Stephen King’s ‘The Monkey’: James Wan and Osgood Perkins Unite for NEON’s Horror Event

by Annika May 18, 2024

– NEON has acquired the adaptation of Stephen King’s short horror story ‘The Monkey,’ produced by James Wan and directed by Osgood Perkins, following intense bidding that concluded in the high seven figures.
– The film, which will be released in 2025, stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, and Elijah Wood, and revolves around twin brothers dealing with mysterious deaths linked to their father’s old monkey toy.

Stephen King’s ‘The Monkey’: James Wan and Osgood Perkins Unite for NEON’s Horror Event

Three renowned figures in the horror genre are set to collaborate on a new chilling venture, The Monkey, an adaptation of the esteemed story by Stephen King. The creative forces include producer James Wan, known for his adeptness in sculpting cinematic scares, and Osgood Perkins, who will both script and helm the directorial duties of this promising film.

The adaptation news comes from a report by Deadline which details a bidding war over the film’s rights that ultimately saw NEON emerge victoriously. A distributor with an already established reputation in the horror scene, NEON’s latest acquisition cements their position as a formidable entity in genre filmmaking. The fervor surrounding the property reached such heights that the deal was finalized in the high seven figures, indicative of the anticipation and confidence surrounding this adaptation.

Audiences can mark their calendars for a 2025 release of The Monkey, which promises to be a suspenseful addition to the already rich collection of King adaptations. The story is one of the notable pieces featured in “Skeleton Crew,” King’s 1985 anthology that hosts a variety of his terrifying tales, ranking The Monkey among such hair-raising narratives as The Mist and The Raft.

Star-studded is an understatement when addressing the cast assembled for The Monkey. Theo James, bringing his gravitas from the likes of The White Lotus, is set to shine alongside the incredibly versatile Tatiana Maslany, familiar to superhero fans from She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. They are joined by Elijah Wood, whose portrayal in Maniac is still etched in viewers’ memories, as well as up-and-commers like Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), Colin O’Brien (Wonka), Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends), and Sarah Levy of Schitt’s Creek fame.

Behind the scenes, the partnership between James Wan and his Atomic Monster colleague Michael Clear, along with C2 Motion Picture Group’s Jason Cloth and Dave Caplan, suggests a solid foundation for the film’s production. Their combined credits, which include hits like M3GAN, Joker, and Babylon, speak to a robust pedigree of storytelling and cinematic expertise.

The storyline of The Monkey weaves a horrific narrative wherein twin brothers, Hal and Bill, encounter their father’s cursed monkey toy, which becomes the catalyst for a series of unexplainable and gory fatalities. Despite attempts to dispose of it and move on, the brothers are later forced to confront the monkey’s sinister impact as it resumes its lethal spree, necessitating a desperate quest to terminate the curse permanently.

With such compelling source material, highly regarded creative minds at the helm, and a dynamic cast, The Monkey is poised to be a gripping film that will resonate with horror enthusiasts and King’s faithful readers alike.

The assembly of these horror film moguls, the fervent acquisition by NEON, and the anticipation for 2025, all point to The Monkey potentially becoming a benchmark in the realm of horror cinema. For fans of the genre and King’s intricate narratives, this upcoming film promises a blend of terror and storytelling finesse that could very well haunt the imagination long after the credits roll.