Stephen King On What Went Wrong With Steven Spielberg’s Adaptation of ‘The Talisman’
Stephen King recently opened up about why an adaptation of his 1984 novel The Talisman, co-written with Peter Straub, has been stuck in development for over forty years.
The book follows a young boy, Jack Sawyer, as he embarks on a journey through a parallel world known as the Territories to find a mystical object that could save his mother. Before the novel even hit shelves, Steven Spielberg acquired the rights, but despite his long-standing interest, the project never made it to the big screen.
During an appearance on The Kingcast, King shared his frustrations about past attempts to bring The Talisman to life, particularly his clashes with former Universal executive Sidney Sheinberg.
Sheinberg, known for his close work with Spielberg on films like Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, was deeply involved in the discussions. King recalled that their conversations were often difficult, and he felt like Sheinberg was treating Spielberg like a child who needed protection.
“For forty years, man, Spielberg talked about it,” King said. “The discussions with Spielberg’s rabbi, so to speak, Sid Sheinberg, were very difficult, and they were very argumentative. I was drinking a lot then and doing a lot of dope. And he was very, very adamant that he was going to take care of Steven and not let Steven, like a child, take too much on his plate. And I’m like, OK, we’re talking about a grown-up man here, a creative person. Why don’t you just step aside and let us do our thing? And it just never worked out.“
Sheinberg played a key role in Spielberg’s early career, helping him become one of Hollywood’s biggest directors. However, King’s comments suggest that Sheinberg’s protective nature over Spielberg may have contributed to the adaptation’s delays. Spielberg himself confirmed in a 2018 interview that he has owned the rights to The Talisman since 1982, making it an outright purchase rather than an optioned property.
Over the years, multiple filmmakers have attempted to develop the project, including Josh Boone (The New Mutants) and Mike Barker (The Handmaid’s Tale), but none of these efforts gained traction. King mentioned that he has since changed his approach when it comes to adaptations of his work, ensuring that no one holds onto the rights for too long without making progress.
In 2021, it was announced that Netflix would develop The Talisman as a series with Spielberg’s Amblin Partners and the Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things. Given the book’s dual-world setting, which includes werewolves and other supernatural elements, a TV series might be a better fit than a movie. A series format allows for a more faithful adaptation without having to cut major parts of the story.
As of now, there haven’t been many updates on the Netflix adaptation, largely because the Duffer Brothers are still finishing up Stranger Things season 5. Once that wraps up, The Talisman could be their next major project, but nothing has been officially confirmed yet.
Let’s hope this adaptation finally happens after decades of delays. What do you think about The Talisman making its way to Netflix? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
