ABC's Kingdom Hospital site has gotten a really nice update. In the "Media" section you can see the documentary about Eleanor Druse in Investigating Kingdom Hospital: The Journals of Eleanor Druse.
I can also tell you that I saw the pilot today and boy oh boy. This is the best King has written for TV, ever if you ask me. I will have a review about it later this week where I'll tell you more.
Here is a first look at the poster for Secret Window. Some new images as well as new info have also been released
The release of the DVD box with season 2 of The Dead Zone has been moved from March 16 until June 8.
A new book about King has just been released. It's called Stephen King and is written by Karin Coddon. This is how she describe the book:
The book is an anthology of critical essays about King, some of which deal with broad themes in his body of work, others that focus on specific novels or stories. I also have a section of essays by or interviews with King himself. My introduction consists of a biographical essay and an appraisal of King's work, with an emphasis on the social and cultural dimensions of his novels.
Here is the finished cover of Devil's Wine from Cematary Dance.
Frank Darabont wants to make The Mist in black and white. Read his thoughts on it over at Ain't It Cool News.
During the Q&A, Frank brought up this property he has... One of, if not THE, best Stephen King short stories and one that I'm dying to see made. He talked about how he'd love to shoot it in black and white, but that the studio would definitely nix that idea. He did say that he'd love to strike 2 or 3 prints of the film in black and white and show them exclusively in a few select theaters. Sounds really cool to me.
Here is a first look at two Kingdom Hospital print ads. I'm proud to be able to let you see them before they are appearing in magazines and billboards.
Hodder & Stoughton has confirmed that the June release date for The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah also is the release date for the UK edition.
NAL have moved up the release of The Road To The Dark Tower to October.
The pop-up edition of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon will be released in September. It will be 16 pages long and Illustrated by Alan Dingman and adapted by Peter Abrahams. You can pre-order it at Amazon.co.uk today!
I have gotten an English translation of the German description of The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah. Please be aware though that it has a HUGE SPOILER, so read it at your own risk and don't blame me after :-)
BIG Dark Tower news today. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah has been moved from late August to June 8 and The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower has been moved from November to September 21 (King's birthday).
What's also interesting is that the German edition of The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah has a release date set to May, at least a week ahead of the US edition (if that is late May). I know that there where talks about that the German edition of Wolves of the Calla would be released prior to the US edition that turned out to be wrong but remember that Heyne released the German edition of From a Buick 8 six month before the US edition was released... Below is a scan of their summer catalog with info about the book.
King returns in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly (#751, Feb. 13, with the Survivor cast on cover) in his column titled You Don't Know Jackson where he defends Michael Jackson.
Here are the three dates for Kingdom Hospital that has been confirmed (with each episodes title):
March 3 - 9:00 - 11:00 pm Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital - "Thy Kingdom Come"
March 10 - 10:00 - 11:00 pm Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital - "Death's Kingdom"
March 17 - 10:00 - 11:00 pm Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital - "Goodbye Kiss"
Sarah Wynter (Fox's "24") has been tapped as a recurring actress as a therapist on six episodes of The Dead Zone.
I found some interesting sites today in connection to the upcoming miniseries Salem's Lot.
One is a site for Zac Richmond who plays Ralphie Glick. The site has some interesting images and the other is for a make-up company called The Make-Up Biz who has an image of a mask for Rutger Hauer.
Here is the cover of the DVD box with the second season of The Dead Zone. The release date is March 16 and you can preorder it here.
Other DVD's that will be released soon is a Firestarter Two-Movie Collection with both the original Firestarter and Firestarter 2: Rekindled. The Firestarter films come anamorphic widescreen and are due on June 1st and retails for $19.98. Since the original Firestarter film DVD had a pretty bad picture quality and sound, hopefully this is improved. You can preorder it here.
A Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition is planned for September DVD release by Warner Bros. to celebrate the film's 10th anniversary. Frank Darabont say's he'll be recording a new audio commentary track for the release.
