Netflix has officially canceled its adaptation of Stephen King The Talisman adaptation, with the project coming to a halt after years in development. The plan, which involved the Duffer Brothers, best known for Stranger Things, will not move forward at the streaming service.
The Duffer Brothers Confirm End of Development
Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, who were set to lead the adaptation as their first major series outside the Stranger Things universe, have confirmed that the project is no longer moving ahead at Netflix.
“Sadly, Talisman is no longer at Netflix, so we’re not involved.”
– Ross Duffer, Co-Creator
The project faced a lengthy and difficult development process. Matt Duffer acknowledged that they may have underestimated the challenge of translating the book for the screen.
“I remember I was, I think it was probably naive of us to think we could break The Talisman,”
– Matt Duffer, Co-Creator
Ross Duffer pointed out the book’s long and complicated journey in Hollywood, noting that various attempts to adapt it have been made for decades.
“So it’s been in development forever, so I’m sorry that we were not the ones to break the curse,”
– Ross Duffer, Co-Creator
Matt Duffer concluded that success may come from a future creative team.
“It will be whoever does it and cracks it.”
– Matt Duffer, Co-Creator
The Troubled Journey of Stephen King’s The Talisman
The Talisman, published in 1984 by Stephen King and Peter Straub, tells the story of Jack Sawyer, a young boy who travels through a parallel dimension called the Territories to locate a mystical object that can save his dying mother. The novel was followed by a sequel, Black House, in 2001. Previous adaptations of the material include a short film in 2008 and a graphic novel released the following year.
Hollywood has attempted for years to bring The Talisman to cinemas, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners attached to the project at different times. However, comments from the Duffer Brothers suggest that efforts to produce a major film adaptation remain stalled.
Outlook for the Duffer Brothers and The Talisman Franchise
With Netflix pulling the plug on the series, the Duffer Brothers are shifting focus to their other creative endeavors. The cancellation leaves the fate of Stephen King The Talisman adaptation uncertain, as the story continues its long-standing status as a challenging project for both television and film adaptations. Fans of King, the Duffer Brothers, and the original novel may have to wait even longer for a successful on-screen version.
