Last podcast we looked back at King in 2016 and now Hans & I turn our gaze forward and look ahead. What Stephen King delights will we experience in 2017 and what are our most anticipated events?
Join us on our 2017 Stephen King Retrospective.
We also talk about the first story in the last year's audio release of the Skeleton Crew collection - kicking it off with a Will Patton reading of - The Mist.
All that plus the latest Stephen King News!
We hope you enjoy this episode and, as usual, we want to hear from you.
Good or bad, we want it all!
You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions at:
1) FaceBook - Lilja's Library
2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)
In this podcast:
1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 00:28 - Podcast Setup
3) 01:51 - News From The DeathRoom
4) 11:47 - 2017: A Kingly Look Ahead
5) 53:14 - NightShift Review - Audio Version of The Mist
6) 1:07:00 - Podcast Signoff
7) 1:47:50 - Outro
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Here are the first Dark Tower toys. Both figures will be released from Diamond Toys in July and sold for $9.99. You can get yours here.
A Diamond Select Toys release! May your days be long upon the Earth, and may you have plenty of Vinimates! Anticipation for the film adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower is at an all-time high, and DST is tackling the new film with a line of Vinimates vinyl figures! These 4-inch designer figures of the Gunslinger and the Man in Black are based on the upcoming film, striking poses straight from the movie, and sculpted in the Minimates block-figure style. Both feature articulated necks for further posing options. Each comes packaged in a full-color window box.
The day after the inauguration, thousands of people from all over Southwest Florida gathered at Bay Front Park, Sarasota, next to the famous Kissing Statue, to show that there will be unconditional support for Women, LGTBQ, Minorities and Immigrants.
Stephen King surprised the rally by appearing last in the speaker line-up. He was fired-up to say the least, and it was a welcome sight.
Looks like The Lawnmover Man is heading for VR...
The company, which produces VR experiences and develops hardware and software for making and consuming VR, has unveiled a slate of five new scripted projects, including a drug-fueled comedy and an adaptation of cult classic The Lawnmower Man, ahead of the Sundance Film Festival.
"As we continue to develop more immersive, cinematic VR content with high production values and longer run times, it solidifies for us that VR is fast becoming a mainstream staple within the entertainment industry," said Jaunt CEO George Kliavkoff, adding that 2016 was "the final year of experimentation, and every indication is that 2017 will be the year of action and adoption. We're excited to be in development on all five of these series alongside some of today's top talent."
Among the projects is a VR adaptation of sci-fi cult classic The Lawnmower Man, which was an early depiction of what it would be like to enter virtual reality. Jaunt says it has partnered with the original 1992 film's rights holders to reimagine it in VR.
What do you think? Is it to late for this one? Read more here.
Jharrel Jerome will play Jerome Robinson and Holland Taylor will replace Ann-Margret in the role of the prickly, outspoken, self-serving Ida Silver who is the next-door neighbor of Hodges.
Dread Central had the following to report about the plot of The Mist.
We also now have a better idea of the first season’s structure and who’s who… There will be multiple scattered groups struggling to survive the Mist. Alyssa Sutherland plays a mother who gets trapped in a mall with her daughter and her daughter’s rapist; Morgan Spector plays the father of Sutherland’s daughter, who is stuck in a different location from the rest of his family; Okezie Morro plays a man with amnesia struggling to find allies; and Frances Conroy plays a woman whose ideas regarding the origin of the monstrous Mist will lead to great conflict within her small community of survivors.
The Mist premieres Thursday, June 22 at 10 p.m. on Spike and Nerdist reports that it will take "the Fargo approach".
“It’s the same but it’s different,” Christian Torpe said on a Television Critics Association 2017 winter press tour panel for his new show. “Like a weird, twisted cousin to the original source material. Fans of the movie and of the book and Mr. King’s work will certainly see elements from it, and especially if you watch the season in macro perspective there’s plenty of parallel. We also, in order to develop it for TV and to turn it into an ongoing series, took our own little detours here and there. Let’s call it a parallel story or a cousin to the original one.”
The 10-episode series is based on the novella, not the film. Torpe said although he enjoyed both endings, he’s come up with his own spin on the story. “I personally loved Mr. Darabont’s ending. I thought it was a stroke of genius. We are playing around in that territory,” he hinted.
As for the actual mist itself, Torpe has updated the visuals and the powers of the mist to distinguish this story from the previous versions. More than the literal mist, The Mist is a show about fear.
“It really is a very character-driven show. The Mist is, to a certain degree, an existential backdrop and the story is more about how people react to fear and to the threat of what’s out there.”
