Mike Flanagan to helm Stephen King’s The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

In the wake of Andy Muschietti's remake of Stephen King's IT floating to great heights at the box office, this past year, Warner Bros. has contracted OCULUS and GERALD'S GAME director Mike Flanagan to helm DOCTOR SLEEP, a sequel to Stephen King's horror classic THE SHINING.

King's DOCTOR SLEEP was published in 2013, and tells the story of an adult Danny Torrance, the spookily psychic child who nearly lost his mind, and his life, while living at the Overlook Hotel with his mother and crazed caretaker father, Jack. Now in his 40s, and struggling with the same demons that haunted his father all those years ago, Danny meets Abra Stone, a peculiar woman who is also afflicted by the same torturous gift that allows Danny to see people's shine. Before long, the two troubled individuals become locked in a battle for Abra's survival.

As per the deal, Flanagan will rewrite the script originally penned by Akiva Goldsman. Trevor Macy, Flanagan's producing partner, will produce with Vertigo Entertainment’s Jon Berg, and Goldsman is executive producer.

As you know, Flanagan is no stranger to the world of Stephen King, having directed last year's adaptation of the King novel GERALD'S GAME, starring Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood. In many ways, THE SHINING as directed by Stanley Kubrick, is considered a classic among pychological horror films. It will certainly be interesting to see how a follow-up film is recieved by fans, after so many years have passed since Jack Nicholson's Jack Torrance iconically cleaved his way through a bathroom door while shouting a bloodthirsty warning of "Here's Johnny!"

We'll be sure to bring you more updates as news on this project becomes available. In the meantime, let us know if you've read Doctor Sleep, and if you're looking forward to seeing Mike Flanagan's take on it in theaters, sometime down the line.