Another Stephen King adaptation is on the way. Deadline reports that Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to King’s novel Billy Summers. Moreover, the film is set to be produced by J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way. This may indicate Abrams directing the film with DiCaprio starring as the title character. The screenplay will be penned by Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. Billy Summers is the latest Stephen King adaptation fans can look forward to. An adaptation of Children of the Corn is coming to Shudder in March, and an adaptation of The Boogeyman will hit theaters in June. A feature-film adaptation of Salem’s Lot is also set to release this year.
Warner Bros. Bringing Stephen King’s ‘Billy Summers’ to the Big Screen
This time last year, Billy Summers was being packaged and shopped around as a 10-episode limited series. However, it was decided that a feature film adaptation would be more fitting. The novel tells the story of Billy Summers, a hitman looking to retire after one last job. He immerses himself in a small town under cover of being an aspiring novelist. As he prepares for the hit, he actually takes the novel seriously and begins writing his life story. However, things get complicated when the hit goes awry, and Summers realizes he has fallen into a trap with a bounty on his head. He also rescues a rape victim named Alice, and they both go on a cross-country journey to right the hitman’s wrongs. The novel was positively received by critics.
With Billy Summers, Warner Bros. is giving Bad Robot its fourth adaptation of Stephen King. The company has also given Lisey’s Story, Castle Rock, and 11.22.63.
Stephen King’s novels have had many adaptations, some being cinematic classics and others flops. However, Warner Bros. and Bad Robot have been good to King more times than not, so Billy Summers should be in good hands.