As a seasoned gamer and avid moviegoer, I have always been intrigued by the world of Stephen King adaptations. With Mike Flanagan at the helm of his latest project, “The Life of Chuck,” I couldn’t help but feel excited for what was to come. However, it seems that even for a director with as much experience as Flanagan, there are still challenges that arise during production.
Mike Flanagan, the director, is scheduled to debut his newest Stephen King adaptation at TIFF this year. However, prior to its release, Flanagan shares one of the most challenging scenes to film in “The Life of Chuck.”
Tom Hiddleston stars as Chuck Krantz in this movie, which is based on Stephen King’s 2020 novella from his collection “If It Bleeds,” first published that year. This marks Mike Flanagan’s third film adaptation of King’s works, following the successes of “Gerald’s Game” on Netflix in 2017 and “Doctor Sleep,” a 2019 release that serves as a sequel to “The Shining.”
In their fresh podcast, Director’s Commentary featuring Mike Flanagan, filmmakers Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin share insights while watching their 2019 movie “Ready or Not” together. Throughout the episode, Flanagan talked about “The Life of Chuck” and a scene where they had to employ digital enhancements due to safety concerns.
Last year, I worked on a film titled “The Life of Chuck.” One of our most difficult tasks in the art department involved creating a billboard. I thought it would be simple – just a flat image that needed to stand upright. However, due to its large size and location atop a building, we encountered numerous challenges. Safety concerns were a major issue, as well as questions about the roof’s stability, potential wind damage, and nearby power lines. Ultimately, we opted for a digital solution instead.
In the movie, the significant billboard featuring Chuck Krantz’s retirement announcement plays a pivotal role. According to King’s novella, the story begins with Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character, Marty, noticing numerous billboards displaying this news all around town. However, Flanagan had plans for how to film this prop, but unfortunately, those ideas didn’t come to fruition in the final production.
“I suggested, ‘Let’s try this simpler approach, team. We don’t need to install it. Instead, let’s lift it up and keep it steady for five seconds before lowering it back down.’ It was an instance where I felt that we were missing out on potential improvements. In the end, we went with the digital alternative, leaving me with a sense of disappointment as if we had overlooked better options.”
What Other Stephen King Projects Are in the Works?
The Life of Chuck is just one in a long line of Stephen King adaptations that are in the works right now. We know that Longlegs director Osgood Perkins will bring his adaptation of The Monkey to the big screen in February 2025, and Max is bringing the long-awaited Salem’s Lot adaptation to streaming later this year, despite the movie initially being touted by Warner Bros. as a theatrical release.
Currently in production are several more movie adaptations of Stephen King’s works. One is “The Long Walk” under the direction of Francis Lawrence, known for “The Hunger Games.” Another is a new version of “The Running Man,” previously made into a film with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1988. The upcoming “Running Man” production has Edgar Wright, director of “Shaun of the Dead,” at its helm and Michael Bacall, who wrote “Scott Pilgrim vs the World,” penning the script.
As a big fan, I’m excited to share that in the world of small-screen storytelling, I’ll get to witness Bill Skarsgård once again bring Pennywise the Clown to life in the upcoming HBO series “Welcome to Derry.” This intriguing new show takes us back to Pennywise’s early days and is slated for release in 2025. Additionally, J.J. Abrams’ spin-off of “The Shining,” titled “Overlook,” was initially planned for Max but has now found a home on Netflix. The 10-episode series doesn’t have an official premiere date yet.
I’ve had the pleasure of reading through an intriguing interview featuring Karen Gillan from “The Life of Chuck,” who graced our screens with her presence in both productions. In this captivating conversation, she delved into the thrilling world of adapting a Stephen King masterpiece for the small screen in “Late Bloomers.” As someone who has always admired Karen’s work, I find it truly fascinating to learn about her experiences and insights as an actor in the industry. The anticipation builds as we await the release of this new project, and I can hardly wait to witness the magic she brings to life on set once again.
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2024-07-16 20:31