There is a lot of anticipation for the new Netflix series, The Talisman. This epic work of fantasy and horror is a favorite amongst Stephen King fans, and it has long been regarded as one of his best works. Written in collaboration with fellow horror author Peter Straub in 1984, the novel became an instant hit and spent twelve weeks as the #1 book on the New York Times Best Seller List.
News that a Netflix adaption is on the way is certainly exciting, but here's the thing. There have been many Stephen King adaptations over the years, and many of them have fallen short. These include those that have made their way to television, including The Mist and the recent adaptation of The Stand, neither of which fared overly well with critics. After waiting over three decades for the novel to be adapted, fans will certainly be hoping that the new series is better than those disappointing adaptations. Will they get their wish?
We have reason to think they might, so let's take a closer look at why the series might be worth the wait.
The Novel Is Amazing
The world isn't short of novels that combine dark horror with thrilling fantasy, but The Talisman must surely rank as one of the best. It tells the tale of 12-year old Jack Sawyer who crosses into an alternate universe to find the talisman of the title, a special crystal that has the power to save his dying mother. On his journey through both the American Heartlands and the parallel world of 'The Territories,' he is beset by many dangers and threats, both human and supernatural. It's a classic story of good against evil, with the coming-of-age elements that are a familiar part of many Stephen King works.
If the series sticks closely to the novel, there is the potential for something truly great. And with the episodic nature of a Netflix series, the book could be given room to breathe, without the need to squeeze the 921 pages of the novel into a short running time.
Steven Spielberg And The Duffer Brothers Are Involved
Steven Spielberg liked King's story so much, he bought the rights to the book in 1982 before it was even published. He originally had plans to direct the movie adaptation himself, but as we now know, this never came to pass. He went on to make several other high-grossing movies instead, but the celebrated director has never lost his love for King's epic work of fiction. He will be executive producing the new Netflix series, so there is hope that his special brand of magic will be present in the upcoming show.
Matt and Ross Duffer, currently most famous for the hit Netflix show, Stranger Things, are also producing the King/Straub adaptation. There is no word yet on whether or not they will direct, but one thing's for sure, they know their way around a television series that mixes coming-of-age drama with worlds that are supernatural.
As the brothers are currently hard at work on Series 4 of their popular show, it might be a while before they properly begin work on The Talisman. Further delays might also be caused if they focus on season 5 of Stranger Things, their apparent last go-round with the characters of Hawkins, Indiana, before the new adaptation. Still, all good things come to those who wait, or so the saying goes, and with both The Duffer Brothers and Spielberg on board, fans do have reason to be excited.
Netflix Has A History Of Good Horror And Fantasy Adaptations
When it comes to the horror and fantasy genres, Netflix has excelled in recent years. Supernatural ghost stories The Haunting Of Hill House and The Haunting Of Bly Manor were both critically well-received, as was the terrifying French horror series, Marianne. Fantasy-wise, Netflix recently bought Shadow and Bone to their streaming platform, and this series, alongside two of their earlier successes The Witcher and Locke & Key, has been given a positive response from critics and audiences alike.
It is because Netflix has an eye for what makes a good horror and fantasy series that gives us a bit of hope. They are no stranger to the world of Stephen King either, as those who have seen Gerald's Game and 1922 will testify. Will they screw up The Talisman? It's unlikely, given their track record and immense spending power. And because some of the best people in the industry are behind the new show, the chances for a more than decent adaptation are high.
There is no release date for the new series yet and we don't know how many seasons the show will stretch into. The original novel did receive a sequel with 2001's Black House, featuring the continuing adventures of Jack Sawyer as an adult, so it might be that at least one follow-up series will happen. For now, we will just have to wait and see. But whatever happens, here's hoping Netflix does justice to King and Straub's epic piece of dark fantasy fiction.