Ben Affleck Names David Kajganich for Third Stephen King Screenplay, with The Stand
January 20, 2012
Ben Affleck/Photo: CC/Intemporelle/Flickr
The planned feature remake of Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic horror favorite The Stand is one step closer to the big screen this week. In October, amid speculation that the 1978 classic would be re-adapted as a multi-picture affair with David Yates at the helm and his Harry Potter collaborator Steve Kloves on script, Warner Bros. announced that they were putting Ben Affleck in the director’s chair. (No word on how many installments are planned.) Now Affleck has picked a writer: David Kajganich, whose strictly-horror credits include the 2007 Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig sci-fi thriller The Invasion and Joel Schumacher’s 2009 “Blood Creek.”
The book follows the survivors of a man-made super flu that almost wipes out the human race, and the epic power struggle that ensues as two leaders, one good, one from the dark side, emerge from the chaos. King fans will remember the successful 1994 four-part TV movie (ABC), scripted by King himself (who also had a cameo role), and featuring an all-star cast (Molly Ringwald, Gary Sinise and Rob Lowe, to name just a few).
It’s unclear when Affleck will turn his attention to The Stand. Currently in post-production on his third directorial effort, “Argo,” in which he also stars, he has seven projects in development slated for release between now and 2014. One of these is the highly anticipated American remake of the French adaptation of Harlan Coben’s Tell No One.
King adaptations and remakes are all the rage right now, and Kajganich seems to be the go-to writer; there are eleven King novels currently in development, five of which are remakes. Of those remakes, Kajganich is scripting three: “Pet Sematary,” “It,” and now “The Stand.” Good news for King fans everywhere.
Tags: Ben Affleck, Daniel Craig, Gary Sinise, Horror, Joel Schumacher, Molly Ringwald, Nicole Kidman, Rob Lowe, Stephen King, Steve Cloves, The Stand
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The Stand was good enough….I doubt Affleck can do it justice.
I agree the stand by Steven king no one can top it.
The stand is the best book i have ever read. It is a serious page turner
I totally agree! This is the best book ever written, and the TV version was also excellent. I think it will be hard to re-make it into an even better movie.
“Best book ever written”? Seriously? You need to read more. I wouldn’t even tag it as King’s best, although it is one of my favorites. I would rank at least three of the Dark Tower novels (The Gunslinger, Drawing of the Three, Wizard & Glass) and Salem’s Lot above it. But none of those would I rank as ‘the best book ever written’.
I was wondering if there is any talk about putting The Dome on film?
Under the Dome is in develoment now to be a Showtime mini-series. That book is right up there with The Stand and It.
When will someone make a movie of The Talismon? I loved the book and would really love to see the characters come to life. Looking forward to seeing all the remakes too.
I agree…would love to see The Tailisman on film!!
I have been waiting forever for the Talisman to be made into a movie…so many teases in this regard, they keep changing their mind back and forth. Would rather see this done than another version of The Stand (which I also love, btw). Also dying to see the Dark Tower series done somehow, although it’s length would cause it to have to be done in installments.
please don’t blow this affleck… this is my favorite book
I am in total agreement. Scared the hell out of me the first time I read it.
Please don’t remake The Stand…The first version was awesome and I doubt that anyone else could do it justice…
I have always felt that the “Stand” is Stephen King’s masterpiece.I’ve read it more than once.I’m excited and wary of a remake;would love to see another take on it.I just hope that they won’t turn it into a typical horror film.The story is horrifying enough on it’s own.
This is so wonderful! Two of my most favorit things in the world. Ben and Stephen King! I can’t wait, Ben is great! PS I hope it’s a boy. If not I have five, pick one! Diana in Greencastle.
Oh, one more thing? Can Sandra Bullock, play Lisey Landon, in Lisey’s Story? Oh Please Please! Diana in Greencastle!!!
Great book. Excellent mini-series. If Ben Affleck is in this, then the movie is as appropriately doomed as humanity in the story. He is a plague to every movie he is in. Bummer really.
Yeah, that “Good Will Hunting” really blew.
It’ll be awful.Stephen kings amazing books have translated amazingly bad to film.
Agreed vicky the talisman was a delicious read, and the sequel to it.. the black house.. can’t wait for it to be made….. but what im really aching for is DARK TOWER to be made into a 7 part movie series..
I believe ‘The Dark Tower’ series to be King’s best work and I have read ALL his books more than once each. I also believe that no screen adaptation short of a ‘Lord of the Rings’ effort would do the story any justice. Do most King readers realize that nearly all of his books have a ‘Dark Tower’ connection?
Trust me, Affleck will blow this one, Why? Well… has he made anything good other than good will hunting and the town!! enough said.
Has he directed anything good apart from the two movies he’s directed?
HUH??
He’s a great director and he’ll do fine.
The original The Stand was boring and muddled as hell.
I can only think that he’ll do much better than that.
I loved the book, loved the mini series…The only actor worth retrieving from the original will be Gary Sinese. If Ben has any brains at all he will bring Gary on to reprise his role as Stewart Redman. He is a seasoned actor now, and would do the role justice. Don’t screw this one up Ben!
the stand probably my favorite king book, but robert mccammons swansong surpassed it.
The Stand by itself is my all time favorite King book. But when I found out it is a part of the whole ‘Dark Tower’ Series. It kinda lost some of its magic….. I hope Ben Affleck is able to bring it to the screen like he did with Gone Baby Gone.
The Stand is a modern literary masterpiece.
The greatest book ever….no one could ever replace Gary Sinese as Stu…..maybe rick from the walking dead might make a good stu…