What is happening to the movie version of The Talisman? Ain't It Cool News have a disturbing report about how they plan to leave the scene from Sunlight Home out of the movie...big mistake!
It seams that a release date sometime in 2005 ins't that impossible after all. Coming Soon reports that Ehren Kruger is working on The Talisman and that film is set to shoot this summer.
Here is one of the four images from Kingdom Hospital that was in Entertainment Weekly.
If you go to http://www.kingdomhospitalofmaine.com/ you will find the official site for Kingdom Hospital. It's a really impressive site and you better have a lot of time to spend there. Check it out! Oh, and don't forget to hit refresh every now and then. When you do, the pages change...
Here's a banner ad from this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly. The last page of the same issue state that King would return in the future with his column after he recovered from his illness.
I got an email from Mick Garris today in which he told me that Riding the Bullet has completed production, and that he has just begun the editing process. He also told me that filming went extremely well, and that he hopes to be able to release it theatrically on or around Halloween. He also sent me the picture (to the right) of him and the reaper on the set.
In the current issue of Entertainment Weekly (with Halle Berry as Catwoman on the cover) there are some great pictures from Kingdom Hospital and an interview with executive producer Mark Carliner in which he states that King told him he could have the next 13 episodes written by June...
A new Dollar Baby has appeared. It's Luckey Quarter that has been turned into a short film. It's done by Robert David Cochrane who also did the winning entry in The Gunslinger contest.
On his site (Bronstine Productions) you can see a trailer for Luckey Quarter and more.
Luckey Quarter will premier in January in Park City, Utah.
Some info and pictures from the upcoming remake of Salem's Lot has started to pop up. The main reason for this is that Rob Lowe is out on a television critics tour talking about it.
A trailer for Secret Window will premier tonight at Entertainment Weekly. The movie will premier April 23, 2004.
It seems like we will get to see I know what you Need during 2004.
King's official site reports today that King now is home continuing to recuperate from his recent bout with pneumonia. He's happy to be home for the holidays and thanks all his fans for their concern and well wishes for his recovery.
Season 2 of The Dead Zone will be released on DVD March 16, 2004. It will be a 5 DVD box and it will contain the following extra material (all still subject to changes...).
* Production Commentary for all 19 episodes
* The Making of an Episode
* Cast & Crew Interviews
* Never-before-seen interviews with directors and guest stars
* Deleted Scenes
* Storyboards
ABC has picked up a three-hour adaptation of King's Desperation.
Here is the entire article from Variety:
King fling for Alphabet
Garris to helm horror scribe's 'Desperation'
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
ABC has given in to "Desperation," picking up a three-hour adaptation of the apocalyptic Stephen King novel. Mark Sennet ("K Street") is on board to exec produce, while Mick Garris ("The Stand") will direct.
King, who is currently recovering from a serious case of pneumonia, has already written the screenplay. "Desperation" is the latest in a string of King projects at the Alphabet, including the upcoming midseason series "Kingdom Hospital."
Based on King's 1996 book, "Desperation" follows the plight of a man who winds up in a bizarre mining town in Nevada (named Desperation, natch) after being pulled over by the strange local sheriff.
The man eventually discovers that a mysterious force has killed the town's residents -- and that he must either kill this thing or escape.
Sennet said "Desperation" boasted "a whole different, early Stephen King feel to it."
"It's one of those core, scarier-than-hell Stephen King novels," he said. "It's the antithesis of 'The Shawshank Redemption' or 'The Green Mile.' It's bizarre, scary humor and has great characters in it."
Project has been in development for some time, having originally been optioned as a feature by New Line.
Sennet said he hopes to begin production in March or April. Garris must first complete his helming duties on the adaptation of another King project, a feature take on the novelist's ebook "Riding the Bullet."
A principal in Sennet-Gernstein Entertainment, Sennet most recently created and exec produced HBO's "K Street," which he oversaw along with Section 8's Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney.
