NEWS -

Ep. 76 - King of the Con

Posted: July 29, 2017, 00:19
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Welcome to the Stephen King Podcast Constant and New Listeners!

This is our last podcast preDT - that's pre Dark Tower. Our next podcast will be in a different era - postDT. Will postDT be a happy time or a period of great lamentations? We will know soon. Very soon.

Join your hosts - longtime Constant Readers - Hans Lilja of Lilja's Library and writer/podcaster - Lou W. Sytsma.

Welcome to Episode 76 of The Stephen King Podcast!

The 2017 San Diego Comic Con has come and gone and Stephen King had a huge presence with IT, Dark Tower, Mr. Mercedes and more.

Go here to check out all the news links discussed in this episode - SDCC Stephen King news

Plus this episode, we look at the Spike TV version of - The Mist.

We hope you enjoy this episode and, as usual, we want to hear from you.

Good or bad, we want it all!

You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions at:
1) FaceBook - Lilja's Library
2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)

In this podcast:
1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 00:30 - Podcast Setup
3) 02:16 - News From The DeathRoom
4) 54:18 - Night Shift Review of Spike TV's - The Mist
5) 1:08:14 - Podcast Signoff
6) 50:47 - Outro


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Intro Music - Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Outro & Incidental Music - Music from Dragonheart Movie
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Mr Mercedes
1) New Mr Mercedes Trailer
2) Mr Mercedes All Over Comic Con

General Movie News
1) Movie News From Comic Con
2) Three Might-Be Projects

IT
1) New Pennywise Photo
2) Andy Muschietti To Directed Locke and Key
3) Pennywise Stalks San Diego
4) Joe Hill On IT
5) Second IT Movie Filming Next Year?
6) A Closer Look At The New IT Trailer
7) Collider Interview With Andy Muschietti
8) The Losers Club Talks IT

The Dark Tower
1) IGN Dark Tower Interview With Director Arcel
2) The Dark Tower Legacy
3) International New Dark Tower Trailer
4) The Dark Tower Soundtrack List
5) Idris Elba Follows The Dark Tower To TV
6) The Dark Tower Will Be 95 Minutes Long
7) The Dark Tower - Magnum Opus
8) Highlights From Nik Arcel's Ask Me Anything
9) 2nd IGN Nik Arcel About The Dark Tower

Ain't it Cool News Covers IT

Posted: July 27, 2017, 22:27
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Quint from Ain't it Cool News has a huge coverage of IT and some of the things he tells us is this…

…the younger cast IS returning in some form for the second movie. There'll be flashbacks to stuff we don't see in this movie that informs the story of the adults returning to Derry.

…during casting they considered casting a woman as Pennywise.

…Barbara Muschietti said ”That sequence with the Black Spot, we think it's gonna be a great opening for the next film”.

Quint also has interviews with The Losers Club, Barbara and Andy Muschietti and one of the first interviews with Bill Skarsgard. He also takes us on a set visit.

Here are the links:

What to expect from IT Part 2 and the Losers Club kids fancast their adult selves!

Quint chats with Bill Skarsgard about becoming Pennywise in Stephen King's IT!

IT stars Wyatt Oleff (Stanley Uris) and Jeremy Ray Taylor (Ben Hanscom) talk scary movies, hopeless romanticism, cussing and learning how to be '80s kids!

IT director Andy Muschietti talks casting his Pennywise, adapting Stephen King and that scene from the book!

Quint descends into Pennywise's lair! Read his in-depth set report!

Thanks to Douglas Dowie

Holland Taylor Talks Mr Mercedes (Comic Con)

Posted: July 27, 2017, 11:33
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Here are some clips with Holland Taylor talking about his character (Ida) in Mr Mercedes.


About working on cable versus network for Mr. Mercedes


Aabout her character in Mr. Mercedes


Stephen King's involvement in her character on Mr. Mercedes


Why her character was added to Mr. Mercedes


About the types of characters she plays

Thanks to Tai Freligh at taifreligh.com

Breeda Wool Talks Mr Mercedes (Comic Con)

Posted: July 27, 2017, 10:28
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Here are some clips with Breeda Wool talking about his character (Lou) in Mr Mercedes.


