As a seasoned cinephile who’s seen more King adaptations than I care to count, Mike Flanagan’s latest confession about his unrealized dream project, “Revival,” has left me both intrigued and saddened. The man seems to have a knack for breathing new life into King’s stories, yet one gem eluded him due to the box office performance of “Doctor Sleep.” It’s a bit like Stephen King himself – brilliant but often misunderstood.
As a follower, I’ve been reflecting on my journey with Stephen King adaptations, and one unrealized project stands out as my biggest regret: the adaptation of “Revival.” Although Mick Garris has overseen many King projects, including ’90s miniseries of The Stand and The Shining, 2011’s Bag of Bones, even the King-penned Michael Jackson music video for Ghosts, I’ve already had the opportunity to bring Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and an upcoming project, The Life of Chuck, to life. Despite my growing list of King adaptations, I can’t help but look back at the one that slipped away – Revival.
During an interview at FAN EXPO Canada’s “Echoes From Hill House: A Haunting Panel,” as reported by ScreenRant, Flanagan was asked about a past project he wished he had made. The director expressed regret over a project called “Revival” which was adapted from Stephen King’s 2014 novel with the same name. He mentioned that the disappointing box office performance of “Doctor Sleep” played a role in this, though he considered its poor reception as unfortunate. Flanagan referred to “Revival” as a project that will always be like an amputated limb for him due to its unrealized potential.
Indeed, I wrote a screenplay based on Stephen King’s novel, Revival. Let me tell you, it’s quite a haunting read. We recently finished working on the ending, and if you’ve had a chance to read it, you’ll find that it is one of the most eerie and chilling endings King has ever written – even compared to Pet Sematary. It’s unsettling, but I must admit, I was captivated by that script. Whenever people ask me about my unrealized dreams or lost opportunities in the world of filmmaking, Revival will always hold a special place. I wrote it for Warner Brothers shortly after we wrapped up Doctor Sleep, but unfortunately, Doctor Sleep didn’t perform well at the box office. Despite my immense pride in the movie and hearing from fans that it continues to resonate, it didn’t meet the studio’s expectations. Consequently, many of our projects at Warner Brothers were shelved, and Revival was one of them.
I’ve mourned for it ever since, but I do not have the rights to it.
1. “It disappeared, and Steve prefers not to burden a single filmmaker with multiple projects as it indicates something isn’t moving forward. There are other Stephen King properties I am associated with that were prioritized over this one, leading us to focus on those instead of attempting to relocate Revival. We let go of it, but I still have fond hopes for the movie. Maybe it will resurface someday. You never know about these things.”
Mike Flanagan’s Recent Success Could Revive Revival
Following Flanagan’s achievement on Netflix with “The Haunting of Hill House” prior to the premiere of “Doctor Sleep,” his career has been soaring to new heights. With numerous successful projects under his belt for Netflix, a fresh agreement with Amazon, and a demonstrated talent in adapting Stephen King stories effectively, Flanagan may yet realize his dream of directing “Revival” in the future.
The tale of Revival, much like Stephen King’s other works, delves into themes such as addiction, grief, and the unknown beyond. As Flanagan points out, this story, particularly its conclusion, is amongst the grimiest in King’s novels – comparable to the film adaptation of The Mist. This could potentially hinder Revival‘s prospects for a comeback, as studios typically shy away from endings that are dark or ambiguous – a lesson Frank Darabont learned when directing The Shawshank Redemption. The key question is whether Flanagan would maintain the story’s original script with its bleak ending. In a recent Instagram post, the director expressed his intention to avoid such grim conclusions in future films, stating instead that he prefers more optimistic endings moving forward.
“Since Kate and I began our relationship, my perspective transformed significantly. As our children grew older, I realized the significance of our work in their lives, especially as one day they might scrutinize it after we’re gone. I didn’t want them to revisit our work feeling hopeless. Instead, I wanted to ensure that even in the darkest tales, there is always a glimmer of hope, understanding, and redemption at the end.”
Nevertheless, numerous opportunities exist for producing such a project today, and with Flanagan’s Amazon deal now in motion, there’s a strong possibility he could bring “Revival” to life as an exclusive Prime Video series or movie. As we move forward, the uncertainty remains, but one fact remains clear: the future of King adaptations has never looked brighter.
Flanagan’s
The Life of Chuck
is expected to be released later this year.
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2024-08-24 21:31