It's been a longtime coming, but it's finally here: we have a first look at Stephen King's Cell movie!
NewsStephen King's Cell, his novel-length take on the zombie horror genre, has been in development hell forever. It seemed like Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel) was going to helm the film adaptation all the way back in 2006, but he dropped out in 2009 due to creative differences with the Weinsteins.
The film has since pushed forward, casting John Cusack in the lead role, along with Samuel L. Jackson, Stacy Keach (American History X), and Isabella Fuhrman (Orphan Black). Jackson and Cusack previously worked on another King adaptation, 1408. And it's being directed by Paranormal Activity 2's Tod "Kip" Williams. Best of all, King wrote the script himself, with a revision by Adam Alleca (The Last House on the Left). Sidenote: King decided to change the original ending of the novel for the film, so take that as you will.
After years of waiting, Constant Readers, we finally have a first look at what this film is going to look like:
I know it isn't much, but it's a start. At least now we know it's happening for sure! That's Cusack's Clay Riddell, the protagonist, traversing the postapocalyptic landscape with Jackson's Tom McCourt. Furhman is said to be playing Cusack's neighbor, but she can't be too far from the novel's Alice Maxwell.
Still no sign of the Raggedy Man...
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you pick up this King novel and devour it. While it's not perfect -- in fact, it's a bit longwinded for my taste -- it is a very good alternate take on the zombie genre. I won't spoil it for you. Just read it, Constant Reader.
The film is due out in 2015.
More on Cell as we learn it. For more on the upcoming film and TV adaptations of King's work, go to our very special King hub.
