The next Stephen King novel headed to the screen could be The Eyes of the Dragon, Deadline reports today, an epic fantasy novel published in 1984. The site notes that Hulu has made a deal to develop a pilot episode of a potential series, with Seth Grahame-Smith (producer of IT and Child’s Play) attached as writer and show-runner.
The story, a huge departure for King at the time, takes place in the fictional realm of Delain. The villain? Randall Flagg, a character Dark Tower and The Stand fans are familiar with.
“A kingdom is in turmoil as the old King Roland dies and its worthy successor, Prince Peter must do battle to claim what is rightfully his. Plotting against him is the evil Flagg and his pawn, young Prince Thomas. Yet with every plan there are holes—like Thomas’s terrible secret. And the determined Prince Peter, who is planning a daring escape from his imprisonment.”
“I am so excited to be working in the world of Stephen King with Hulu, which has such a terrific track record with Stephen King adaptations,” Grahame-Smith told Deadline. “The goal for this series is to feel unlike any Stephen King adaptation before, with this rich underlying source material, and the only true fantasy book he wrote that has kings and swords and princesses. We will honor the spirit of the book and the legacy.”
At various points, an animated film and a Syfy series were planned for the novel.