Stephen King’s The Monkey: A Bloody Love Letter to the Master of Horror

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2025 is just around the corner when we’ll finally get our hands on the first new Stephen King movie of the year! In less than two weeks, “The Monkey” directed by Osgood Perkins will be gracing theater screens, giving you ample time to gear up for an exhilarating ride filled with gruesome horror and unparalleled entertainment. This film is a brilliant adaptation of its short story origins, but it also serves as a heartfelt tribute to the illustrious author, a fact that’s evident in Perkins’ recent disclosure about the movie’s original title.

Last Friday, I spoke with Osgood Perkins and discussed his connection to Stephen King’s work as well as the numerous references in his movie. During our conversation, he revealed the original title of The Monkey and how significantly the setting evolved throughout the production process. This intriguing tale is featured this week on The King Beat. Additionally, I have exciting news for all you avid readers regarding the film adaptation of The Long Walk. So, let’s dive right in!

Osgood Perkins Reveals The Original Title And Setting For The Monkey And Discusses His Personal Relationship With Stephen King’s Work

This film adaptation of “The Monkey” deviates significantly from typical Stephen King adaptations, boasting an unprecedented level of gore and dark humor. However, it remains deeply respectful of the author’s work. Although I won’t give away any spoilers before its release, I should mention that there are numerous nods and references scattered throughout, and at one point, the title itself served as a tribute to King, with director Osgood Perkins having long desired to call it “Stephen King’s The Monkey.

The director shared with me his intention for the adaptation: to encapsulate the unique, all-embracing atmosphere found in Stephen King’s writings. He chose the title as a means to prepare viewers for this experience. Initially, he aimed to reflect the energy of the early horror master by setting it in a period, but this concept was eventually abandoned. As Perkins put it…

In my creative process, I aimed to pay tribute to Mr. King in every possible way while crafting the script. Each draft I submitted was referred to as “Stephen King’s The Monkey,” and though it wasn’t titled that in the final version due to numerous reasons, for me, it was always associated with him. My goal was to produce a film that embodied the essence of a Stephen King story, making it instantly recognizable, even if one didn’t know its specific content. Initially, I wrote the early drafts set in the ’80s and ’50s, but then I felt those periods had already been explored extensively, so I decided to explore something new.

Choosing the 1950s, known as the decade of “The Body” or Stand By Me, and the 1980s, a period when many early Stephen King classics were published, could have been an easy choice for Osgood Perkins to pay tribute to the author. In fact, those periods are also significant in IT. However, as The Monkey evolved, the writer/director felt that this approach had been explored before – he specifically mentioned Stranger Things – and opted instead to set the story in the 1990s and 2020s.

Perkins shared with me that he hasn’t managed to read all of Stephen King’s novels yet, but he expressed regret about not having read “IT” specifically. His connection with King’s stories dates back to his childhood, as he remembers seeing his father, the renowned actor Anthony Perkins, with copies of King’s books. He vividly recollected being captivated by one book in particular, sharing that it held a special place for him.

Growing up, I found myself particularly captivated by Pet Sematary, a paperback novel my father often read. As a child, I’d sit beside him, holding the thick book and marveling at its peculiarities. The cat on the cover had an eerie expression, and the misspelled title with the childish handwriting added to the mystery. For some reason, these details felt profound to me, and the atmosphere and emotions conveyed by the cover art seemed to leap off the page, strangely enough.

Moving forward, Osgood Perkins shared that Stephen King’s writing enlightened him about the wide range horror can offer. He has a strong attachment to the film ‘Creepshow’, which shares a similar tone with ‘The Monkey’. Moreover, he remembers a profound realization he experienced when he first read ‘Misery’.

For me as a child, Creepshow was a huge hit. Comics were my thing, and Bernie Wrightson’s artwork was simply outstanding. The way it combined humor and horror, its boldness to entertain in a scary way, truly shone through. Misery had the same impact. It was one of the first books I read that seemed to say, “This is meant to be enjoyable, not distressing, but rather an exciting, fun experience.

Enjoying a thrilling horror ride is exactly what The Monkey delivers, and it’s coming to theaters near you next Friday, February 21. Starring Theo James, Christian Convery, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, and Sarah Levy, this chilling film promises an unforgettable experience. Keep an eye out here on TopMob for exclusive interviews with director Osgood Perkins and the cast!

Director Francis Lawrence Provides Stephen King Fans With An Update On The Status Of The Long Walk

2025 promises a feast for Stephen King fans, with numerous adaptations on the horizon. Leading the pack is “The Monkey,” followed by “The Life Of Chuck,” “The Running Man,” HBO’s “IT: Welcome To Derry,” and MGM+’s “The Institute.” Greedy for more? Don’t worry, Francis Lawrence’s “The Long Walk” has wrapped up production, and the director recently shared some updates on its progress.

Filming for “The King” movie, which Lionsgate plans to release, was concluded in the latter half of 2024. Lawrence has shared with Collider that while the film isn’t completely finished, it’s almost there. He mentioned he will be heading to London to supervise the scoring sessions soon, but also indicated that “most of the cut has been finalized.

In reference to Stephen King’s novel, “The Long Walk,” originally penned under the alias Richard Bachman, we find a gripping dystopian story centered around a grueling competition. This competition is essentially a relentless march towards death where teenage participants must maintain a steady pace for as long as they can. Slowing down or stopping results in warnings, and receiving three within an hour leads to immediate execution by the soldiers overseeing the contest. The last participant standing claims a coveted prize as winner.

JT Mollner penned the screenplay for an upcoming movie, which he previously referred to as both intense and unsettling, similar to its original content. Stephen King expressed admiration for the script, expressing surprise that it’s actually being produced. Many filmmakers, including George A. Romero and Frank Darabont, attempted but ultimately couldn’t adapt this story, but Francis Lawrence has progressed further than anyone else so far.

In a recent chat, I delved into the rich tapestry of both the historical background of “The Long Walk” and my deeply personal connection to the book and its screen adaptation, sharing insights from my filmmaker’s perspective.

Among my favorite Stephen King novels, this one holds a special place, if not at the very top. It was around the time when I completed Constantine, during my work on I Am Legend, that I encountered it. Frank Darabont had previously claimed the rights before me. Over the years, many have attempted to adapt it, but none could quite get it right. However, we managed to crack it. I collaborated with JT Mollner, who is known for Strange Darling, and he wrote a stellar draft. The project came together swiftly, and we seized an opportune moment to film it during the ideal season. We assembled an exceptional cast for this production, and their performances are truly outstanding. I’m incredibly pleased with the final result.

The Long Walk boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill. We’re eagerly awaiting updates regarding the movie’s release date, and there’s a possibility it could be announced during CinemaCon in late March or early April. If it doesn’t make it to theaters this year, we’re hoping for an early 2026 premiere instead.

This concludes this week’s installment of The King Beat, but don’t worry, I’ll return next Thursday with another column (and given the upcoming release of The Monkey, it promises to be a special one!). In the interim, explore the different film and television interpretations of this cherished author through my series titled “Adapting Stephen King”.

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2025-02-13 20:08