Stephen King’s The Stand to march onto CBS All Access in December

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Perhaps you've heard, but apocalyptic visions are all the rage this season, and so it's no surprise that CBS All Access has announced that a new eight-part The Stand series is set to premiere on December 17th.

THE STAND is Stephen King’s apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail (Whoopi Goldberg) and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgård), the Dark Man.

The series, which will air new episodes on a weekly basis, is set after the events of King's 1978 novel, where a plague has decimated most of humanity and those who've survived are locked in a seemingly eternal struggle for sanity and sanctuary.

"During the two years we spent making The Stand, we all felt the responsibility of adapting what may be the most beloved work of one of the world's most beloved storytellers, but none of us could have imagined that Stephen King's 40-year-old masterpiece about a global pandemic would come to be so eerily relevant," showrunner Benjamin Cavell said in a statement. "We're honored to tell this sprawling, epic story, including a new coda that Stephen King has wanted to add for decades."

"We're so proud of this show and its attempt to find meaning and hope in the most uncertain of times," he added. "We can't wait to share it with the world."

The Stand was previously adapted for the small screen via a 1994 miniseries starring Gary Sinise, Jamey Sheridan, Molly Ringwald, Laura San Giacomo, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Miguel Ferrer, Rob Lowe, and Matt Frewer, among others.

Obviously, the arrival of Cavell's version of The Stand couldn't be more timely, what with there being an ongoing pandemic just outside your front door and whatnot. I suppose the question now is: Will viewers embrace the new miniseries this holiday season, or could The Stand be hitting too close to home for some? Personally, I'm all about it, as this is likely to be one of the biggest adaptations released during a very dismal year indeed. Bring on the fictional apocalypse, I say. I'll take notes, and refer to them once it comes time to grab my bug-out bag and head for the hills. Let's do this!