The Mist premieres Thursday, June 22 at 10 p.m. on Spike. For the entire article, head over to Nerdist.
Tomorrow is Friday the 13th but this year it’s a good day (no there isn’t a new Jason movie being released). Tomorrow, Friday 13th, Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary will be released on numerous platforms.
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
The documentary, which took filmmakers John Campopiano and Justin White nearly 5 years to complete, will finally be released this Friday, January 13th. Starting with a digital release on Amazon Instant, XBOX Live, VUDU, Sony PlayStation Network, Google Play and iTunes, where it’s currently available for pre-sell here: http://geni.us/ZcxIGIQ
The film will also be released on Amazon Prime, Roku, Hulu and cable VOD at a later date. In addition, iTunes will carry the exclusive bonus features, which will be released in a special iTunes package in the coming month. The film will also be released in Canada via Raven Banner Releasing later in the year.
You can find my review here and also listen to Lou and me talk to John Campopiano about the documentary here.
Shining in the Dark is now listed on my author page over at Amazon along with my other two books. They haven’t added the cover yet though but it’s there if you want to pre-order.
You can also follow me on Amazon (not sure what you get for doing that but please try it out).
Are the details in the Mr Mercedes casting call an indication that the adaptation will be faithful to the book?
The Berkeley Independent reports that an extras casting call for Mr. Mercedes, the next Stephen King work to be adapted to the screen, has finally gone out. What is especially interesting about the call is how specific its requests are. In fact, the level of detail in the casting call may suggest a few things about the plot of the adaptation and how faithfully it will adhere to the Stephen King-penned hardboiled crime thriller it is based on.
Here is an article about filming The Mist TV series in Halifax. There are also some set photos.
“I think our special effects are really good, I think the story is very good, and I’d like to think it has legs. I’d love for it to go three or four or five seasons. Haven went six.”
- - Art director Terry Quennell
Mr Mercedes is gearing up to start filming. We have confirmation from this casting call that they will be shooting in the Charleston area the week of February 21-24.
Tona B. Dahlquist Casting is looking for paid extras of "all ages ethnicities and types" for a 10-episode television series being shot in the Charleston area this month.
Casting directors are also looking for "a set of twins," Caucasian babies (preferably girls) 7-9 months of age.
Interested actors should be available for filming multiple days and nights the week of February 21-24.
They're also looking for several real police officers, EMTs/ paramedics and firemen as well as anyone who owns a vehicle made between 1990 and 2011.
Interested parties can visit the Casting Facebook page for more information as well as updated casting needs.
2016 is almost over and I want to take this chance to wish you all a great 2017 and also thank you for all your support during 2016. We have a lot to look forward to in 2017 and I’m convinced it will be a great year to be a King fan. I’m especially looking forward to Steve and Owen’s collaboration “Sleeping Beauties”. What are you looking forward to in 2017?
Here is an interview with Matthew McConaughey. Matthew talks about why he picked The Dark Tower over Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 and he says "We’ve done the first one" maybe implying they'll do more, perhaps they're talking film 2 now, who knows... Thanks to Douglas Dowie
2016 has come to an end - thankfully - and though it was a tough year on many fronts, it was a great King year. Hans & I look back on the past year in terms of Stephen King and pick our high and low points.
Spoiler - there were far more highlights!
Join us on our 2106 Stephen King Retrospective.
All that plus the latest Stephen King News!
We hope you enjoy this episode and, as usual, we want to hear from you.
Good or bad, we want it all!
You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions at:
2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)
In this podcast:
1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 00:28 - Podcast Setup
3) 01:34 - News From The DeathRoom
4) 27:05 - 2016: The Year In Review
5) 1:43:25 - Podcast Signoff
6) 1:47:50 - Outro
------------------------------------------------------------------- Intro Music - Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Outro Music - Stand By Me - Ben E. King
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------------------------------------------------------------------- RSS Feed - RSS.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Direct Download Link - The Stephen King Podcast - Episode 67
(Click to play, right click and Chose 'Save Link As' to save the file)
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You can find the podcast on the Internet at the following locations:
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------------------------------------------------------------------- Support The Show - Thank You!
It's now confirmed that the latest photo of Pennywise is from Entertainment Weekly.
Director Andrés Muschietti (Mama) says this monster unsettles precisely because he doesn’t lurk in the shadows. “Pennywise shows up, he’s front and center, and he does his show. He has an act,” Muschietti says. “So it’s weird all the time, and every little thing implies a further threat.” Watch out for his punchlines. They’ll knock you dead.