About meeting Stephen King


Hopes for a season two


About reading the book for her character


About her character's relationship to Brady Hartsfield


About her character on Mr. Mercedes

Thanks to Tai Freligh at taifreligh.com

Kelly Lynch Talks Mr Mercedes (Comic Con)

Posted: July 27, 2017, 09:21
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Here are some clips with Kelly Lynch talking about his character (Brady's Mother) in Mr Mercedes.


Making Mr. Mercedes as a TV show instead of a movie


About preparing to play Brady Hartsfield's mom


About her dysfunctional relationship with her son on Mr. Mercedes


About being a superfan of Stephen King


Whether or not she'll see The Dark Tower movie

Thanks to Tai Freligh at taifreligh.com

Jack Bender Talks Mr Mercedes (Comic Con)

Posted: July 27, 2017, 08:27
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Executive producer Jack Bender talks about Mr Mercedes.


About the support of AT&T for making the Mr. Mercedes show his way


About handling of violence and gore on Mr. Mercedes


About the freedom of cable for Mr. Mercedes

Thanks to Tai Freligh at taifreligh.com

Mr Mercedes Panel At TCA 2017

Posted: July 26, 2017, 10:46
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At Tuesday’s Television Critics Association press tour panel for Mr Mercedes we got some new info about the series.

~ ~ SPOILER ~ ~

The ending of King’s book is very similar to the Manchester, UK, terror attack earlier this year. Producers confirmed that they changed the series ending. Director Jack Bender said that the show’s choice to change that framework was decided early on and was a “better way to make it a potentially more catastrophic event.”

Bender also said the series will not shy away from showing the dark or disturbing aspects of such events because it had a responsibility to show how such monsters affect people and “how lives are destroyed by one heinous act”. “Mr. Mercedes will just put the audience in that horror and not try to walk the tightrope.”

Jack Bender, Brendan Gleeson, Mary Louise Parker, Jahrrel Jerome, Holland Taylor, Kely Lynch and Harry Treadaway.

Other tidbits included…

…King had said he wishes he’d written some of the changes they made.

…Holland Taylor’s Character Ida wasn’t in the book but is there to humanize Bill.

…Audience Network guy said that the last six episodes of Mr Mercedes will be the best thing we have seen on TV all year.”

Harry Treadaway Talks Mr Mercedes (Comic Con)

Posted: July 25, 2017, 09:30
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Here are some clips with Harry Treadaway talking about his character (Brady) in Mr Mercedes.


Will there be a second season?


Who's Brady?


More on Brady


Did you read all three books?


Speaking with an American accent in Mr. Mercedes

Thanks to Tai Freligh at taifreligh.com

Interview With Hannah Bender; Costume Designer

Posted: July 25, 2017, 01:38
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Here is an interview I just did with Hannah Bender, costume designer for Mr Mercedes. Her job is to make sure everyone clothes is as they should and I think you’ll keep a closer eye on the characters clothes after you read what she has to say… She also sent along a few really cool behind-the-scenes photos.

2017; A Good Year To Be A King Fan

Posted: July 24, 2017, 14:09
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It’s a great time to be a Stephen King fan and if you haven’t already understood why, let me explain.

Currently:
The Mist – TV show on Spike. 5 episodes of the 10 that season 1 contains have aired.



July 25:
The Dark Tower: The Art of the film – A book about The Dark Tower movie.


August 4:
The Dark Tower movie premiers and we’ll finally find out how good/bad it is.



August 9:
Mr Mercedes - TV show. Season contains 10 episodes and runs on Direct TV.



September 8:
IT - The first of two movies based on King’s book. Judging from the previews this will be this year’s horror movie.



September 26:
Sleeping Beauties by Stephen and Owen King is released. First collaboration with father and son.



September 26 – October 6:
Sleeping Beauties Tour: - Stephen & Owen is doing a 10-stop tour to promote the book.

Unknown dates:
Gerald’s Game - Movie on Netflix.
1922 - Movie on Netflix.
Castle Rock - 10-episode TV series on Hulu. Premier 2018.

Mr Mercedes Running For 3 Seasons?

Posted: July 24, 2017, 09:04
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Mr Mercedes had its Comic Con panel yesterday and the Internet flooded with photos and videos from the event. Below are two clips. One where Harry Treadaway (Brady) talks about his part and one where the cast talks about the show.






As usually there were other news coming from the panel and the following interviews as well…

- Director Jack Bender said he hopes to do three seasons of Mr Mercedes. One based on each of the three book.

- At the end of the panel a clip was shown that featured a bloody cameo from Stephen King.


Stay tuned, more videos are coming…

Three Might-Be Projects

Posted: July 22, 2017, 22:40
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Here are news about thtee projects that might happen.

The Breathing Method (TV series)
The Breathing Method, based on the 1982 short story, has Weinstein Television and Jason Blum producing, Scott Teems writing and Doctor Strange’s Scott Derrickson directing a dark miniseries about a club of lawyers that is intertwined with an horrific death of a pregnant woman en route to deliver a baby from an illicit affair with one of the club members.

House On Maple Street (animation)
DreamWorks Animation is negotiating an option for House On Maple Street, the 1993 King short story about kids who mistrust their new stepfather, for good reason. It’s early days, but this would mark King’s first animated film.

The Ten O’Clock People (international TV series)
The team behind the French series Versailles has optioned the King short story The Ten O’Clock People with the intention to do an English-language, European-based TV series.

Source: Deadline

Thanks to Rick Urban & Dimitris Tso

Movie News From Comic Con

Posted: July 22, 2017, 21:15
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Here are some Comic Con news that might pan out...or not...

Rose Madder:

Assaf Bernstein, maybe the hottest new director in Hollywood after directing the acclaimed Israeli TV drama Fauda, has signed to direct an adaptation of the 1995 King novel Rose Madder. It will be produced by Bread & Circuses’ Craig Flores, Primary Wave’s Brad Kaplan and Ace in the Hole’s Bernstein. The filmmaker, who helmed The Debt and wrapped his first English-language film Look Away, found out King was a big fan of his TV series and was receptive when the writer-director approached on Rose Madder.

Said Bernstein: “Stephen King’s literary universe has greatly influenced me as a writer and filmmaker, and Rose Madder is a terrifying and exhilarating thriller that will make for a compelling parable of the battle between the sexes. Rose and Norman undergo a fascinating transformation, sometimes horrifying, at other times touching, and occasionally both at the same time. Rose is a once-in-a-lifetime role for an actress.”
Insomnia:


The Dead Zone series exec producer Lloyd Segan is back in business with King on a potentially ground-breaking premise. They will adapt the 1994 King novel Insomnia as a scripted VR series, and are in talks with Google to make it happen. The Fate Of The Furious and Straight Outta Compton helmer F. Gary Gray is circling to direct a terror story about a man stricken with extreme insomnia that unlocks an ability to see messengers of death, these gnome-like creatures that cut the strings of the life aura that everyone possesses. All this is set against a pro-choice convention. The plan is to film an hour, initially, broken into five- or 10-minute segments that can be viewed at home with systems like Valve, PlayStation, Xbox.

Source: Deadline

Thanks to Rick Urban & Dimitris Tso

The Sleeping Beauties Book Tour - Ticket Info (7/10)

Posted: July 21, 2017, 23:56
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News about Stephen & Owen’s signings for Sleeping Beauties are starting to come in and here I will list news as they come in.

Here are all the dates and info (more to come):

September 26th, 2017 - New York City (SOLD OUT!)
Place: St. Ann’s and the Holy Trinity Church
Time: Doors 6:15pm // Show 7pm
Tickets: On sale July 10 12:00 PM EDT
Price: $41.87
Link

September 27th, 2017 - Hudson Valley, NY Area (SOLD OUT!)
Place: Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater
Time: Show 7pm
Tickets: Oblong Subscribers June 14, On sale June 19
Price: $40.00
Link

September 28th, 2017 - Newton Centre, MA (SOLD OUT!)
Place: Newtonville Books
Time: Doors 6pm // Show 7pm
Tickets: Now
Price: $35.00 ($37.22 w/service fee)
Link

September 29th, 2017 - Chicago, IL
Place: Residence Hall/Recreation Center on campus @ North Central College
Time: Show 7pm
Tickets: On sale June 27
Price: $40
Link

September 30th, 2017 - Milwaukee, WI (SOLD OUT!)
Place: The Riverside Theater
Time: Doors 7pm // Show 8pm
Tickets: Pre-sale June 14, On sale June 16
Price: $32.50, not including tax and fees
Link

October 1st, 2017 - St. Louis, MO (SOLD OUT!)
Place: J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts at Lindenwood University
Time: Show 7pm
Tickets: June 19
Price: $40, including tax and fees
Link

October 2nd, 2017 - Missoula, MT
Dennison Theatre
Time: Show 7:30pm
Tickets: August 4
Price: $42.39, including fees
Link

October 3rd, 2017 - Portland, OR
TBA

October 5th, 2017 - Toronto, ON, Canada
TBA

October 6th, 2017 - Sarasota, FL
TBA

Highlights From Nik Arcel's Ask Me Anything

Posted: July 20, 2017, 11:49
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Yesterday Nik Arcel did a ”Ask Me Anything” session over at Reddit. I have collected the three most interesting questions here for you in case you missed it. And if you want to check out the entire thing you can do so here.

