It's not the first time renowned author, Stephen King has teamed up with producer J.J. Abrams and online streaming service Hulu. The two minds were also behind the recent '11.22.63' which is currently available for streaming. Now however, the three are set to collaborate on 'Castle Rock', a series based on the eponymous fictional town used as the primary setting for a number of Stephen King's works.
'Castle Rock' is to unite King's literary universe in a new series spanning just 10 episodes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 'Castle Rock' will follow an anthology format, with each season introducing "a different set of characters and storylines while interjecting themes and specific characters from previous seasons". Whilst geographically, the fictional Castle Rock is supposedly situated somewhere in Maine, "it first appeared in 1979's 'The Dead Zone' and takes its name from the fictional mountain fort in William Golding's 1954 novel 'Lord of the Flies'. The town also has been featured in 'Cujo', 'The Body', 'Uncle Otto's Truck', 'Mrs. Todd's Shortcut', 'The Dark Half', 'The Sun Dog', 'Needful Things' and 'It Grows on You', among others".
Despite collaborating with Abrams and co at Bad Robot Productions, King revealed to EW that, "I'm as much in the dark as anybody else. I don't know anything about it so I just hope it turns out really well". The author continued that the recent success of 'It' has renewed interest in his works: "well, [film rights] on everything are basically taken. I think just about everything I've written was in some kind of development, or under option".
Hulu
"The town of Castle Rock features in dozens of King's novels and short stories, apparently serving as a homing point for the state's overpopulation of supernatural infestations and evil entities." (Vox).
Hulu's description of the new series is as follows: "A psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse, 'Castle Rock' combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of King's best-loved works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and light, played out on a few square miles of Maine woodland. The fictional Maine town of Castle Rock has figured prominently in King's literary career: 'Cujo', 'The Dark Half', 'IT' and 'Needful Things', as well as novella 'The Body' and numerous short stories such as 'Rita Hayworth' and 'The Shawshank Redemption' are either set there or contain references to Castle Rock. 'Castle Rock' is an original suspense/thriller - a first-of-its-kind reimagining that explores the themes and worlds uniting the entire King canon, while brushing up against some of his most iconic and beloved stories."
'Castle Rock' is set to feature André Holland, who we saw in the Super Bowl ad for the series, as death row attorney, Henry. Bill Skarsgard, to our utter disappointment, will not be playing Penny-wise, but a death row inmate, whilst Sissy Spacek will play Henry's adoptive mother. The role of the town's sheriff, Alan Pangborn has been taken by Scott Glen.
The series will also star, Melanie Lynskey, Jane Levy and Terry O'Quinn.
Take a look at the trailers for 'Castle Rock' below.
