After Decades in Development Hell, The Stand Finally Heads to the Big Screen — With Doug Liman at the Helm
Fans are curious — and more than a little divided.
Stephen King’s The Stand is finally heading to cinemas — for real this time. After decades of stalled attempts, Paramount Pictures has tapped director Doug Liman to helm the first feature-length adaptation of what many consider King’s most ambitious novel.
Published in 1978 (and later expanded to its now-legendary 1,152-page edition), The Stand is an apocalyptic saga that pits good against evil in a world ravaged by plague. Its scale is epic, its character list sprawling, and its impact on pop culture undeniable. While it’s been adapted for TV twice, it has long eluded a proper theatrical release — until now.
What Do the Fans Think?
As news of the project broke, fan reactions came swiftly — and with no shortage of opinions. For some, the announcement reignited hopes for a faithful and cinematic adaptation. On Reddit, users praised past efforts: "Mick Garris has always been one of the best writer/directors at translating King’s prose to screen," wrote TheFuzzBuzz. Another added, "Now that is someone I’d be interested in seeing adapt The Stand," said ChickenInASuit.
Others expressed doubt that such a massive, multi-threaded novel could — or should — be condensed into a single film.
"Even a trilogy of films couldn't cover everything," noted GodFlintstone. "It really demands a three-season streaming or premium cable TV series."
Relevant_Elk_9176 was even more direct: “Like, I get it. The Stand is a great piece of fiction. But it’s just too damn long and complicated to be a movie. Give us a good adaptation of ’Salem’s Lot or something.”
And then there’s the camp that looks back fondly at what we already had. "Fun campy adaptation that screams 90s and mostly adapts the book? We didn’t realize how lucky we were," reflected cuhree0h, clearly referring to the 1994 miniseries. Perhaps what once seemed dated now feels charming — not the first time nostalgia has shifted the lens, is it?
Naturally, there was also room for chaos. "Tom Cruise as Flagg?" suggested The_Swarm22. A joke? Maybe. But considering Liman’s frequent collaborations with Cruise, some fans couldn’t help but wonder — stranger casting has happened, after all.
Few stories have shaped modern post-apocalyptic fiction quite like The Stand. Can Liman's version live up to that? We’ll see. But after decades in the dark, it’s exciting just to see the wheels turning again.
King fans, we’ve heard from Reddit — now it’s your turn: what do you think about The Stand heading to the big screen (again)?
