Mike Flanagan’s Gerald’s Game will change elements of Stephen King’s book

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

A few days ago we shared the word that director Mike Flanagan would be heading the Netflix original series based on Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. Flanagan has a solid working relationship with Netflix after they acquired and distributed his last flick HUSH.

In case you forgot, Flanagan also has another Netflix film coming our way (hopefully soon) with his adaptation of Stephen King's GERALD'S GAME. It's been a while since we last heard anything about GERALD'S GAME so I went looking for some updates.

Turns out in the same interview I pulled the bit about THE STRANGERS 2 featuring the original three masked killers, there was also a bit where producer Trevor Macy spoke about the upcoming GERALD'S GAME.

Trevor Macy on GERALD'S GAME:

Well, I’m a big fan of the book as well, and one of the more fulfilling moments in my professional life was showing this cut to Stephen King and having him tweet how excited he was about it. I think the challenge with that—if you’re a fan of the book, so much of it takes place internally, in her [Jessie’s] head. So, “how do you do that in a cinematic way?” was the fundamental question when you’re taking that particular book into movie land. It isn’t done quite the way it’s done in the book, but I’m very proud of it, and fortunately Stephen King’s very proud of it, so I think audiences are going to like it.

It’s a very faithful adaptation in that way, it’s just that there’s a—I don’t mean to be too cryptic, but I don’t want to give it away [laughs]. There’s a storytelling device that we use that the book doesn’t. It’s really nice to get Stephen King’s support in doing that, even at the script stage, so he feels and we feel that it’s a very faithful adaptation.

It’s a movie that genre fans will love, but it’s not only a genre movie, and Netflix is a great place for things like that these days.

GERALD'S GAME synopsis:

When a harmless sex game between a married couple in a remote retreat suddenly becomes a harrowing fight for survival, wife Jessie must confront long-buried demons within her own mind – and possibly lurking in the shadows of her seemingly empty house. Among those she confronts are ghosts from her past and a vicious dog.

GERALD'S GAME is directed by Mike Flanagan and written by Jeff Howard and Flanagan. The film stars Carla Gugino (see below), Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas, Carel Struycken, and Kate Siegel.

Currently, there is no release date.