Sennet has two other longforms in development at the Alphabet net: "The Go-Gos" (which he said may also be redeveloped as a low-budget feature) and "Touch the Top of the World: The Erik Weihenmayer Story." Other credits include ABC's "Inside the Osmonds" and CBS' "Martin & Lewis" (along with Storyline Entertainment).
Garris, meanwhile, has partnered with King on several projects, including the TV adaptations of "The Shining" and "The Stand."
ABC has picked up a three-hour adaptation of King's Desperation.
Two of the Season 3 episodes for The Dead Zone have now gotten tentative titles.
I have found two more Dollar Babies that was unknown (at least to me) up until last week. The first one is a Spanish version of Sorry, Right Number called Llamadas and the other is Nick Mariani's version of The Man in the Black Suit.
Here is what he said acording to Bloody Disgusting:
"Darkness Falls scribe Joe Harris told us there's little movement on his Children of the Corn sequel, but that he's got some great ideas for it. "I've written the next installment of The Children of the Corn franchise for Dimension, I've also been working on a slew of new horror and comic book-based movie projects that will cause a lot of my friends, fans and even enemies to raise an eyebrow". So what's the idea for "Corn 8"? "Make it scary again. The original concept and story in Stephen King's novella (which really did come across in the first film) is creepy as hell: children killing adults, for the glory of God (such as it is). I think kids are scary. They shouldn't be but they are, to adults. I want to get back to that exhilarating fear of being chased through the cornfields by scythe-wielding children. I want to bring out these children's inner 'Lord of the Flies' and get away from the neo-Amish vibe they give off. My children hunt in packs and pile on once they bring down their prey. They don't stop tabbing, ripping and tearing until you're dead. Then they feed you to the Corn God. This stuff should make you go, "Holy ****ing ****!" It will, if I have my way."
Here are the covers of the paperback edition of Wolves of the Calla and the hardback of Song of Susannah. You can also check out a short description of Song of Susannah.
Both the first and last episode of Kingdom Hospital will be two-hours episodes.
Last month, Michael Whelan finished the illustrations on the last book in The Dark Tower series.
The site stephenkingshortmovies.com has now launched and it has quite a lot of short films for you to download.
Stephen Hospitalized
Press Release
Contact: Warren Silver, Esq. at 207-947-0178
Stephen King was hospitalized on Sunday, November 23, 2003 at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. He was diagnosed with pneumonia in the right lung before a recent trip to New York City and an appearance at the National Book Awards Ceremonies, where he received a medal for his contributions to American literature. His condition worsened on his return to Bangor and the pneumonia spread to the other lung. He was diagnosed with pleural effusion and underwent drainage procedures to remove fluid from the lung. Since fluid remained in the lung, he underwent a thoracotomy on Tuesday, November 25 This procedure, performed by a thoracic surgeon, succeeded in removing fluid and scar tissue from the right lung. Stephen is likely to remain hospitalized for several days. He is conscious and in good spirits, and happy to be able to breathe deeply again. He is expected to achieve a full recovery, has requested no visitors aside from family, and no flowers. Stephen and his family ask only for good wishes and prayers, and that at this time, when we celebrate the bounty of our country, that we remember those who are in need.
Source King's official site.
In other news:
It has now been confirmed from King's office that he is no longer accepting items through the mail for autograph.
King's story, Nona will be reprinted in a limited edition tribute to Charles L. Grant. The book, Quietly Now: A Tribute to Charles L. Grant will be edited by Kealan Patrick Burke and published by Borderlands Press in two states, a signed/limited (500 copies, $40.00), signed by ALL contributors and a lettered edition (52 leather bound/traycased copies, $500.00) signed by ALL contributors. It will be out in April 2004.
The book will feature original stories by F. Paul Wilson, Bentley Little, Al Sarrantonio, David B. Silva, and many others as well as reprints by King, Gary Braunbeck and Charles Grant. The book will also features appreciations by Joe. R. Lansdale, Thomas F. Montelone, Peter Straub, Douglas E. Winter and more. You can order it at www.BorderlandsPress.com
Thanks to Jonathan Reitan and Brent Phillips.