Someone asked what books the move was based on:
The first novel, The Gunslinger, and the third one, The Wastelands. I love the first one for its effectiveness as an introduction to the world and its simplicity in focusing on the characters of Roland, Jake, and Walter. And The Wastelands, we drew most of the inspiration for Jake's story. Even if the film brings in ideas from several of the novels, these are the two from which our main inspirations spring.

Someone asked about the rest of the Ka-tet and how they would solve the racial tension between Detta and Roland:
Yes absolutely! As I think it will be pretty obvious to the fans when they see the film, the whole Ka-tet is poised to meet in the next movie...if we're lucky enough to be able to make one.
We've definitely thought a lot about the racial tension between Detta and Roland and how casting Idris would affect that. I can't spoil anything, but we're definitely not going to leave this important theme unaddressed. And oh yeah, of course we're going to have Billy-Bumblers - and Oy's one of my favorite characters.

Someone asked about the 95 minute length of the movie:
This film really serves as an introduction to the saga and I've always felt that we should not try to cram every single part of the massive mythology, including all the great characters and storylines, into one film. Obviously the story is supposed to continue in future films and the TV series. Hopefully at the end of it all there won't be a single thing from the novels that we haven't touched upon in some way.

IT & Mr Mercedes At Comic Con

Posted: July 20, 2017, 08:45
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Comic Con is here and this year both Mr Mercedes and IT are present and this is what we can expect.

Wednesday July 19 (yesterday): A screening of the new trailer was done and the audience loved it. Now word on when it will be released online yet but it should be fairly soon. Oh, and Georgie was there…


Sunday July 23: The Mr Mercedes panel.

1:30pm
Stephen King’s Mr. Mercedes
Jack Bender (EP/director, Lost, Under the Dome), Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful), Kelly Lynch (The L Word), Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men, The Practice), and Breeda Wool (UnREAL) discuss their new original series on AT&T Audience Network based on the bestselling Stephen King novel, which follows a demented killer who taunts a retired police detective and the crusade to bring the killer to justice before he is able to strike again.
Sunday July 23, 2017 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Room 8



Do you have King related photos from Comic Con? Please send them to me and I’ll post them here. Oh, and if you find any cool King swag, pick up an extra for me, OK?

You Did It! You Sent Me To The US!

Posted: July 19, 2017, 10:38
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You sent me to the US! Back in the end of May I asked for your help in getting to the US and cover one of Stephen & Owen’s stop at their Sleeping Beauties tour. And man, did you ever! Today, July 19 (not even two months later) we’ve have reached the $2,000 I estimated that I would need to get there. So, with that I will consider the Send Lilja To The US! crowdfunding campaign a success. I will also remove the post about this from the top of the page (to give room for the latest news) but if you feel you still want to participate or read more about it you can do so here.

I took a chance and bought a ticket to the New York (now sold out) event when they were released so that is where I will be on September 26th. My plan is to report about it as much as I can on Lilja’s Library. Live if I can (if there is wifi) or as soon as I can if not. I won’t be doing anything live from the event though as they have a no camera policy that I want to respect.

I also hope to meet a lot of you while there. I want to talk to you about King and hear your thoughts on the event, say “Hi” and thank you for all your support during the 21 years Lilja’s Library has been online. Maybe do something for The Stephen King Podcast if any of you are up for it.

Last I want to thank every single one of you that helped me with this. It wouldn’t have been possible without you! From the bottom of my heart, Thanks!

/ Lilja

Special feature

King calendar

Out Now!:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (US ed.)
March 2024:
Shining in the Dark (Turkish ed.)
Spring:
The Extra Hour (short in CD #79
2024:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (Czech ed.)
2024:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (German ed.)
May 21, 2024:
You Like It Darker
2024:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (Greek ed.)
2024:
Salem’s Lot
2025:
Welcome To Derry

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