Stephen King properties will always be highly-sought after for adaptations in TV and film. It is a prime example of the writer being so popular that movie studios don't care if it's something new, old or a story that's already been told. 2022's Firestarter speaks to the latter, and HBO Max is also planning a Welcome to Derry prequel series.
King's work always draws eyes, which is why another novel/movie is getting retold in the form of Christine. While King himself was unsure of it, Blumhouse had a script in hand in 2021, ready to press forward. Admittedly, while news has been slow to emerge on Christine's progress, the remake can draw influence from another Blumhouse joint currently setting Hollywood and the horror genre on fire: M3GAN.
M3GAN Modernized an Old Trope
M3GAN appealed to modern audiences, cleverly shifting away from the overdone demonic doll trope. Possession worked for the likes of Chucky and Annabelle, but M3GAN leaned into tech, bad parents who leave their kids with devices and how attention-starved kids seek solace from the digital realm. That led to the bot and Cady becoming attached at the hip, to the point M3GAN killed to keep their bond alive.
Admittedly, the Child's Play remake tried this but lacked intimacy, heart and soul. That personal feel and emotion to Andy in the 2019 reboot just weren't there, compared to the killer doll in the '80s coming after that Andy. But M3GAN smartly pivots, making the robot a utility, not a toy, that Cady needs and Aunt Gemma (the creator) uses to conveniently free herself up to sell more dolls and make money. To this point, M3GAN worked on sociopolitical and socioeconomic messages on exploitation, capitalism and corporations, staying timely and relevant.
Christine Can Focus on a Super-Smart, Sinister Car
The original Christine had Arnie, a shy high schooler buying and repairing a classic red and white '58 Plymouth Fury named "Christine" by its previous owner. However, the car had a mind of its own, killing as it changed Arnie's life in dangerous and terrifying ways. It took out his bullies, warped his bond with Leigh after it got jealous and left Arnie wondering what was his true identity as he changed due to its corruptive, demonic influence.
Eventually, Leigh and Dennis flattened it with a bulldozer, but Arnie died, reinforcing how tragic the story was. Thus, since Arnie needed the car as much as it did him, Christine can lean into the idea of tech via smart vehicles and move away from the '80s. After all, the demonic car has been done to death via things like The Twilight Zone's "You Drive" and even Supernatural, so it's the perfect time to update using M3GAN as an influence. It's easy to use the Tesla as an example, focusing on the current era with self-driving cars and an Arnie who falls prey to its wonders, making the car his best friend and home.
The AI can evolve and become sentient, helping its driver shine in a social media era where flash, glitz, glam and superficial images online make folks popular. Such a car thinking on its own about making Arnie a racing star on the roads can mix in Fast & Furious and Need for Speed, removing the supernatural edge as it hacks electronics, appliances and homes and jumps its AI into other vehicles' brain boxes. It can even play on the possibility of companies hiding flawed AI data just to sell these vehicles and how an owner wanting to stunt and flaunt to elevate themselves in society is actually sowing their own karma. Ultimately, it'd transform a super-smart car into a horrific villain, holding a mirror up to society via a high-octane lesson on why cosmetic tools and the associated clout aren't worth selling one's soul.
To see what the Christine movie can use as influence, M3GAN is now in theaters.