It is hard not to see how a new television adaptation of a Stephen King novel puts a lot more pressure on the Duffer Brothers’ upcoming take on the author’s work. Although most details surrounding the Duffer Brothers show are still under wraps, it is already being viewed through the lens of another show’s streaming success.
Many Stephen King adaptations are set to come out on both the small and big screens. Like always, not all of these adaptations will perform incredibly well, and many will also struggle to be memorable enough a few years down the line. A handful of others, however, will stand out as defining adaptations, proving how well Stephen King stories can work in the live-action medium.
One ongoing show, based on an acclaimed Stephen King novel, is already doing quite well, setting a high benchmark for all the adaptations scheduled in the near future. Its success seems to put immense pressure on the Duffer Brothers’ highly anticipated take on a Stephen King book.
The Duffer Brothers’ The Talisman Adaptation Has To Keep Up Momentum After The Institute
The Institute Is One Of The Best Stephen King Adaptations From Recent Years
After 2019’s The Outsider, most TV adaptations of Stephen King novels struggled to capture the essence of the author’s writing. However, MGM+’s The Institute, which is based on a Stephen King book of the same name, is finally changing this trend. The Institute is not groundbreaking in any way.
Based on its average Rotten Tomatoes score of 65%, though, it seems to be the best-performing Stephen King TV adaptation since The Outsider. Viewers who have been following the show would also agree that, despite not being unique in its themes and story beats, the show offers an addictive experience that makes one stick to it throughout its runtime.
The Institute seems to set a relatively high bar for TV adaptations, which puts some pressure on the Duffer Brothers’ planned take on Stephen King’s The Talisman. After watching The Institute, many viewers will not expect The Talisman‘s TV adaptation to not only match The Institute’s quality but also deliver something more distinctive and compelling.
When Will The Duffer Brothers’ Adaptation Of The Talisman Happen?
The Show Is Not Coming Out Anytime Soon
Since the Duffer Brothers are finally bringing an end to their long-running hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, many might believe that they may finally find time to move the flywheels of The Talisman‘s production forward. However, the pair will remain involved with the upcoming animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, which will likely keep them occupied.
Steven Spielberg bought the rights for The Talisman in 1982, which was planned to be adapted as a movie. Unfortunately, the project remained in production hell and never saw the light of day.
Apart from the spinoff, the Duffer Brothers are also producing The Boroughs and have been attached to Netflix’s new live-action adaptation of Death Note. According to reports, the two are also working on The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne with author Ron Currie. With so much on their plate, it seems unlikely that their TV adaptation of Stephen King‘s The Talisman will happen anytime soon.
