Stephen King’s work has always been ripe for bringing to the big or small screen. Even with a number of adaptations falling flat when made into movies or shows, it seems like people still have an appetite for the works of the Maine horror author. Yet with all of the adaptations that have been made over the years, and even more in the works, it feels like Hollywood has barely scratched the surface of King’s massive oeuvre.
Considering the fact thatStephen Kinghas been writing novels and short stories for 50 years now, there are plenty of opportunities for writers and directors to take a swing at some of his most underappreciated stories. While plenty of his past works would make for great projects, King’s most recent collection of short fiction,You Like It Darker, contains what might just be his best story in years, and adapting it to the screen would be a massive win.
Stephen King’s novellaDanny Coughlin’s Bad Dreamis a straightforward story with only the barest hints of something supernatural, the type of thing that King often excels at.Much likeJoyland(which is also set for an adaptation), the story is more of a procedural, and isn’t quite as focused on otherworldly entities. The titular Danny Coughlin is an unassuming school janitor who has a prophetic dream of finding a dead body in a location he has never visited. The dream haunts Danny, and he eventually tracks down the place he dreamed about. He does indeed find a body there, and being a good citizen, he calls 911 to inform the authorities.
However, Danny’s good intentions do nothing except lead him into a world of trouble. A scarily intense and driven FBI agent named Jalbert puts Danny in his crosshairs, convinced that he is a killer. The only defense Danny has for himself is to say that he saw the location of the body in a dream, and unfortunately, Jalbert is not buying it (nor are most other people). Danny finds some helpful allies on his journey, but the ultimate crux of the story is his conflict with Jalbert. Danny’s life is upended as he endlessly tries to defend himself from Jalbert’s investigation, and he has to find any way he can to convince not just Jalbert, but almost everyone in his life, that he is innocent. In many ways,Danny Coughlin’s Bad DreamresemblesThe Outsider, which was made into an HBO show starring Cynthia Erivo.
Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dreamis really about two opposing forces working against each other. It’s the ultimate distillation of a protagonist/antagonist relationship. Both Danny and Jalbert have clear motivations and goals, and they are both actively working against one another. Jalbert isn’t necessarily evil; in fact, if anything, he’s moral to a fault. Jalbert can’t be bothered to believe in Danny’s dream scenario for even one second, and it exposes his ruthless nature in the pursuit of what he considers justice.
Seeing Danny and Jalbert on screen would be incredible. Both characters are so well-drawn and have such rich inner lives that they would instantly be compelling to an audience. Danny is the perfect everyman character. He’s a guy who hasn’t strived for much, but is perfectly happy in the life he’s carved out. He’s had some serious issues in the past, including addiction, but he is working through them and just trying to do the right thing. It’s why he feels like he has to do something for the murder victim he sees in his dream. It’s a noble trait that ultimately turns out to be a flaw when instead of leading to a positive development, it very nearly destroys his life.
On the other side of the coin is Jalbert. King’s description of his physical appearance is enough to make it seem like it would be really uncomfortable to be around this guy. His demeanor changes on a dime depending on who he is interacting with, and he has a tendency to moralize everything about the case, going on about the poor murder victim and how only he can bring justice to her grieving family. This goes beyond having sympathy into this strange possessive territory, and Jalbert’s odd personality is also accentuated by tics and habits that reveal something integral about his character later in the story.
Stephen King already knows who he wants to work on adaptingDanny Coughlin’s Bad Dream, and it’s a director he personally approved of. James Ashcroft may not be a household name, but the New Zealand director just made waves with the release of his psychological thrillerThe Rule of Jenny Pen, which starred Geoffrey Rush andthe new Albus Dumbledore himself, John Lithgow. According toa feature on Ashcroft from The Post, the director had written to King in hopes of working on something together. King himself suggested that Ashcroft take onDanny Coughlin’s Bad Dream, and sold the rights to him for one dollar (this is a tradition Stephen King has kept alive for years). Ashcroft said he was told that King had turned down numerous other filmmakers who approached him about adapting the story.
With a director on board (who will also be co-writing the script), it seems likeDanny Coughlin’s Bad Dreamis closer than ever to getting a big-screen adaptation. Ashcroft is also directing a new thriller starring Robert de Niro calledThe Whisper Man, so he may be getting more exposure very soon. King fans have a lot to be excited about this year witha new version ofThe Running Manon the way, as well as a long-awaitedadaptation ofThe Long Walk, but withDanny Coughlin’s Bad Dreamarriving in the future, there’s even more to feel optimistic about.
