Stephen King's new mystery-thriller THE OUTSIDER has only been available to the public since May 22nd and already we have word that there is a TV series on the way based on the 576-page book. Yes, Media Rights Capital (MRC), who produced the recent king adaptation of THE DARK TOWER is teaming with the executive producers of the MR. MERCEDES TV series Jack Bender and Marty Bowen to bring THE OUTSIDER to a screen near you.
Amazon's rundown on the novel goes like this:
An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.
An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.
MRC plans to adapt the novel into a 10-episode limited series and has already tapped THE NIGHT OF writer Richard Price to pen the script. Bender has been rumored as a possible director for the pilot which MRC will develop before they send it out to possible networks. King has the option to join as executive producer.
Even though I haven't read King's new novel yet, I'm strangely excited about this new series. I mean I have every plan to catch up on the new book as soon as humanly possible, so I guess this just makes me feel a bit safer that the story contained within is classic King. Fingers crossed.