Mist-y Eyed

Writer/director Frank Darabont is adapting another story, his third, by author Stephen King for the big screen...

Michael Fleming of Variety has the details:

Dimension Films will turn Stephen King novella "The Mist" into a horror film, which Frank Darabont will direct from his own script.

Thomas Jane [who was also in 2003's Dreamcatcher--another King tale turned movie] is in talks to be part of the ensemble cast.

Darabont, whose biggest hits were the King adaptations "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile," has long been enshrouded in "The Mist."

King entrusted the rights to him several years ago, when Darabont had a first-look deal at Paramount. Darabont is in the final stages of reclaiming rights to his script.

"It's a project Stephen King and I have been talking about doing for almost 20 years now," Darabont said. "In fact, it almost was my first directing project many years ago, but I went classy and did "The Shawshank Redemption" instead. It's time to get down and dirty and make a nasty little character-driven gut-punch horror movie." ...

Published in 1985 as part of King's short story collection "Skeleton Crew," "The Mist" takes place in a small town where a thick mist engulfs the area, killing those caught in its darkness.

Terrified survivors seek refuge in a supermarket, while a swarm of murderous critters tries to get in...

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King is one of my favorite storytellers and I loved what Darabont did with The Shawshank Redemption. It's one of the BEST films ever made...I know I'm in the minority here, but the film version of The Green Mile made 5 years after, just wasn't as good. Solid at best...It's interesting that "Mist" was on Darabont's radar--even before Shawshank. It's funny how it all worked out. I'm curious to see how Darabont will use his talents for this 'down and dirty' horror tale..

In case you were wondering--The Dreamcatcher is a horrible movie...If Jane does Mist--he should have better luck with Darabont calling the shots this time...