2022 is shaping up to be not only a banner year for horror but also an exceptional year for Stephen King fans. Aside from the news of his upcoming novel, Fairy Tale, there are a number of big and small screen adaptations that will premiere or be a finished production this year.
While King has famously not been a fan of every film adaptation of his works, there are plenty of versions he has loved, such as Mike Flanagan's careful interpretation of Doctor Sleep. And with so many new films and miniseries on the horizon, there is bound to be something that passes muster.
Christine
For Hannibal fans, Bryan Fuller is working with Blumhouse and Sony to adapt the story of the infamous car from Hell, Christine. Originally tackled in 1983 by the legendary John Carpenter, Christine is a terrifying and quite literal twist on the Man. v. Machine trope that sees a boy buy a seemingly normal car that ends up being far worse than a run of the mill lemon as it turns out to have an evil agenda. This isn't Fuller's first foray into King's world, either, as he wrote the 2002 TV movie of Carrie. Christine is anticipated to release in late 2022.
Salem's Lot
Horror legend James Wan will deliver another adaptation of Salem's Lot this year. Currently slated for a September 9, 2022 release, it focuses on a writer returning to his childhood home in search of inspiration, only to find out that town now has a vampire problem. Salem's Lot was previously adapted in 1979 for the big-screen and in 2004 for TV, so it's about due for a fresh feel.
Children of the Corn
Children of the Corn got a cult classic adaptation in 1984, but it is ready for a fresh take. This newest movie adaptation was announced way back in 2020 but was a pandemic casualty as it stayed in production limbo. It's not down for the count yet, though, and this new take should be less of a loyal adaptation and more of a new angle, following a twelve-year-old girl who begins the process of recruiting the town's children to her murderous plot while a lone high schooler stands against her. Word has stalled a bit on this anticipated release, but production still seems to be a go.
Later
Later is a newer Stephen King story, being first published in 2021. This pulp crime tale follows a boy with advanced extrasensory perception (ESP) and his single mother as they work with the NYPD to track down a deceased killer wreaking havoc even after death. This will be another limited series outing courtesy of Blumhouse Television, the forces behind Hulu's horror anthology Into the Dark, and is likely to premiere in late 2022 or early 2023.
Mr. Harrigan's Phone
Mr. Harrigan's Phone is primed for a movie adaptation at Netflix from American Horror Story powerhouse Ryan Murphy collaborating with Blumhouse. In this story, from the If It Bleeds collection, a young boy befriends an elderly eccentric billionaire recluse, Mr.Harrigan. When the man dies, the boy finds himself able to still communicate with Mr. Harrigan from the grave via a particular iPhone. Jaeden Martell, who played young Bill in the IT films, returns to the world of Stephen King as the protagonist in the movie. Though there's no exact release date yet, production recently wrapped and Netflix is still committed to a 2022 premiere.
Firestarter
Drew Barrymore's iconic childhood role in Firestarter has been a stalwart of pop culture for so long that another adaptation of the book hasn't been attempted since 1984. Also hailing from Blumhouse Productions, this movie adaptation will stick to the source material, following a young girl with pyrokinetic abilities who is abducted by a shady government organization. Written by Scott Teems of Halloween Kills fame, expect to see this later in the year. While there's no exact date for its premiere, it did recently receive an R-rating from the MPPA, meaning news of a release date should come sooner rather than later.
Pet Sematary Prequel
Following 2019's latest Pet Sematary adaptation, get set to explore that story a bit more with a new prequel in the works. Little is known about the anticipated plot yet, but it is written and directed by Lindsey Beer and sets up the ability for the Pet Sematary universe to finally become a full-fledged franchise. The cast was fleshed out in 2021, and it's likely they won't want to wait too long for a release.