News about Stephen King adaptations seems to flow our way at a steady pace, and we have another piece of King-related news to share today: Deadline reports that Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Barry, Cruella, Into the Dark: New Year, New You) has been cast in the Netflix adaptation of the King story Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.
The film is being written and directed by John Lee Hancock (The Highwaymen). The story Mr. Harrigan’s Phone was included in King’s book If It Bleeds, which you can buy at THIS LINK. It centers on
Craig, a young boy living in a small town, who befriends an older, reclusive billionaire Mr. Harrigan. The two form a bond over books and an iPhone, but when the man passes away, the boy discovers that not everything dead is gone, and finds himself able to communicate with his friend from the grave through the iPhone that was buried with him.
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Howell-Baptiste joins a cast that already includes Jaeden Martell as Craig, Donald Sutherland as Mr. Harrigan, and Joe Tippett as Craig’s father. Howell-Baptiste is taking on the role of Craig’s caring and concerned teacher, Ms. Hart.
While the plot and character descriptions keep leading me to think Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is supposed to be a heartwarmer, I also hear that there’s some creepy stuff in the story. I need to get around to reading it for myself so I know what to expect from this movie.
This is the first King project for Tippett and Howell-Baptiste (and Hancock as well). Martell and Sutherland both have prior King experience; Martell was in the films It and It: Chapter Two, while Sutherland was in the 2004 mini-series version of Salem’s Lot.
Blumhouse and Ryan Murphy Productions are teaming up to bring us Mr. Harrigan’s Phone. Jason Blum, Ryan Murphy, and Carla Hacken are producing the film, while Blumhouse Television’s Chris McCumber and Jeremy Gold serve as executive producers.
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone will be reaching Netflix sometime in 2022, but a specific release date hasn’t been announced yet.
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