Adapting Stephen King: Vol. 1, Carrie, 'Salem's Lot, and The Shining from Novel to Screenplay

by Joseph Maddrey

Stephen King's fiction has formed the basis of more motion picture adaptations than any other living author. Over half a century since his earliest publications, Hollywood filmmakers continue to reinvent, reimagine, remake, and reboot King's stories, with mixed results. This book, volume 1 in a series, examines the various screen adaptations of King's first three Carrie, Salem's Lot , and The Shining . Reaching further than questions of fidelity to the author and adherence to directorial visions, it charts the development of each individual adaptation from first option to final cut. Through old and new interviews with the writers, producers, and directors of these films--as well as in-depth analyses of produced and unproduced screenplays--it illuminates the adaptation process as an intricately collaborative endeavor. Rather than merely synopsize the resulting stories, its goal is to compare, contrast, and contextualize each of these adaptations as the products of their creators.

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[GuyGrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddrey's book restores the crafts of writing and screenwriting to the story of the cinematic adaptations of the early novels of Stephen King. By focusing on the nitty gritty of pitches, treatments, reworked and revised screenplays, and the last-minute changes that occur when such projects entered principal production, Maddrey demonstrates the process that made such famed film adaptations as Brian De Palma's Carrie (1976) and Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980). Crucially, Maddrey restores King's voice to the narratives of these films by not only reviewing his role in the development of making these works, but also by exploring other versions, sequels, remakes, and the critical and cultural legacies of these books. With original interviews and extensive analyses of primary documents and material in archives, Adapting Stephen King is a dream for fans of King and the movies and TV shows that he made possible.

[Stormcrow Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully detailed and thoroughly researched book in which I learned a lot more about these movies than I already knew as a horror fan. (For example, DePalma's Carrie is a landmark film and I knew they did a remake in 2013, but I had no idea there was a sequel, much less a musical!)

Also, this is a wonderful book for writers of any kind as it provides so much insight into the process of writing, adapting, and contains plenty of interviews with the screenwriters of the different versions and incarnations and quotes King plenty throughout the process.

I can't wait for volume 2!

[Charlotte Comito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh