Producer Jay Van Hoy, known for The Witch and The Lighthouse, is currently developing a film adaptation of Rat, a novella by Stephen King included in the 2020 collection If It Bleeds. This collection also features the stories Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and The Life of Chuck, both of which have been adapted into films—Mr. Harrigan’s Phone by Netflix and The Life of Chuck directed by Mike Flanagan.
This project follows the recent release of movies based on King’s works, The Monkey and The Long Walk. Later this year, Paramount Pictures will release a new adaptation of The Running Man, starring Glen Powell and Josh Brolin. Additionally, HBO is set to premiere a Pennywise prequel series titled It: Welcome to Derry on October 26.
The film Rat will tell the story of Drew Larson, a writer cursed by his own ambition. His attempts at completing novels are plagued by misfortune—illness, disasters, and worse. Hoping to break the cycle, Drew retreats to a remote cabin in Maine, believing this time will be different. However, a violent storm traps him in isolation, and as his body weakens and his mind unravels, a strange visitor appears—an uncanny figure offering salvation and success, but at a steep and mysterious price.
Directed by Mexican filmmaker Isaac Ezban (Mal de Ojo), Rat will feature a screenplay by Jeff Howard, known for The Haunting of Hill House. The film is being produced by Fernando Ferro (The Birthday Cake) and Paul Perez (Father of the Bride). This marks another collaboration between Van Hoy and Ferro, who are also working on the upcoming crime thriller 52nd State, which recently finished production.
Ezban expressed his admiration for King, saying, “Stephen King has been my favorite writer since I started reading horror as a teenager. I’ve long dreamed of adapting his work… He embodies the contrast of beauty and brutality that has influenced my storytelling.” He added, “I’ve read most of his work, and Rat remains one of my favorites—dark, intimate, bizarre, humorous, and deeply unsettling. I see this as a survival story about writer’s block, as well as a reflection on the conflict between our craft and our personal lives, our creations and loved ones. King has always inspired me as a filmmaker and storyteller, and I’m honored to bring this story to life.”
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