After ‘It’ success, ‘Pet Sematary’ nets directors

Image: Xiaojiao Wang/shutterstock.com via AFP Relaxnews

The next feature-length Stephen King adaptation could be the spooky animal-oriented story “Pet Sematary”, after Paramount’s project landed a pair of co-directors.

Released on Sept. 8 and remaking the 1990 miniseries of the same name, this year’s “It” is currently sitting on a $666 million worldwide box office on a relatively modest $35 million budget.

Warner Bros has already cued up a direct sequel, “It: Chapter Two”, which is slated for release in September 2019. With the first part having done so well, Paramount Pictures is moving ahead with its “Pet Semetary” project.

First published in 1983, Stephen King’s “Pet Semetary” tells the story of a family that make a cross-country move only to discover that their new house is situated close to a cemetary for local children’s pets as well as an ancient burial ground.

The book had previously been adapted into a 1989 feature film with Dale Midkiff of “The Magnificent Seven” and Fred Gwynne of “The Munsters” in leading roles.

Paramount retained the rights and, with the same producers that have been in place since 2013, has now announced Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer as the remake’s directors.

Together, the pair directed three episodes of “Scream: The TV Series” and 2014 horror “Starry Eyes”, as well as their 2009 feature film debut, the triple-stranded thriller “Absence”.

Numerous Stephen King projects are in development, including an undated TV series based on apocalyptic vision “The Stand”, a version of “The Talisman” from Steven Spielberg’s production company, and Hulu’s 2018 TV series spin-off “Castle Rock”. JB

RELATED STORY:

How the 2017 remake of Stephen King’s ‘IT’ frightens moviegoers in the best way possible