Summary
It’s tough not to wonder ifThe Standcan really be one movie, but I have some ideas about how the upcoming film adaptation ofStephen King’s lengthy novel can work. A few weeks ago, news broke thatDoug Liman is directing a movie based on the 1978 novel, and right away, the horror author’s fanbase asked one question:Can this huge book really be turned into a single movie?As much as I’d love to see a new take on the memorable villain Randfall Flagg or kind-hearted Frannie Goldsmith, I have to wonder if this is overly ambitious.
Liman has directed a number of successful action movies including the2024Road Houseremake, 2005’sMr. and Mrs. Smith, and 2002’sThe Bourne Identity. While I think it will be tricky to adapt a book that is more than 1,000 pages long, I think there are a few ways that the movie can still be great.
Stephen King’s The Stand Movie Adaptation Needs Two Things To Succeed
The Standcould become a huge success if the right star and writer are attached. Since Doug Liman is directingThe Standand he has a good professional relationship with Tom Cruise,I think it would be great tosee Tom Cruise in the main role of Randall Flagg. It would also be exciting if Christopher McQuarrie wrote the screenplay.
These three creatives have worked together in the past, and their collaborations have been impressive. In December 2024,Deadlinereported that Cruise is starring in Liman’s upcoming thrillerDeeper, and Cruise has also starred in a few Liman-directed films, such as the 2017 action filmAmerican Madeand2014’sEdge of Tomorrow, which blends action and science fiction. McQuarrie co-wrote theEdge of Tomorrowscreenplay and alsowrote and directed severalMission: ImpossiblemoviesincludingMission: Impossible - Rogue Nation,Mission: Impossible - Fallout,Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, andMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. He also wrote and directed the 2012Jack Reachermovie starring Cruise inthe role that Alan Ritchson now playson the popular Prime series.
McQuarrie also co-wrote the screenplay forTop Gun: Maverick, which was a huge successwhen it was released in 2022. It’s this project that might make him the best choice to write Liman’s adaptation ofThe Stand.Top Gun: Maverickachieved a feat that few action sequels can and told an impressive, compelling story with great characters and stunning fast-paced sequences. It matches the quality of the 1986 original, which almost never happens.
I still believeThe Standmovie will no doubt be a challenge thanks to the novel’s length, but finding the right star will be one important piece of the puzzle. Cruise is one of the most beloved action stars famous for doing his own stunts, and it would be fascinating to see him take onthe dark and unforgettable character Randall Flagg. The villain is known for his cowboy boots and supernatural powers, and he’s just ashaunting as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Cruise has made a career out of playing likable action heroes, and I think it would be fun to see him as an evil character.
While Cruise has never appeared in a King movie before,he could have played Andy in 1994’sThe Shawshank Redemption, which Frank Darabont wrote and directed. But, according toVanity Fair, he wanted to star in the movie if Rob Reiner directed. When that didn’t happen, Cruise asked if Reiner would still be involved and produce, and Reiner said he wouldn’t do that because, as producer Liz Glotzer explained, it was Darabont’s “vision.”
Stephen King Once Praised The 2020 TV Adaptation Of The Stand
While fans didn’t loveThe Standminiseries that was released in 2020, Stephen King remained positive about it. When he appeared on thePost Mortempodcast on the 25th anniversary of the 1994 miniseries, he praised director and co-writer Josh Boone. King said (viaBloody Disgusting):
“I like him a lot. I like his reach… his ambition for [The Stand]. Really the thing I’m most excited about is, first of all, we’ve got two more hours to tell the story. And second, we’re free of all those things that held us back with [the original mini-series]. Not only is the budget bigger… we’re free… in terms of language, in terms of violence… in a way that we weren’t with the original.”
One major complaint?The 2020 miniseries switched up the timelinefrom King’s novel and told the story in non-chronological order.If Doug Liman’sThe Standmovie can go along with the book’s timeline and also cast Tom Cruise as the main villain, I can see the film being fairly compelling.