According to Donald M. Grant's website, the Artist's Edition of Wolves of the Calla is officially out of print.
Thanks to John Hanic.
An interview with Bev Vincent, the author of The Road to The Dark Tower is now online.
Recently I spoke to George Guidall, the narrator of The Gunslinger, Wolves of the Calla and the upcoming Song of Susannah and The Dark Tower. He told me about how a book is transferred from the written to the spoken word. Check out the entire interview.
Yesterday King accepted his National Book Foundation's lifetime achievement award and now it's set that the awards ceremony will broadcast on Book TV on CSPAN 2. It will air on November 23 at 9:00 PM (check your local listings).
Here is a review of the script for Riding the Bullet.
Don't forget that King will receive National Book Award's annual medal for distinguished contribution to American letters tonight. I'll report about it as soon as I get any info.
Bloody-Disgusting reports that Silver Bullet 2 and Pet Sematary 3 soon is in the making. Here is what their source reports. And please not that they say it may just be a rumor and not true info...
"There are plans to make a Silver Bullet 2 with Stephen King as a consultant but he will have nothing to do with the writing dutie's the story will revolve around Corey Haims character all growing up in the same small town as the original with some new cast. The details have yet to be worked out but it looks like that might happen. But for the big news that I know every one will love to finally hear, Pet Sematary 3 is a go were going to be going on a script that was written back in 93 when plans for Pet Sematary 3 was shelved. Like part 2 Pet Sematary 3 will have nothing to do with the one before, Mary Lambert is in talks to direct this but we are looking into other directors in case she passes. Filming plans to start in April for a sometime later fall release. Please get the word out the more anticipation will help this film in the long run I don't want to see this film killed before it starts again same for Silver Bullet 2."
Personally I have a hard time believing that King would agree to be a consultant for Silver Bullet 2. King in known for his dislike of sequels. I put my money on that this is just an Internet rumor.
In true news. Bev Vincent was recently interviewed in a web magazine called Linear Reflections about his writing.
Sci Fi Wire reports that The Talisman begins production next year for a 2005 release.
Russian-born director Vadim Perelman, who will helm the film version of Stephen King and Peter Straub's best-seller The Talisman, told SCI FI Wire that DreamWorks honcho Steven Spielberg personally asked him to take the project based on Perelman's first film, House of Sand and Fog. "He called me after he saw the movie for the first time," Perelman said in an interview. "I felt very honored."
Perelman said that he is currently working on the screenplay adaptation of the novel, about a boy who searches through a parallel universe to find a talisman that can save his mother from cancer. "I find an emotional way in," Perelman said of the story. "I have to. It's about this boy that's saving his mother's life. It's my emotional door into the story, and then I'll make it my own."
The Talisman begins production next year for a 2005 release.
There is an article/ interview with Stephen King in the new issue of Pages (Nov./Dec.) with Amy Tan on the cover, and the new issue of Entertainment Weekly has a new King column as well (this has Julia Roberts, Kirstin Dunst, etc. on the cover).
Thanks to James for this info.
The US trade paperback edition of Wolves of the Calla will be released in June 2004.
The Talisman begins production next year for a 2005 release.
Riding the Bullet is in production between Nov. 11 and Dec. 19.
Here is the cover of the audio edition of 'Salem's Lot that will be released in January 2004. As you can see on the cover King will read an introduction to the book.
Fangoria reports that Vadim Perelman hopes to start shooting The Talisman in the summer of 2004.
The UK trade paperback of Wolves of the Calla will be out on June 7, 2004.
Fangoria reports that Vadim Perelman hopes to start shooting The Talisman in the summer of 2004.
Longtime commercial/music video director-turned-feature helmer Vadim Perelman chatted with FANGORIA about the long-in-development Stephen King/Peter Straub adaptation THE TALISMAN, which he'll direct for DreamWorks following the release of his directorial debut, HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG. THE TALISMAN has had a long road to the big screen, and was at one time set to be produced by Steven Spielberg and adapted/directed as a television miniseries by Mick Garris (currently busy helming another King feature project, RIDING THE BULLET).
