According to author Stephen King, the Cornoavirus and the virus featured in his post-apocalyptic horror novel The Stand are barely comparable."No, coronavirus is NOT like THE STAND," the author said on Twitter. "It’s not anywhere near as serious. It’s eminently survivable. Keep calm and take all reasonable precautions."
King's fourth novel to hit the shelves, The Stand was initially published on October 3, 1978, introducing readers to a world ravaged by a weaponized strain of influenza. In 1994, the novel received a television miniseries adaptation on ABC that retold the story across four episodes.
Now, the CBS All Access streaming service is filming its own television series based on The Stand. The series, directed by The New Mutants' Josh Boone, is slated for 10 episodes with the last episode reportedly being written by Stephen and Owen King.
While the coronavirus may not be as deadly as the virus in The Stand, it has caused the cancellations of many upcoming events, including the SXSW festival and Emerald City Comic Con. Several upcoming films have also postponed their premieres due to the coronavirus.
The Stand airs later this year on CBS All Access. Josh Boone will serve as the showrunner along with Benjamin Cavell. The series will star James Marsden, Amber Heard, Alexander Skarsgard, Whoopi Goldberg, Marilyn Manson, Eion Bailey and Heather Graham.