Yet another Stephen King adaptation is on the way as Universal Pictures has landed the rights to the author’s most recent work, Fairy Tale.
And by recent, we mean, very recent, as Fairy Tale was only released last month. The story follows a 17-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a terrifying world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher — for that world or ours — as he journeys into the mythic roots of human storytelling.
The film will be directed by British filmmaker Paul Greengrass, who previously helmed Jason Bourne and Captain Phillips.
The news comes via Deadline, who report that Universal emerged victorious in a heated auction for King’s bestseller. The reports continues, “Studios and streamers were all over this one since Deadline revealed that Greengrass would direct. Key to the deal making at Uni is the strong relationship that Greengrass has at the studio and with Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley.”
Greengrass has heaped praise on King’s Fairy Tale, calling it “a work of genius — a classic adventure story and also a disturbing contemporary allegory.”
King shared his excitement for the news, giving his support for Greengrass as director:
“Needless to say, I’m a Paul Greengrass fan and think he’s a wonderful choice for this film.”
Previously speaking on his inspiration for the novel, King said:
“I saw a vast deserted city—deserted but alive. I saw the empty streets, the haunted buildings, a gargoyle head lying overturned in the street. I saw smashed statues (of what I didn’t know, but I eventually found out). I saw a huge, sprawling palace with glass towers so high their tips pierced the clouds. I saw a magic sundial that could turn back time. Those images released the story I wanted to tell.”
