As a lifelong fan of Stephen King’s works, I can hardly contain my excitement as the adaptations of his stories continue to pour in. The upcoming remake of “The Running Man” is particularly intriguing, with its talented cast led by Glen Powell and joined by the likes of Katy O’Brian and Daniel Ezra.
This period is filled with a unique charm. There’s a hint of coldness in the air, the aroma of pumpkin spice permeates various edibles and beverages, and everyone seems to be engrossed in horror movies during their leisure hours. I’m talking about the Spooky Season! If you’re currently seeking movie suggestions, a renowned figure in the genre has an outstanding pick for you. In fact, Stephen King himself claims that this movie is the scariest horror film ever made.
This week’s edition of The King Beat spotlights “The Lead Story,” but it also delves into discussions about diversity in Stephen King’s works as expressed by Alfre Woodard from Salem’s Lot, and updates on actors joining Glenn Powell in the upcoming remake of The Running Man directed by Edgar Wright – another exciting Stephen King movie ready for production. Let’s dive right in!
Stephen King Argues For George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead As The Scariest Horror Movie
For decades, Stephen King and George A. Romero formed a remarkable creative duo. Their joint efforts resulted in some outstanding genre productions such as “Creepshow” (1982) and “The Dark Half” (1993). However, there are many adaptations they dreamed of creating together but couldn’t bring to fruition – ideas for “The Stand,” “IT,” and “Pet Sematary” among them. Their artistic legacies remain intertwined, and this bond has grown stronger recently as King declared Romero’s pioneering film, the 1968 classic “Night of the Living Dead,” to be the scariest horror movie ever made.
Before Halloween arrives, Variety will be publishing a collection of articles by guests discussing their favorite frightening films. In one of these pieces, Stephen King has chosen “Night of the Living Dead” as the title that revolutionized the idea of zombie movies in cinema. He explains that determining the “scariest” film depends on personal age, as he believed the top spot belonged to director Robert Wise’s The Haunting when he was 16, while as an adult, he still recalls being frightened by The Blair Witch Project (mentioning its “growing feeling of dread and those truly chilling final 35 seconds”). When considering a broader viewpoint, however, his ultimate pick remains “Night of the Living Dead”.
Back in the day, I was part of the team that brought “Night of the Living Dead” to life with a meager budget and sheer grit. This film, my first feature as director George A. Romero, transformed from a contentious debut into a timeless cinematic masterpiece over time. The narrative revolves around us, a group of random folks who wind up barricaded in a farmhouse when it turns out that the deceased are mysteriously coming back to life and attacking the living. This flick is renowned for its chilling horror and insightful commentary on race and capitalism, making it a must-watch in the genre.
In his analysis of the movie, Stephen King contends that the passage of time and popular culture have diminished some of the horror in “Night Of The Living Dead“, yet it remains a film that deeply etched itself into his memory due to its somber tone and simplicity. To put it another way, King expresses that despite losing some of its frightening edge over time, this movie left him with lasting impressions because of its bleakness and spare style.
Eventually, nothing endures life in this movie. Over time, its original impact has waned and it’s become somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek Midnite Madness spectacle, much like ‘Rocky Horror’. Yet, the raw fear I experienced when I first watched it remains etched in my memory. Upon reflection, there is a striking resemblance to ‘Blair Witch’, sharing similarities such as sparse or no music, amateur actors barely capable of summer stock performances in Paducahville, and basic special effects. Yet, these elements don’t detract from their effectiveness; instead, they contribute to it.
If you’ve never watched “Night Of The Living Dead,” it might be that the Year 2024’s Spooky Season is the time when you finally do. In case it matters, the film is readily accessible since a copyright error during its creation has kept it in the public domain, making it easily found on popular streaming platforms like Wikipedia. If you prefer to watch the most widely available high-quality version of the movie, I would suggest getting the 4K UHD release from The Criterion Collection.
Salem’s Lot’s Alfre Woodard Discusses Diversity In Stephen King Stories And Increased Diversity In The New Adaptation
Frankly speaking, racial diversity has not been a notable aspect in Stephen King’s literary works. While he does feature some minority characters in his novels, the large majority of his main characters are white. There are numerous instances across his body of work where he employs the stereotype known as the Magical Negro, such as Mother Abigail Freemantle from The Stand, Speedy Parker in The Talisman, and John Coffey in The Green Mile.
