Director Mike Flanagan is on his way to becoming horror's new maestro, and I have a feeling that we're going to be hearing his name pop up quite often over the next few years. After breaking out with the widely-acclaimed Oculus, Flanagan's talent was solidified with the surprisingly excellent Ouija: Origin of Evil, a prequel to a movie that was maligned as an obvious cash grab. But things really changed for Flanagan with Gerald's Game, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel that was once believed to be unfilmable. The Netflix project debuted last September to stellar reviews (though I sadly wasn't a fan), with many King fans raving about Flanagan's treatment of the material. Even though the year of Stephen King was dominated by Andy Muschietti's IT, Flanagan emerged as a the rare director who could do justice to the iconic author's work.
Even though I was disappointed by Gerald's Game, I remain impressed by Flanagan's knack for creating spectacular horror sequences (the hand scene....), as well as his expert control of pacing and tone. While I personally can't say I got through the entirety of Doctor Sleep, I'm definitely intrigued by this news. I have a feeling that a return to the Overlook Hotel could generate the same kind of nostalgic excitement that made IT a box office sensation, and Flanagan has the chops to terrify audiences around the world. I'm optimistic about this one, especially with Warner Bros. putting the pieces together so quickly.
Poster: IMDB/Warner
So naturally, Flanagan will be following up that hit film with a second King adaptation, this one even more ambitious and epic than the last. After Deadline broke the news on Friday, Flanagan confirmed that he will be directing Doctor Sleep at Warner Bros., expressing his excitement in the tweet posted above. For those unfamiliar with the source material, Doctor Sleep is a sequel to King's classic novel The Shining, and it follows a much older Danny Torrance as he struggles with alcoholism and his special abilities. Deadline's article elaborates on the news, citing that the success of IT helped to put Doctor Sleep on the fast track. Flanagan will re-write Akiva Goldsman's original script, and the producing team will be led by Trevor Macy, Jon Berg, and Goldsman, with Warner Bros.' Kevin McCormick leading the production. No word on a release date yet, but I have to imagine that this film will be hitting theaters sometime in the fall of 2019.Thrilled and honored to spend some time at the Overlook. CANNOT WAIT https://t.co/gR3FBuPVWf— Mike Flanagan (@flanaganfilm) January 26, 2018
Even though I was disappointed by Gerald's Game, I remain impressed by Flanagan's knack for creating spectacular horror sequences (the hand scene....), as well as his expert control of pacing and tone. While I personally can't say I got through the entirety of Doctor Sleep, I'm definitely intrigued by this news. I have a feeling that a return to the Overlook Hotel could generate the same kind of nostalgic excitement that made IT a box office sensation, and Flanagan has the chops to terrify audiences around the world. I'm optimistic about this one, especially with Warner Bros. putting the pieces together so quickly.
Poster: IMDB/Warner
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