Here is what looks like another photo of Pennywise. No one seems to know where it's from though so judge for yourself if it's real or fake. Personally I think it looks real...
Casting Call for Mr Mercedes. Infant Twins and Drivers with Cars older than 2009
Production Description
Casting the Audience Network 10-part TV series "Mr. Mercedes," starring Brendan Gleeson, and based on the novel by Stephen King. Project description: "Centers on a demented killer who taunts a retired police detective with a series of lurid letters and emails, forcing the ex-cop to undertake a private, and potentially felonious, crusade to bring the killer to justice before he can strike again. Project will premiere in 2018 on Audience Network, a joint venture of AT&T and DirecTV."
Ann-Margret has been cast in Mr Mercedes and will play the next-door neighbor of Bill Hodges.
Ann-Margret will play will play Ida Silver, the next-door neighbor of Gleeson's Det. Bill Hodges. Ida doesn't miss much and is a real piece of work: prickly, outspoken, self-serving, intimidating and vulnerable.
Best known for film roles such as Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, Tommy and Grumpy Old Men, Ann-Margret's TV credits include Ray Donovan, CSI and Law & Order: SVU, for which she won an Emmy. She is repped by ICM and AM Productions & Management.
Jim Bishop editor of King's book Hearts in Suspension gave a talk at the Bangor Public Library a couple of weeks ago about the road to the books publication.
If you haven’t already, check out Marv’s Museum here at Lilja’s Library. It’s the only (as far as I know) museum that specializes in Stephen King movie memorabilia. It might also be the world’s smallest museum. But on the upside it’s always open and it’s always free!
Today it only exists online but my goal is to one day be able to let you see all the items in person, somehow, somewhere but for now you’ll have to watch it online. But it’s still worth a stop. All the items have been features in a King movie.
Okezie Morro in the booth doing some ADR for The Mist.
Got a little peek of episode 1 & 2 and I'm just a teeny bit excited...Can't wait for you guys to see it!!
Josh Boone revealed that James Franco was attached to play Larry Underwood in his filmversion of The Stand.
I was friendly with James because he was attached to play Larry Underwood in The Stand. He asked to read it, and said he wanted to make it.
What do you think? Good or Bad casting?
James Franco, Adam Storke and Larry from the comic.
Earlier today I spoke to Josh Boone about the casting of Russell Crowe as Rev. Jacobs and he sent me this exclusive concept art for the movie done by the very talented Vincent Chong.
I have reported earlier that casting was ongoing for Revial and now it’s clear that Russell Crowe has been cast as Rev Jacobs and that Josh Boone will direct his own script…right after he’s done with New Mutants.
I’ve had very, very different screenwriting experiences based on how the project comes together. For example, I have a good relationship with Stephen King, so when I wanted to adapt his novel Revival I really just went and asked him. I was able to write it in a very pleasant bubble and we attached Russell Crowe. I plan to make that right after New Mutants.
Today the screening of the remake of IT happens and even though I doubt that we’ll get any details about it (the participants probably have to sign a no disclosure contracts) we might get a general opinion about it. Is it good? Is it bad? Love it or hate it?
IF I hear anything I’ll let you know ASAP and congratulations to all of you that get to see it. I wish I was there with you!
2016 is soon over. 16 days left and then it’s 2017. And what a year 2016 have been here at Lilja’s Library. I can’t remember a single year during the 20 years I have been running the site that I have actually spoken with so many of you! And that is one of the things I’m so very happy about; that I have been able to reach so many of you. Some of you I have been talking to one on one, some in emails, some as a group with facebook chats and some through the podcast I run with Lou. Either way, I love talking King with all of you and I hope we will continue doing that.
Another thing I’m extremely happy with is that I could finally tell you about my upcoming book “Shining in the Dark: Celebrating Twenty Years of Lilja’s Library”. It’s been in the works for 1,5 years more or less and I have been dying to tell you all about it. Well not I can and I can’t think about a better way to celebrate the fact that the site has been online for 20 years. 20 years! That is a long time. A lot has happened during those 20 years. Some of you have been with me from the start, some just found the site a month ago but either way you have been a great support.
The reason the site exists is 1) because I love King’s work and I love to spread the word about it and 2) because you enjoy the site and come back for more. Would the site still be here if no one visited? Well, I actually think it would. For my own sake. Would it be as much fun to run the site if no one got in touch with me, telling me about your last King book, asking something, showing a photo of a King reference and so on? Hell no!
