Just yesterday we got hit with the surprising news that a prequel to The Shining called The Overlook Hotel was on its way and would be penned by Glen Mazzara. While there are plenty of possible paths that the prequel could go down it’s still something that a lot of fans are nervous about and rightfully so. Right now it’s a huge mystery as to what Mazzara plans on doing with the project, but what we do know is that Stephen King isn’t exactly looking forward to it.
It was really only a matter of time before Stephen King himself weighed in on the news and thanks to EW, we’ve got his reaction right here:
I’m not saying I would put a stop to the project, because I’m sort of a nice guy. When I was a kid, my mother said, ‘Stephen if you were a girl, you’d always be pregnant.’ I have a tendency to let people develop things. I’m always curious to see what will happen. But you know what? I would be just as happy if it didn’t happen.
With Stephen King’s sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep, arriving in the fall, it has to be weird for him seeing that a prequel is on its way too — especially one he had nothing to do with. I totally agree with Mr. King here though because while I’m curious where this will all end up, I don’t think it would be hurting anyone if it just dissapeared.
themissingreel.com 
(Why do I have to fill in all that info when I have been following you and am signed in?)
Anyway, I can’t wait for Doctor Sleep, but I am …skeptical…about a prequel NOT involving King, since he likely had backstory in mind when initially writing the Shining.
(Because I switched my blog over. I don’t think u will have to do it every time.)
Yea Doctor Sleep sounds amazing and I can’t wait either. I pretty much agree with you 100%, it’s definitely going to be interesting without King being involved.
“Stephen if you were a girl, you’d always be pregnant.” Haha love it 😀
Not the film 😦
Yes! I love that quote haha.
He does agree to a lot of his work being adapted. Im optimistic it could be good……….
Yea, by now he’s probably just used to it since almost everything of his has been adapted at some point. Im being optimistic as well!
Hmmmm… as I said, I don’t know about a prequel. Maybe if I watched it and did not think of it being a Stephen King concept, then maybe I could work it. I don’t know, I have really never thought that The Shining needed a prequel… especially one Stephen King was not involved with.
Yea absolutely. I think a lot more people would be into this if King were involved but unfortunately he isn’t At least we’ve got the novel to look forward too!
I think the original creator should always get first crack at a sequel, prequel, or remake. Hopefully it will be better than that horrible Evil Dead remake. Check out my review to see what I really think about that one. Anyways Glen Mazarra, I do have some faith in him. Hopefully he delivers something good.
Yea man it would definitely be nice to see King on board with this and at the very least help the writers develop something that he would be okay with!
The prequel is based on King’s own prologue/epilogue material from The Shining – well, originally it was in The Shining, but cut from the book for page count/narrative reasons. It’s pretty well-written, vintage King (“There was someone in the lobby. It wasn’t a man” is the chilling way King describes an entire confrontation in flashback) but probably wouldn’t have worked as the prologue to the novel because it gives away too much too soon. If you want to read some of it, parts have been transcribed on this forum from 2001ish but the poster never finished putting them up: http://www.chud.com/community/t/27784/stephen-kings-excised-prologue-to-the-shining-before-the-play-part-one
I could see this being some sort of Boardwalk Empire-esque historical series that also features some ghosts and spooky goings on.
Wow thanks for sharing that! I think you nailed it with describing it as Boardwalk Empire-esque because I think that would suite the film amazingly well. Good call! Thanks for stopping by.
Of course he’s not up for it. I would feel the same too, if one of my best novels has been turned into a movie – so for a moment I will be excited, right? – only to learn that, “okay, you know what, let’s do something different.” (I imagine Kubrick letting out a frustrated sigh as he says this – cue for his guerrilla filmmaking process). I understand Stephen King (one of my literary idols). What Kubrick and the production did with ‘The Shining,’ while it resulted to a wonderful piece of art, is basically the same as slapping it into Stephen’s face: “You know what, your story’s great…but, I think I can make it better. With my perfectly symmetrical framing and long, steady moving shots and all.”
I mean not to imply that I hate Kubrick. I’m actually a fan of his work. Understand that I’m just the pimply geek-boy torn between two of his idols in the industry. Thanks so much for sharing Ryan!
Totally agree with you man! I know it’s definitely hard for him to see other hands in The Shining that isn’t his but like he said, his work has been getting adapted since he wrote his first novel so he’s just used to it happening at this point. Maybe down the road they’ll get his blessing and let him help with the script or something, or at the very least let him read a first draft!