For Some Reason, Warner Bros. Might Be Making a Prequel to 'The Shining'

Redrum!

By Kate Erbland Jul 29, 2012 9:19PM

The LA Times reports (via ComingSoon) that "Warner Bros.is quietly exploring the possibility of a prequel to 'The Shining,' the 1980 Stanley Kubrick chillfest that many fans regard as the scariest movie of all time." Before we get too into it, please note that "a WB spokeswoman cautioned that any 'Shining' prequel was in a very early stage and not even formally in development." With that out of the way, let's raise up our pitchforks (Big Wheels?) now!

The outlet reports that the studio has tapped "Hollywood writer-producer Laeta Kalogridis and her partners Bradley Fischer and James Vanderbilt to craft a new take as producers." This prequel would "focus on what happened before Jack Torrance (of course played memorably onscreen by Jack Nicholson), his wife and their psychic son arrived at the haunted retreat where Torrance soon descends into violent madness." A prequel that focuses on things that happen before the events of the original film! Insane!

While this idea might sound, at least at first blush, startlingly wrong-headed, there are some intriguing elements of the first time that lend themselves to a look back in time - but they don't necessarily involve the rest of Torrance's family. Fans of the film might be interested in going back to a time many years before the action of the original "Shining," a time without either Wendy or Danny Torrance, but that doesn't sound like the direction that this project might be going in.

It's also important to note that King himself is also working on a new "Shining" project - a sequel to his first novel that has not been (yet) picked up for a cinematic adaptation.

Do you want to see either a prequel or a sequel to "The Shining"?

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11Comments

Best

Jul 30, 2012 8:28PM

If Stephen King is involved, I'll be fine with whatever he wants to do. He IS the original author, and it's his story to either write a prequel or sequel. Or neither.

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Bill Stewart (Bill-cazrabbit)

Jul 30, 2012 7:46PM

I would rather see a sequel to the Shining...no doubt!!! Stephen King is the greatest horror story teller-author ever!!! Anybody else touching this project in ANY form is just going to ruin it!!!

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Pork chop Elmo

Jul 30, 2012 7:44PM

I would like to see what kind of traumatic event causes people's souls to get called back to the hotels past? Maybe the hotel staff killed a patron (accidently or w/malice and the guy/woman cursed the place. Maybe it is a soul collectector and each person was cursed to bring as many as they can collect? The plots are endless, I would like to know why each employee is called back?

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petsareexpensive

Jul 30, 2012 7:11PM

christian slater can still play a younger jack

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Fredo683

Jul 30, 2012 8:22PM

Only if King writes it and has input in the cinematic approach....Any Stephen King fan knows how bad Kubrick messed the whole story up

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AmericanPride75

Jul 31, 2012 3:18AM

Mr. King is of course welcome to expand on his own ideas, as we so love him to do. But I have to say the only redeeming qualities of the film were the performances of Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall. Prequel? Not if it's pure hollywood not Stephen King. Hollywood has been turning wonderful stories into **** for years.

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artzygrrrl67

Jul 30, 2012 11:49PM

Hollywood make me laugh...a very good and hearty belly laugh! A "prequel," a "sequel," and/or a "remake." They call themselves talented...I beg to differ. I save my hard earned money and, when I choose to spend it, I'll do so w/friends, checking out a museum, and spending QUALITY timw w/family/friends and, helping out my community; I'm tired of all the crap that goes on into these films...as if I have no brain and imagination. They "push" the envelope in the name of edginess and...oh yeah, art (OVERRATED!).

Please Hollywood, we need more soft porn and violence...of course, you're not to be blamed; after all, it's about distraction and pocketing monies...er...art and edginess and all that other stuff.

DONE W/GIVING U MY MONIES. ;)

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kgp

Jul 30, 2012 6:41PM

no, please come up with an original idea.... next thing will be a modernized gone with the wind.

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gerald michels (JerryNoDak)

Jul 31, 2012 5:34AM

I'm not a fan of prequels. Not interested in looking back. Only interested in moving forward.

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lol888

Jul 30, 2012 7:57PM

What can I say? These days, producers and directors just can't think of anything new. All they could do is just take an old movie and do something with it or to it.

I sure miss those good old days where producers and directors could come up with new things. Copycats and remakes is all I see these days.

However, The Shining is sure a chill and one hell of a scare!!!! Great imagination and guts.

There are times when I even tried to tell a scary story and it creeps me out of my own skin. I just don't know how Stephen King does it.