Say room 217 and any Stephen King fan will immediately know youโre referring to The Shining, one of the horror novelistโs most celebrated books. Its adaptation by Stanley Kubrick is also one of the most famous renderings of Kingโs works on screen (even if the authorย wasnโt initially fond of it), but itโs far, far from being the only one. Many of the writerโs short stories, novellas, and novels have been adapted into movies and TV shows. Channel surf at any given time and youโre sure to land upon at least one. Here are the King adaptations you can currently check out on M-Net and M-Net Movies.
The Outsider
Stephen King is nothing if not prolific. Since 1974 he has released a novel almost every single year. And thatโs novels. In between the practically annual novels there are short story collections, non-fiction works, and screenplays. In 2018 he released two novels, one of which was The Outsider. In the same year, it was picked up for a miniseries adaptation, which was released this year. Starring Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, and Jason Bateman, you can watch the miniseries on M-Net every Thursday night. If youโve missed the first few episodes, catch up with DStv Now.
Castle Rock
The anthology series Castle Rock is somewhat unique in that itโs not actually based on any of Kingโs books. Instead, itโs based on Castle Rock, a fictional Maine setting created by King. The show also features other familiar settings and characters from the authorโs writing. Season 2 has just started on M-Net (Saturday nights at 22:00 or watch on DStv Now) and features Annie Wilkes, the disturbed nurse from Kingโs book Misery. The book was adapted into a movie in 1990, with Kathy Bates portraying Annie in an Oscar-winning performance. In Castle Rock, the character is played by Lizzy Caplan whom youโll recognise from Masters of Sex.
Pet Semataryย
Never fear, we have not suddenly lost our ability to spell. The title of this 1983 King horror novel is intentionally misspelt. It refers to the incorrectly spelt sign for the children'sย pet cemetery in the story. In 1989, it was adapted into a movie and remade 30 years later. The remakeย airs on M-Net Movies Action+ channel 106 on Sunday 24 May at 01:30.
Dreamcatcherย
The year 2001 was another busy one for King because in addition to the horror novel Black House, which he co-wrote with Peter Straub, he also released Dreamcatcher. Itโs one of his many alien invasion tomes. Remember the alien-centred series Under the Dome on M-Net a few years back? That was also a King adaptation.ย Two years after Dreamcatcherโs release, a movie adaptation came out starring Morgan Freeman,ย Tom Sizemore, and Thomas Jane. Watch it on M-Net Movies Action+ย on Friday 22 May at 23:00 or onย DStv Now.
The Running Manย
Not only does King release a whole litany of books under his own name, but he writes under a pseudonym too. That name is Richard Bachman. He has released seven titles under that name, including The Running Man in 1982. Five years later it was adapted into a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Watch it on M-Net Movies Action channel 110 on Sunday 24 May at 16:44 or catch it on DStv Now.
Want even more King? He released a collection of novellas this year, entitled If It Bleeds, and several of his works are in various stages of being adapted for screen. Until then have a King fest with M-Net and M-Net Movies. Hereโs a wrap up of what you can currently watch:
The Outsider
Castle Rock season 2
Pet Sematary
Dreamcatcher
The Running Man
Feature image: Gettyย images.