So, I’m not very good at sending Christmas Cards (ask my relatives) so this is my Christmas Card to you, my thanks for your support and my wish for an even better 2017, all bundled up in one. I know there are still 16 days left of 2016 but with Christmas coming up and all the things you do with family and friends a lot of you might not be spending that much time online during the next couple of weeks as you normally do. For that reason, I wanted to get this out now. In time for you to read before you disconnect and spend time with family and friends. I will still be here though, each day at least for a short time, reading mails, checking facebook and twitter and so on so if you feel like getting in touch, talking King or just say “Hi”, don’t hesitate.
OK, it’s time to wrap this up and get back to King. Before we do that though I just want to again thank you all for your support and friendship during 2016 and during the 20 years Lilja’s Library has been online. It’s a joy and pleasure to run the site thanks to you all!
Come on fans of the King. Show yourself with you beautiful King books. I know you have the books and I know you have the camera (or phone). And I want to see it!
Send in photos of you and King’s books so that I can add them to the Fan Photo Page. Here are my photos.
Looking at all these I'm thinking I might need the next photo without the beard?
Also, if you send in a photo of you and something connected to Lilja’s Library you get a chance to get a free copy of my upcoming book Shining in the Dark: Celebrating Twenty Years. Read more here
Deadline reports that Kelly Lynch has been cast in Mr Mercedes.
Kelly Lynch has landed a key role in Mr. Mercedes, AT&T Audience Network’s upcoming drama series. Lynch will play Deborah Hartsfield, Brady Hartsfield's complicated mother. Despite her troubles, Deborah tries to have a normal relationship with her deeply troubled son but she is rarely successful.
The 2016 Black List is out and there are two movies about King. One about his life and one about how he did Maximum Overdrive. Remains to be seen if they get done though...
True Stories About Stephen King
The Kings of Maine, Kathy Charles. Living with his wife and child in a trailer while working as a janitor, Stephen King struggles with alcoholism and his own dark history as he attempts to complete Carrie.
Maximum King!, Shay Hatten. An outlandish, surreal imagining of how in 1985 Stephen King wrote and directed his horror classic MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE.
"The things that really scare us are the things that are going on just outside the spotlight that you can’t quite see"
- Stephen King on October 22, 1989
In episode #65 of The Stephen King Podcast Lou and I spoke to John Campopiano about his wonderful documentary about Pet Sematary, Unearthed and Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary and today I’m very happy to tell you that John isn’t finished with King’s movies. Right now he is working on a documentary on the 1990 version of IT.
The documentary will be release next year. Head over to Bloody Disgusting for all the details.
A young John Compopiano
Thanks to Lou Sytsma, Douglas Dowie and Herbert West
4,5 years ago I asked you all what you stuff you wanted to see on Lilja’s Library. A man called Lou Sytsma responded that he wanted to do a podcast about Stephen King with me. On April 19th 2012 we published the first episode and yesterday we recorded episode #67.
Why am I telling you this? Well 2016 is almost over (when I write this on December 12 it’s 19 days until we’re into 2017) and I want your help! Lilja’s Library has been online for 20 years now and I have always tried to give you the best I can when it comes to Stephen King news. And I think I have done a pretty good job right?
But soon it’s a new year and with that comes new opportunities. So, I want your comments and ideas on what I can do to make Lilja’s Library even better in 2017! I have a lot of ideas but I’m not sure if they are all good or even possible to realize. Some will require donations from you the readers of the site, some will just require hard work from me. But I want your input! What do you want to see at Lilja’s Library next year?
So, please don’t just scroll past this. Give me your ideas and thoughts so that I can make the best out of Lilja’s Library that I can. OK? Send them by mail, facebook page, twitter, Instagram, SMS (you’ll need to find my number first though). I really, really want to hear what you think and what you want Lilja’s Library to be!
King’s first children’s book, Charlie the Choo Choo, is out and I would like to do the same thing I did when Mr Mercedes, Revival, Finders Keepers, Bazzar of Bad Dreams and End of Watch was released.
I want to put together a page with photos of you all and your copy of Charlie the Choo Choo. All you need to do is send me a photo (this should open an email but if it dosn't, send the photo to info[a]liljas-library.com) of yourself and the book (any edition works) and I’ll post them here. If you don’t want to send it by email you can also post it on the facebook page and I’ll grab it there. I would also like to ask you to include your name, town and country so that I can list that with the photo. You can see what it will look like at the Mr Mercedes page, the Revival page, the Finders Keepers page, Bazzar of Bad Dreams page or the End of Watch page.
Check out all the Charlie the Choo Choo photos here.
Let's get those photos collected! Some of you are even on all pages, GOOD WORK!