of the crew members were familiar faces from the movies, making it an odd sensation to reconnect with this group of people we had all worked together to create something unique.
As a gamer, I might’ve expected a sense of familiarity when teaming up with the same crew again for ‘Welcome To Derry’, but given the peculiar circumstances, I can see how it could feel like a strange repeat instead.
Bill Skarsgard’s remarks hinted that viewers shouldn’t anticipate a repetition of the familiar from the upcoming IT HBO series, which will be set primarily in the early 1960s. Intriguingly, Skarsgård found it easy to reconnect with Pennywise, but he emphasized that the show won’t simply rely on his previous terrifying acts. According to Skarsgård himself, the series will offer something new and unsettling.
Pennywise feels familiar to me for some reason, making it simple for me to dive back into the story. It’s like hearing a familiar tune, and he bursts forth just as expected. He seems well-developed, almost dormant but ready to be activated at any moment. The new material we’ve created deviates from what we’ve seen in the movies, focusing on an aspect I can’t disclose yet. I hope fans are looking forward to it!
Could it be possible that Bill Skarsgård’s hints might lead to a deeper exploration of Pennywise’s origins and viewpoint in “Welcome To Derry”? Given that Skarsgård has mentioned a deleted flashback scene from the 2017 film, it’s not unreasonable to think that this material could be incorporated into the prequel series. Additionally, it may provide an opportunity for the character of Maturin, the turtle, to officially become part of the storyline, although it’s best to avoid excessive speculation at this point.
Details about the upcoming series titled “Welcome To Derry” have been tightly guarded during production, with a tentative release date set for 2025. This is one of up to six adaptations of Stephen King’s works that could debut in the same year. The production is under the watchful eyes of Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who previously worked on the “IT” movies. Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane serve as showrunners for this project. The talented cast includes Bill Skarsgård, along with Chris Chalk, Jovan Adepo, James Remar, Taylour Paige, Stephen Rider, and Madeleine Stowe.
It appears that “Welcome To Derry” may not make its premiere on HBO until the Halloween season of 2025, but rest assured, we at TopMob are closely monitoring the project and will share any new information and updates about it as the release date approaches.
After Decades, Stephen King’s Maine Radio Stations Are Going Off The Air
Stephen King’s affinity for music, especially rock and roll, has been a notable aspect of his literary career. He’s created musician characters such as Larry Underwood in “The Stand”, incorporated song lyrics like “Blitzkrieg Bop” in “Pet Sematary”, played guitar with the band The Rock Bottom Remainders, and even owned several radio stations in his home state of Maine for many years. However, his ownership of these radio stations will cease by the end of 2024.
According to reports from The Associated Press, the radio stations owned by author Stephen King – namely “Stephen King’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio Station” (WKIT-FM), Retro Radio (WZON-AM), and WZLO-FM – will cease broadcasting on December 31. In a statement, King himself confirmed this shutdown.
For decades, I’ve cherished my role as a small, autonomous radio station owner, contrasting the nationwide takeover by massive broadcasting conglomerates. What I appreciate most are the people who make up this community – those who show up daily to entertain listeners, maintain the equipment, and provide local businesses with an avenue to engage their customers.
In 1983, Stephen King ventured into radio broadcasting with the establishment of WZON, named after his novel “The Dead Zone.” Although reports indicate that it underwent some changes prior to shutting down, King reacquired the station in 1990.
It’s unfortunate that such an event is taking place, affecting not only the dedicated employees but also the faithful listeners in Maine. Moreover, it underscores some concerning aspects about the current condition of independent media. Let’s hope that the remaining days on air will be filled with cherished memories and wonderful music.
How Will The Life Of Chuck’s New Release Date Impact Its Award Chances? Let’s Discuss
Currently, there are several unknown release dates in 2025 for Stephen King adaptations. While the premiere date for ‘Welcome To Derry’ on HBO remains undisclosed, the arrival of ‘The Institute’ on MGM+ and the distribution plans for Francis Lawrence’s ‘The Long Walk’, which was completed this summer, are also still unclear. However, this week brought some clarity for King fans: ‘The Life Of Chuck’, directed by Mike Flanagan, is now set to be released in theaters on May 30, 2025.
Neon’s decision to distribute “The Life Of Chuck,” which had an extremely successful debut at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall, might come as a bit of a surprise. This is because it will be facing stiff competition on the big screen. For instance, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and the live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” are set to release a week before Memorial Day, while “Karate Kid: Legends” has been scheduled for the same date by Columbia Pictures. Moreover, this choice could potentially pose some challenges when it comes to the film’s prospects during the award season.
In my gaming world, I’ve been keeping an eye on the movie scene, and let me tell you, The Life of Chuck is a game-changer. It scooped this year’s Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award, which is no small feat! You see, over the past 12 years, winners of this award have often gone on to be Academy Award nominees for Best Picture. If Neon wants this impressive trend to carry on, they’ll need to put in some serious effort during the “For Your Consideration” season in 2025. It’s a known fact that critics and film organizations can sometimes have short-term memory issues or exhibit recency bias, so it’s not unusual for prestige titles to drop towards the end of any given year.
The film “Chuck’s Life” may mark Stephen King’s return to Best Picture nominations since “The Green Mile” in 2000 – however, with the planned release dates, Neon might need a significant campaign for awards consideration around November/December 2025.
This concludes today’s episode of The King Beat, but don’t worry! I’ll be back on TopMob next Thursday with fresh updates from the realm of Stephen King’s news. In the meantime, immerse yourself in the rich history of King stories on screen by checking out my series “Adapting Stephen King.
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2024-12-05 20:07