While there has been no official confirmation, for weeks rumors have been circulating that Warner Bros. were in negotiations with Ben Affleck to direct the film adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand.’ But it seems now we may have some un-official confirmation regarding Affleck’s involvement. According to reports, Affleck has hired a writer to adapt the novel: David Kajganich (‘The Invasion’).
I have some pretty mixed feelings about this news. On one hand, I’m thrilled that we have some evidence that Affleck is indeed involved. I never thought I’d say it but he is an extremely capable director (I’ve heard fantastic things about ‘Gone Baby Gone’ and I absolutely adored ‘The Town’). On the other hand, the choice of Kajganich is a bit odd in my opinion. He’s not that well known as of now and critics and audiences alike panned ‘The Invasion.’ Either way I’m sure Affleck knows what he is doing so I will try to have a little faith!
‘The Stand’ is one of my favorite novels but it also seems like an impossible film to adapt to the screen. It’s incredibly long (the un-cut version is a little over 1,000 pages!), and there is a ridiculous amount of characters that could never be properly developed in a 2-hour film. I assume Affleck and team will have to exclude a hefty amount of material from the novel no?
In case you’re unfamiliar with Stephen King’s famous novel, here’s a brief synopsis:
One man escapes from a biological weapon facility after an accident, carrying with him a deadly virus, a rapidly mutating flu that – in the ensuing weeks – wipes out most of the world’s population. In the aftermath, survivors must choose between the forces of good and evil.
Stay tuned for more news on ‘The Stand’ and hopefully we get that Ben Affleck confirmation soon!
