After the tremendous success Stephen King has seen in book-to-screen adaptations this year, the author is planning on reclaiming the rights to some of his original titles.
With It arriving on September 8, Mr. Mercedes currently airing on Audience Network, Gerald’s Game coming to Netflix on September 29, and numerous other TV and film adaptations on the rise, King’s properties have proven to be particularly popular in recent years. Though many different studios currently hold the licensing rights to his novels and short stories, King has filed termination notices that will become effective on September 1, 2018. In other words, starting from next September, producers and directors wanting to remake King’s titles such as Cat’s Eye, ‘Children of the Corn,’ Creepshow, Cujo, The Dead Zone, and Firestarter will have to gain permission from him again.
According to Bloody Disgusting, King’s decision to terminate transfers is timely since a copyright battle for ‘Children of the Corn’ has just begun. Earlier last week, producer Donald Borchers filed a federal copyright suit against the Weinstein Company claiming that he is the alleged copyright holder of the franchise. Now that termination notices have been provided, it looks like neither Borchers nor The Weinstein Company will be victorious in this case.
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Firestarter, a science-fiction novel about a couple who participated in secret experiments to gain telekinesis. They then have a child who exhibits signs of pyrokinesis (the ability to create and control fires with one’s mind). Fun. It will get a cinematic remake under Universal Pictures. Screenwriters Akiva Goldsman and Scott Teems will have to hurry with the book-to-screen translation and showcase their regurgitation efforts before next September if they want to avoid copyright issues.
According to Movie Web, another adaptation of Cujo, which stands for Canine Unit Joint Operations, is also on the rise. In 2015, Sunn Classic Pictures announced that Lang Elliot will adapt and direct. DJ Perry is set to star. Although we haven’t heard much of their progress, production is likely to be expedited for completion within a year.
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