Lionsgate’s New Stephen King Film Is on the Way — But Will It Live Up to the Hype? My Take
I’m hopeful but cautious — King adaptations can be hit or miss.
Look, I’m not usually one to get my hopes up when it comes to long-lost Stephen King adaptations suddenly clawing their way out of development hell.
But when I heard that The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was finally moving forward — and with The Long Walk team behind it — I couldn't help but feel a flicker of cautious optimism.
Yes, this is one of King’s quieter novels, but it's also one of his most haunting, especially if you grew up with a fear of the woods and a too-vivid imagination.
JT Mollner: A Director to Watch
Lionsgate has roped in director JT Mollner — the same filmmaker who turned Strange Darling into one of the best-reviewed thrillers of 2024 (96% on Rotten Tomatoes, not bad at all).
And now he's stepping in not just to direct Tom Gordon, but to write it as well. Normally, I’d raise an eyebrow at that much control, but if Strange Darling proved anything, it’s that Mollner knows how to handle intensity, isolation, and emotional edge — which is exactly what Trisha’s story needs.
A Delicate Story Riding on Perfect Casting
For those unfamiliar, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a psychological horror about a nine-year-old girl who gets lost along the Appalachian Trail. Then she starts hallucinating that her Red Sox idol, pitcher Tom Gordon, is guiding her through the woods.
It's strange, it’s deeply internal, and it all hinges on the emotional weight of a single character. If the casting goes wrong, it falls apart — and yes, casting hasn’t been announced yet, so my nerves remain intact.
Waiting with One Eye Open
Will it deliver? Hard to say. But I’ll be watching — with one eye open and the lights very much on.
