The Witch and The Lighthouse producer Jay Van Hoy is currently developing the film adaptation of Rat, based on Stephen King‘s novella, which was published as part of 2020’s If It Bleeds collection. The collection also included Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and The Life of Chuck stories, which have both received movie adaptations from Netflix and Mike Flanagan, respectively.
This comes after the recent theatrical release of The Monkey and The Long Walk movies, which were also based on King’s acclaimed works. Later this year, Paramount Pictures will also be releasing a new adaptation of The Running Man, which will be led by Glen Powell and Josh Brolin. In addition, HBO is also debuting a Pennywise prequel series titled It: Welcome to Derry, which will debut on October 26.
What is the new Stephen King movie about?
“The movie follows Drew Larson, a writer cursed by his own ambition. Each attempt at a novel has ended in disaster—illness, misfortune, or worse. Determined to break the cycle, he retreats to a desolate cabin in the Maine woods, convinced this time will be different,” reads the initial synopsis. “But as a violent storm traps him in isolation, Drew’s body falters, and his mind begins to unravel. In the grip of fever and madness, a stranger appears—an uncanny visitor who promises salvation and success…for a price Drew can barely comprehend.”
Rat will be directed by Mexican filmmaker Isaac Ezban (Mal de Ojo) from a screenplay written by The Haunting of Hill House’s Jeff Howard. It will be produced by Fernando Ferro (The Birthday Cake) and Paul Perez (Father of the Bride). This marks the latest collaboration between Van Hoy and Ferro, as they’re also currently working on the upcoming crime thriller 52nd State, which just recently wrapped up its production.
“Stephen King has always been my favorite writer, ever since I started reading horror as a teenager, and since then, I’ve had the long-time dream of adapting some of his material… He embodies that essence of the contrast of beauty and brutality that has shaped my vision and sensibilities as a storyteller,” Ezban said in a statement. “I’ve read most of his work, and Rat remains one of my favorite stories he’s ever created… the perfect match — a dark, intimate, bizarre, even humorous and deeply unsettling story that gets under your skin… I see this as a survival movie about writer’s block, and also as the ultimate tale of our craft vs. our people, our creations vs. our loved ones, our art vs. our family, a theme I can very personally relate to. King has always inspired me as a filmmaker and a storyteller, and I feel honored to bring this tale to life.”
(Source: Deadline)