About five years ago the Duffer Brothers announced they would produce a series based on Stephen King and Peter Straub’s novel The Talisman. They added the project to the Upside Down Pictures slate when they launched the company. Fans expected the duo to bring their Stranger Things magic to the beloved book.
Development Hell
The novel first appeared in 1984 and has faced decades of stalled attempts. Steven Spielberg secured the rights early but soon turned his attention to Empire of the Sun. In the early 1990s Richard LaGravenese wrote a feature draft after his Oscar nomination for The Fisher King. The year 2000 saw Mick Garris plan a four hour ABC miniseries, then the idea shifted back to a feature film. Writers such as Ehren Kruger, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro added scripts, while directors Vadim Perelman and Edward Zwick were attached at different times. Mid 2000s producers tried a six hour TNT miniseries but scrapped it for cost reasons. Josh Boone delivered a fresh draft in 2017.
When the Duffer Brothers entered the picture they aimed to shape the material into a Netflix series. They would have executive produced alongside Spielberg, who would have served as an Amblin Television executive producer. Curtis Gwinn, a writer on Stranger Things, was set to act as showrunner. Yet the project fell apart just like the many attempts before it.
Duffer Brothers Step Back
In a recent interview with CBR the brothers confirmed they are no longer attached to The Talisman. Ross Duffer said, “Sadly, Talisman is no longer at Netflix, so we’re not involved.” Matt added, “I think it was probably naive of us to think we could break The Talisman.” Ross explained that the script has lingered in development forever and that the team regrets not breaking the curse.
Mick Garris posted on Facebook that the story has suffered poor luck on its way to a film or TV adaptation. He recalled writing a four hour miniseries for Amblin and ABC years ago. He noted that Richard LaGravenese also drafted an aborted feature version and that Ron Howard once considered a TV series. Garris expressed hope for the book but doubts the script will ever be seen.
The Book and Its Legacy
The Talisman follows twelve year old Jack Sawyer as he travels across two worlds to find a relic that can heal his dying mother and save the world. The novel blends reality with a dangerous fantasy realm called The Territories. In 2001 King and Straub released a sequel, Black House, which follows an adult Jack Sawyer working for the LAPD and hunting a serial killer called The Fisherman.
Fans still hope for a third book. Although Peter Straub passed away in 2022, Stephen King says he will finish the Jack Sawyer trilogy. He revealed he is writing the third novel, so readers may get the story before any The Talisman TV series ever appears.
Do you feel sad that the Duffer Brothers will not bring The Talisman to Netflix? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: JoBlo