"We're hopefully starting it this coming year and shooting it in the summer," Perelman tells Fango. "Ehren [THE RING] Kruger is adapting, and it was already in process. I'm excited about it. My emotional road into this film was literally this 14 year-old boy—the story is about this boy who travels across two parallel universes, ours and a different one, in order to save his mother's life."
Perelmen, who was born in Russia and came to the West with his mother to escape horrific poverty, related to the story on a personal level. "A 14 year-old boy travels a long distance to save his mother's life...I said, 'Alright, I can get into this,' because the last thing I want to do is sell out," he explains.
As for reuniting with Spielberg and DreamWorks after SAND AND FOG, Perelman couldn't be happier. "They're very hands-off—they're great," Perelman reports. "They're a wonderful place to be—if they trust you and they know what you're doing. They always take chances on first-time directors. When Steven saw my film, one of his comments was, 'This is why I started this studio—to make films like this."
Dimension has bought the film rights to 1408. Here is a report about it from Fangoria:
November 6: Dimension reserves King’s “1408”
Variety reports that Dimension has bought the film rights to Stephen King’s story “1408,” which appeared in the author’s audiobook collection BLOOD AND SMOKE and then in the print anthology EVERYTHING’S EVENTUAL, and will turn it into a feature. The tale tells of a successful writer of spooky fiction who encounters real terror when he checks into the titular room of the Dolphin Hotel. We had previously reported here that Eli Roth was scripting a film based on this story, but now Matt Greenberg, who worked on the scripts for HALLOWEEN: H20 and MIMIC, among others, for Dimension, is penning the adaptation. Former Warner Bros. honcho Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing through his new company.
Here is an image from King's appearance at the JBFC.
Thanks to Heather E. Harris & Doug Roemer who took the picture.
The December issue of Esquire is out and it contains King's new story, Rest Stop. It's supposed to be a grim little tale of domestic violence and crises of conscience. The story is 8 pages long.
A new column by King is out in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly and it's called The Pop of King: Do Movies Matter? (Part 1). It's part 1 of a 2-part column. Part two will be in issue #739 (Nov. 28). The Pop of King will run in #740, and then resume in every third issue.
I got a mail from Tom Kemock yesterday and he told me that he spoke with the good people over at Borderlands Press today and they informed him that they are expecting their shipment of Borderlands 5 back from the printers any day now, and they hope to have every copy out in the mail by November 14.
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal (November 3, 2003) has an article on the front page of the second section regarding the efforts required to have rival publishers combine their efforts to issue the Dark Tower saga. The article, The Bookslinger, details the cooperation by Viking (Penguin) who this summer reissued the first four books in hardcover, Plume, who issued the trade paperbacks, and Signet, who issued the paperbacks, and Donald M. Grant and Viacom's Scribner imprint, who are issuing the last three.
The article, in a sidebar, gives a synopsis of all seven books. Here are the onces for part 5 - 7:
--SPOILERS--
Wolves of the Calla (2003) Roland and his friends visit a place where families face the loss of some of their children every 20 years or so.
Song of Susannah (2004) Susannah Dean, one of Roland's companions, is taken over by a demon and the pair are then transported back to New York City in the summer of 1999.
The Dark Tower (2004) The conclusion of Roland's quest and the fates of his friends.
--END OF SPOLERS--
Also notable is the statement that Scribner is printing 660,000 copies of Wolves of the Calla, "a modest number for a Stephen King book but still a huge amount by publishing standards."
King will host the second installment of the nationally syndicated Lost Highway Radio Show, featuring American Recordings/Lost Highway recording artist The Jayhawks. The Jayhawks' 60-minute Lost Highway Radio Show is scheduled to air in late-November during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanks to Tom Kemock, John Hanic, Bev Vincent and Bob Ireland.