Extended Clip From The Monkey Is All About Extreme Overkill, And I’m Loving The Style Of The New Stephen King Movie

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As a longtime fan of Stephen King‘s work, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for the prolific author as we bid farewell to 2024. The year has been nothing short of extraordinary for King and his legion of fans, with numerous film and television adaptations that brought some of our favorite stories to life on the screen.

2024 turned out to be an impressive year for Stephen King’s literary journey. His latest short story collection, titled “You Like It Darker,” hit the bookshelves; Gary Dauberman’s adaptation of “Salem’s Lot” was finally unveiled after a long wait; and fans worldwide commemorated the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking novel, “Carrie.” As we move forward to 2025, it looks like things will only get more exciting – and the fun kicks off in February with Osgood Perkins’ release of “The Monkey.

In this week’s update on Stephen King adaptations, we’re excited to share an exclusive peek at “The Monkey,” one of up to six films based on his works slated for release in 2025. This sneak peek offers a taste of the film’s unique blend of horror and humor. Meanwhile, Edgar Wright’s take on “The Running Man” has adjusted its release date (for a compelling reason). To wrap up 2024, King himself bid farewell online with a heartwarming message. Let’s dive right into the details!

Extended The Monkey Clip Is A Stellar Blend Of Death And Hilarity

From all indications, Osgood Perkins’ movie titled The Monkey appears to deviate significantly from typical Stephen King films we’ve come to know. Given his recent works lean towards less frightening and more dramatic narratives, this film seems to venture into uncharted waters in the cinematic realm – a horror-comedy blend. Judging by the reactions and the new extended preview, it seems that audiences can expect an equal dose of laughter and terror with this upcoming release, further cementing its unique identity as a humorous yet terrifying production. The sneak peek above is particularly dark and amusing.

To mark both Christmas and Hanukkah, Neon has shared an entire scene from the upcoming Stephen King adaptation of The Monkey, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what’s to come. The video opens as Aunt Ida (portrayed by Sarah Levy from Schitt’s Creek) is jolted awake in the dead of night by what seems like distant circus melodies. Uneasy, she rises and cautiously explores her house, brandishing a large weapon… and matters take a turn for the worse for Aunt Ida.

She tumbles down the wooden stairs of her basement, sustains a facial injury from a cluster of fishing hooks, accidentally ignites her head due to a faulty stove and some rubbing alcohol applied to her wounds, and possibly impales herself on a real estate sign in her front yard. It seems an unusual way to depart this life!

For those who might be a bit confused about the chaos, “The Monkey” (derived from Stephen King’s short story) narrates the tale of twin brothers, Hal and Bill, who find themselves in possession of a perilous toy – a grinning, rhythm-making monkey. Essentially, whenever this malevolent object is triggered, the people close to our protagonists meet their untimely ends through gruesome scenarios, with Aunt Ida unfortunately becoming one of its numerous victims.

In the movie, I step into the roles of both Hal and Bill, portrayed as children and adults, alongside Christian Convery and Theo James respectively. Joining me in this stellar cast are Sarah Levy, Elijah Wood, Tatiana Maslany, Rohan Campbell, Colin O’Brien, and interestingly, Osgood Perkins himself who also takes on a role, subtly hinted at by the new clip featuring him with sunglasses and a stylish set of mutton chops.

Perkins’ upcoming movie, The Monkey, is a distinct cinematic adventure from his 2024 favorite, Longlegs. Based on the new clip and everything revealed so far, it promises to be an entirely unique experience. I, like many others, eagerly await its theater release on February 21st, with just about two months left until we get there. Keep a close eye on TopMob for updates as we approach the launch date.

The Running Man Runs Away From Wicked: For Good, Gets A New, Much Better Release Date

If you follow movie industry news closely, you’ve likely heard that Jon M. Chu’s Wicked has been a massive success. Released alongside Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II in mid-November, this musical has become a blockbuster and one of the top earners of 2024, having grossed approximately $600 million globally during its theatrical run.

Given this achievement, there’s a strong anticipation that the 2025 sequel of Wicked, titled “Wicked: For Good,” might be even more successful… Hence, it seems wise that Edgar Wright’s upcoming remake of Stephen King’s “The Running Man” is adjusting its release schedule and will now hit theaters two weeks ahead of schedule.

Originally, Paramount Pictures intended to release “The Running Man” in theaters for Thanksgiving 2025. However, they’ve decided to make a slight adjustment in the film’s distribution plan. Instead of premiering on November 21, the dystopian action movie will now debut on November 7. This change is intriguing because it allows the film to be screened on IMAX, which wouldn’t have been an option if it were competing with “Wicked 2”.

Written in collaboration with Wright and the co-writer of “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” Michael Bacall, “The Running Man” is the second movie to be adapted from Stephen King’s book (originally published under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman). Unlike the film featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, this new adaptation promises to be much closer to the original source material.

Glen Powell portrays Ben Richards, a man struggling in a damaged society, who, with no other options left due to his child’s critical condition, agrees to participate in a government-created reality show for financial aid. As a contestant on the show named after itself, he goes into hiding as an outlaw, and every day he remains alive increases his potential earnings. Regular citizens are incentivized to provide tips leading to Ben’s capture; however, during his escape, he encounters revolutionaries who expose him to a significant conspiracy.

The impressive ensemble of actors in the movie “The Running Man” features Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, and David Zayas. Filming started in November and continues at present.

It’s worth mentioning that the Stephen King movie slated for release on November 7, 2025, won’t be the only one premiering that day. In fact, 20th Century Studios has chosen the same date for the premiere of Predator: Badlands. Unlike Wicked: For Good, this film shares the same target audience as The Running Man.

Will the movies peacefully share the spotlight within that timeframe, or will it come down to a rivalry where they both seem to delay their releases until one concedes and changes its plans? We’ll have to stay tuned for updates (either way, you can anticipate hearing more about this potential clash in the 2025 release schedule in upcoming issues of The King Beat).

Stephen King Says Goodbye To 2024 With A Message From Molly a.k.a. The Thing Of Evil

A notable Stephen King update I failed to mention earlier in my introduction revolves around his social media activities. For quite some time, King was a highly influential figure on Twitter, frequently utilizing the platform to dispense movie, TV, and book recommendations, as well as sharing corny dad jokes. However, he decided to close his account not long ago, expressing concerns over the platform’s escalating negativity. Despite this, fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as King has found alternative venues for his online musings. This week, he employed his personal Bluesky account to extend warm holiday greetings to his devoted followers.

People who follow King’s online activities know well Molly, also known as The Thing Of Evil, King’s beloved corgi. In one of the author’s latest posts, his adorable canine companion gets a special focus. You can see a snapshot of his holiday message below, and be prepared to emit an “Awwwww” involuntarily.

Molly might be known as ‘The Thing Of Evil’ by some, yet her eyes in the picture convey an aura of pure innocence. May Molly, her loving caretaker, and you all experience a joyful and healthy 2025! Here’s to wishing King’s sentiments extend to everyone reading this article – may your holiday season be filled with happiness, and luck be on your side as we welcome the new year.

This concludes this week’s installment of The King Beat – a column that marks my last for 2024. I trust that my loyal readers have found unique perspectives about the realm of Stephen King during the past year, and I look forward to offering more in the new year. As usual, join me again next Thursday for another roundup, and until then, explore the complete on-screen history of King through my series Adapting Stephen King.

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2024-12-26 20:07