After a competitive bidding war, Spyglass’ Television Division has optioned the rights for Stephen King‘s latest novel, The Institute. David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies) will adapt and executive produce the limited series with Jack Bender (Lost) directing.
King’s novel, published this week, revolves around a group of super-powered children who are stolen away in the dead of night and locked up in the titular location by shady individuals. Nefarious things ensue. Perhaps the most stunning thing is that the novel is set in Minneapolis, not Maine.
Kelley and Bender worked together previously on Mr. Mercedes, which was itself an adaptation of King’s Bill Hodges Trilogy. That was recently renewed for a third season. Expect the King resurgence to continue, as the success of IT a few years ago led to an incredible amount of King adaptations being put into motion. The Institute is unlikely to be the last piece of King IP a studio becomes enamoured by.
Up next, Kelley is developing the limited series The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant for HBO, and is also writing an adaptation of Michael Connelly‘s bestseller The Lincoln Lawyer for CBS.
Bender is also working on the series The Outsider, which is based on – you guessed it – King’s 2018 novel of the same name. He was also the executive producer of Under The Dome, another King adaptation. This guy just can’t get enough of the master of horror.
#Peace.Love.TheInstitute
