The Stand delayed as Josh Boone moves forward with Stephen King’s Revival

I really feel for those fans of Stephen King's "The Stand" who have been looking forward to witnessing King's epic play out on the big-screen, and today's news likely won't offer much comfort that we'll ever see "The Stand" hit theaters. Josh Boone (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS) has been set to write and direct an adaptation of "The Stand" for several years, but according to Deadline, they've hit a major snag.

Warner Bros. had an option on "The Stand" but unfortunately in the time it's taken to get this project going, that option has since run its course and the project has reverted back to CBS Films. D'oh. There are several options available for CBS, including setting up THE STAND with a different studio or producing it on their own with Lionsgate, which whom they have arrangement with. While this latest obstacle gets sorted out, Josh Boone has moved on to a different Stephen King project, an adaptation of "Revival".

A synopsis of "Revival" via Amazon:

In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs—including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town. Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties—addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate—Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings.

Josh Boone has already penned the script for REVIVAL and, working with producer Michael De Luca, have submitted the script to Universal. If Universal doesn't bite on REVIVAL, it's expected that the project will find a new home quickly. It's still early days yet, but Boone has already discussed the project with several actors and hopes to direct the film later this year. The track record for getting King projects off the ground quickly hasn't exactly been great lately, but good luck to them.

Should Hollywood quit trying to make THE STAND happen, or is the project worth fighting for?