I had this history in mind late last month when I did the virtual press day for writer/director Gary Dauberman’s Salem’s Lot and spoke with actress Alfre Woodard. In the new movie (which is now available to stream with Paramount+ subscription), Woodard plays Dr. Cody, who is a white male character from the book that is race and gender swapped for the film, and I used part of my interview time to ask her about the lacking diversity in the King canon. She acknowledged that the author’s heart is in the right place politically-speaking, and pointed to the fact that his writing very much reflects the environment in which he grew up:
It’s likely for Stephen to discuss this topic given our shared generation and my familiarity with Maine. However, it should be noted that racial diversity was limited in Maine during my time there, but it has grown due to the arrival of immigrant communities like those in Lewistown and other areas. In New Hampshire, where I have a personal history, the population of people of color is around 1.2%. As authors, we write based on our experiences. Yet, I’m aware that Stephen is sincere in his political views.
Stephen King’s literary works have a close connection with the state of Maine, as suggested by Alfre Woodward, since they often mirror the racial makeup of Maine. As per the 2020 census, about 90.8% of Maine’s population is white, while Black or African American individuals comprise only approximately 1.9%.
Alfre Woodard portrays Dr. Cody, one of the two significant African-American characters in Gary Dauberman’s ‘Salem’s Lot’. The other character is Jordan Preston Carter, who plays the horror enthusiast Mark Petrie as a youngster. Woodward commended the vibrant energy her younger co-star brought to the movie, and she also highlighted the importance of adaptations in increasing diversity among the characters.
One aspect I found appealing about this vampire tale is its inclusivity. The characters are primarily young people, portrayed as cunning, mischievous, even before their transformation into vampires. There’s a hint of bullies and power struggles in the narrative. I believe this is why stories exist: to empower individuals with the intellectual and creative ability to shape our world differently, casting familiar landscapes and tales in new light. This story, in particular, does so cinematically, offering a universal experience yet filled with unique perspectives.
You can now stream “Salem’s Lot”, making it a perfect addition to your Halloween movie lineup alongside the classic horror film, “Night of the Living Dead”.
Katy O’Brian And Daniel Ezra Have Joined Glen Powell In The Cast Of Edgar Wright’s The Running Man
The lead role for Edgar Wright’s reimagining of “The Running Man,” played by Glen Powell, was announced at CinemaCon 2024 in April, but it took a while for other cast members to be added. However, we’ve been eagerly waiting for updates since the production was set to begin in fall 2024. This week, our wait finally paid off with some exciting news! Although many roles are still open, we now know that Katy O’Brian and Daniel Ezra will join Powell in the supporting cast of this upcoming film.
As a gamer, I’m pumped about the upcoming adaptation of “The Running Man,” which is supposed to be a truer representation of the book written by the enigmatic Richard Bachman, otherwise known as Stephen King. This dystopian tale follows a desperate man named Ben Richards, trying to earn enough for his sick child and wife. With no other options, he signs up as a contestant for a government-run TV show. Guess what? He gets picked as the latest star of “The Running Man,” a deadly game where I become a marked fugitive, and my potential winnings increase with every second I manage to stay alive. Can’t wait to see this one unfold!
As a devoted fan, I’m excited to share that Katy O’Brian is set to join the cast of an upcoming show. However, it’s unclear at this point how many contestants she might be playing, as The Running Man (the book version) typically features only one contestant at a time. Regarding Daniel Ezra, recent reports have announced his casting but haven’t specified the role he’ll play yet. Notably, O’Brian has recently worked alongside Glen Powell in Twisters and has an impressive resume that includes Love Lies Bleeding with Kristen Stewart, The Mandalorian on Disney+, and Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania. Ezra is well-known for his lead role in the football-themed series All American on The CW.
Filming for “The Running Man” is about to begin, so keep an eye out for casting updates in the coming weeks. Paramount Pictures has confirmed that the film will hit theaters in approximately a year from now, on November 21, 2025. Three Stephen King adaptations are slated for release in 2025 – “The Running Man,” “Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey,” and “Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck.” However, we’re yet to hear about the release date of Francis Lawrence’s “The Long Walk” after it finished production recently.
Here’s this week’s edition of The King Beat concludes, but I’ll see you again next Thursday right here on TopMob for a fresh batch of updates from the realm of Stephen King. Until then, feel free to delve into the cinematic history of King with my series “Adapting Stephen King.
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2024-10-10 19:07