While ABC Television did an exceptionally fine job of presenting one of Stephen King’s most highly regarded novels on TV in the mid-1990s, and you can watch the original miniseries on Netflix, Warner Bros is looking to bring a new adaptation of The Stand to theaters as a four film epic. In an interview on filmmaker Kevin Smith’s Hollywood Babbleon, director Josh Boone joined Smith and Ralph Garmen to discuss the ongoing process of bringing the apocalyptic (and, truth be told, post-apocalyptic) tale to the screen. During the discussion Boone revealed the original plan to film King’s magnum opus as a three hour, $87 million budgeted film has been scrapped as Warners has decided to create a four film quadrilogy.
Rumor has it Matthew McConaughey is in negotiations to play the villainous Randall Flagg in the series, although Warners has declined to confirm the negotiations.
Marvel Comics has already brought the story to the graphic form so, as someone who has always loved The Stand, I’m excited at the prospect of a big screen adaptation which could turn the massive novel into a huge blockbuster movie event!