Apple Inks Deal for 'Lisey's Story' TV Show Written by Stephen King and Starring Julianne Moore

[agffth]

Do we really need more Stephen King movies\tv shows? Are there no new writers out there?

 

[notabadname]

“King does not often write for TV shows” ? . . . .

Are you kidding me? He may not be Spelling or Lorre, but the list is extensive.

 

[nburwell]

I doubt that Apple will eat the cost of these shows when they announce pricing. You don't get A-list stars and producers and directors without charging a premium for their salary. Apple will then turn this cost onto the customer and charge a hefty premium monthly fee for Apple TV+. Apple TV+ is going to be expensive. My guess? $30-40/month like Youtube TV.

If that is the case, I do not foresee a lot of consumers signing up for the service. Especially when there is no live TV component. If Apple really wants to compete with Netflix/Hulu/Amazon, then - if they're smart - they will price ATV+ competitively around what other streaming services charge.

 

[Baymowe335]

I don't doubt some of the ATV+ content will be great. The question is if that will be enough to entice people to subscribe to it. I think Apple will charge a lot for the service.
Ideally, Apple should have a bundle subscription that encompasses all services + iCloud storage at a reasonable price for individuals and families. If not, I don't see myself jumping on the bandwagon.

Apple can make it success no matter what, because they can buy any content they want.

Content is all about money and Apple has the most.

 

[OptyCT]

Sounds like Apple is figuring out the hard way how talent in Hollywood works. Unfortunately, you have to fund their "passion projects" before they'll give you the rights to the more mainstream projects.

 

[RogerWilco]

Don’t fret, hack director Abrams will screw it up and turn the show into a real-life nightmare. Apple needs “content” and it looks like they're willing to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get it.

 

[Tozovac]

The former Apple Computer’s expansion here is akin why many no longer use Yahoo for a search engine.

 

[TrentS]

How about Office Part 2, where the focus is on Todd Packer's ( David Koechner ) office.

 

[JetTester]

Stephen King is great, though a little scary himself. Whether this will be any good will depend a lot on what kind of control Apple exerts on the production process.

 

[tutankhamen]

Anyone else secretly hoping that this TV thing will be an epic failure à la iTunes Ping? Though that's hard to beat.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

The TV and movie adaptations of his work have been very hit or miss over the years.

True enough - but the guy has more adaptations than just about any writer out there. He's bound to have a few stinky ones. The great ones are REALLY great though - Green Mile, Shawshank, The Shining, etc.

 

[mrjayviper]

Maybe the stars can hire some engineers to build out some good product with all the cash Tim Apple is gonna pay them.

didn't realize Apple is struggling for money that it can't hire actors and engineers for different products! I miss the old Apple.

 

[extrachrispy]

Can't stand Jullianne Moore. Haven't liked her from Boogie Nights until today.

Give "Still Alice" a try.

 

[panjandrum]

Don’t fret, hack director Abrams will screw it up and turn the show into a real-life nightmare. Apple needs “content” and it looks like they're willing to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get it.

I don't know. I'm not a huge Abrams fan because he is so fixated on multiverse stuff that it seems to me like he forces that into works where it's unnecessary and even distracting.

But in this case that might be a real boon because Stephen King's works inhabit one of the most compelling and complex multiverses ever created. It's mind-bogglingly complex and inter-woven, with characters often meeting each other in different times etc. It's right up Abrams' alley.

Also, Abrams has already proven he can emulate the absolute best of what Stephen King is about. I know I've said it before, but Super 8 is basically "let's make a movie feels exactly like one of the best Stephen King books, and let's do it right".

The thing is, Stephen King has such a volume of work that, like his movie adaptations, some of it is really hit-and-miss. King's real talent is his characters, not his "horror" elements (which are really SciFi elements for the most part). My personal theory is basically this: When Stephen King has a specific plot worked out and then forces characters to follow that plot you generally get an OK story. When Stephen King has characters and plot in his head and more or less lets the characters lead the story where they wish to go you get some of the greatest writing of our generation. Often you get this in the same novel, which is why some of them seem to start off so brilliantly and then degenerate (IT, for example, starts of so strong, so compelling, and then deteriorates as the novel progresses. So does Dreamcatcher).

My recommendations on getting started with King (also, the audio versions of many of these are very well-read. So if you don't have time to actually read them that's a good way to go):

Joyland
Heats in Atlantis
Bag of Bones
From a Buick 8
11/22/63
Mr. Mercedes

And too many short stories to count, especially "The Body" (The movie "Stand by Me" is based on this)

Personally, I would love for someone to do a Stephen King multiverse series, in which all of his stories as set in the proper times and very closely follow King's actual writing. There would be some many great moments, plus it would allow his incredibly complex multiverse to interact properly. For example, the movie IT is set in the wrong period. This means that if they do a proper version of 11/22/63 (not that awful mini-series that was on Hulu), Jake will not be able to meet Richie and the "Bevy from the levy", because that happens in a specific year. Getting someone to do King right would be season after season after season of great stuff!