Here’s an alarming stint of news if I’ve ever heard one. While treating fans to a short reading of his new novel Under the Dome a few days ago in Toronto, Stephen King (aside David Cronenberg, who interviewed the preeminent horror scribe) dropped a helluva teaser to those in attendance. It seems King has, since last summer, been wrapping his warped mind around a sequel to one of his most celebrated titles, THE SHINING.
Yup, you all read it right! Apparently, King sees the open-ended thread of Danny Torrance (Jaaaaack’s son in the film) rife with story potential. What Danny made of those memories, those traumatic experiences, his clairvoyance that saved him from his father at the Overlook Hotel, is an avenue that King believes might make a damn fine sequel.
As far as story prospects, King notes:
Danny is now 40 years old and living in upstate New York, where he works as the equivalent of an orderly at a hospice for the terminally ill. Danny’s real job is to visit with patients who are just about to pass on to the other side, and to help them make that journey with the aid of his mysterious powers. Danny also has a sideline in betting on the horses, a trick he learned from his buddy Dick Hallorann.
As far as a title for his sequel goes, King is testing “Doctor Sleep” as a strong candidate.
Wow. My first instinct would be to tell King, dude you’ve got so many originals in you, why revisit and possibly taint a cemented classic? Of course this guy’s forgotten more about writing than I’ll ever know personally, so far be it from me to cast aspersions.
But we want to know what he hell you all think about this. First off, you in favor of a SHINING sequel? And what about the title of “Doctor Sleep”? Still yet, do you even think this thing will actually happen?
DOLAN’S CADILLAC star Emmanuelle Vaugier! (a King adaptation)
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