Fans of Stephen King’s books, which are often turned into creepy movies, will be pleased with the latest news that one of his most difficult books, Insomnia, will be made into a film. Rob Schmidt, no stranger to thrillers and scare-fests, will be taking the helm as director, and landed the job in part because Stephen King was a big fan of his work on Wrong Turn.
Stan Winston has also been recruited for special effects, but other than that, there’s no word on who else will be working on this project. We can only assume that casting has also not yet begun.
The book that the movie will be based on is one of King’s largest – weighing in at over 700 pages. They’ll definitely not be short for any material to put in the film, but what Schmidt’s biggest challenges will perhaps be is giving this movie something that many have said the book lacks – an understandable story and sense of coherency.
So what’s the movie all about? Well, check out the description of the book Insomnia, as posted on StephenKing.com”
“Since his wife died, Ralph Roberts has been having trouble sleeping. Each night he awakens a little earlier until he’s barely sleeping at all. During his late night vigils and walks, he observes some strange things going on in Derry, Maine. He sees colored ribbons streaming from people’s heads. He witnesses two strange little men wandering the city under cover of night. He begins to suspect that these visions are something more than hallucinations brought about by sleep deprivation. Ralph and his friend, widow Lois Chasse, become enmeshed in events of cosmic significance.“
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Ryan said
July 3 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Well they better not screw it up, Stephen King movies don’t always translate well to the big screen and despite what people say…Insomnia is one of his best books.
Matt McCarty said
July 4 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Insomnia definately ranks very high up on my “Favorite Stephen King Novels List.” At last they waited until now to make it so they can use good SFX.
Jill said
July 10 2007 @ 11:58 am
This is my favorite Stephen King novel and I have always wanted to see it in film but figured it would be too hard to translate and someone would inevitably mess it up. I hope it turns out well, because the story is truly unique and would be amazing on a large screen if done well.
Vroni said
July 11 2007 @ 11:47 am
I am so excited this is being made into a feature film! The success of 1408 shows that people really do want to see what the “Master of Horror” has to offer, in whatever form it comes in.
Calle said
July 24 2007 @ 10:27 am
I think Insomnia is the best book Stephen King has ever written and I don’t think I can risk being disapointed by watching the movie, so I’m just not going to.
Olivia said
August 9 2007 @ 1:44 pm
I am veru pleased to find that a movie is in the makeing. With the time it took to produce the book im sure stephen king will not let us down. I know i will be in line to see it.
Germain said
May 5 2008 @ 11:04 pm
Espero que esta pelicula este bien hecha , he visto algunas que la verdad me dejaron con mal sabor de boca(the running man), espero que no cambien ni los nombres de los personajes ni nada , por que si no le quitaria la emocion que algunos como yo sentimos al ver plasmada una gran obra literaria en una pelicula ,hacer coincidir todo lo imaginado con lo que la gente puede comprender ,sinceramente deseo que esta pelicula sea de las mejores , os recomiendo las peliculas de IT ( ESO ) estan bien echas ( les pongo un 8 )la historia se asemeja a la del libro, algunos detallitos se les pasaron pero todo bien
Germain said
May 5 2008 @ 11:06 pm
I wait that this movie this good made, I have seen some that the truth left me with badly flavor of mouth (the running man), hope that they change neither the names of the prominent figures nor anything, for that if not him(her) quitaria the emotion that any since(as,like) me we feel on having seen a great literary work formed of a movie, when everything imagined makes coincide with what the people can understand, sincerely I wish that this movie is of the best, I recommend to you IT’s movies (IT) estan well you begin (I put
the history is alike that of the book, some detallitos they passed but all good
Elie said
May 6 2008 @ 10:41 am
I read insomnia and developed insomnia while reading it ….. i just couldnt put it down… while at work i couldnt wait to get home just to have that book in my hands again…. even after 700 pages i still couldnt get enough … this was my first stephen king novel that i’d ever read… now i only read stephen king … when i do read ….
Kays said
August 25 2008 @ 1:28 am
I love the book. I don’t think Schmidt is up to the task.
I think he’s going to miscast Ralph Roberts. Personally, i’d like to see Bruce Willis in the role. With alot make up and acted the way he did in Sixth Sense. He’d be excellent
Matt said
October 14 2008 @ 2:47 am
IMHO I think this could work. I’m reading it for the 2nd time now, as I’m about to finish the dark tower series shortly, and the way king intertwines various universes in his writing is amazing.
Of course for the movie to work, the end of the story would have to be changed, or an entire series of gunslinger movies would have to be made (which would just about make me crap my pants with joy).
Of course in order for insomnia to be a success, I think the best way to do it would be the miniseries route. Like Kingdom Hospital or The Stand. The Shining (which in my opinion kicked ass in both versions. Kubrick’s version rocked due to an amazing cast and visually stunning scenery. The casting for the made for tv version was laughable at best, (no offense Demornay, you’ll always be the hand that rocked my cradle) but still nowhere near as creepy as Shelley Duvall. It was, however completely true to the novel. Even if the acting was… eh.. lacking.
((where was i going with this? oh yeah…))
The miniseries route would be the only way to have the amount of time to establish the character transformations which would be required to effectively tell the story, especially this one, since the first 300+ pages are really nothing more than character establishment which is imperative to the story. This is not something which i could see being successfully done in montage. A series of flipping calendar pages and Ralph (the main character) waking earlier and earlier in each one… Negative. It would have to be a slower transformation to make the slip more believable. I couldn’t see this movie being shorter than 6 or 7 hours.
If they tried to make this a flick for the theater, then they can count on it flopping, and flopping badly.
The visual effects better kick ass too. I mean wicked mushroom trip ass kicking at that. The story is carried heavily by the minds eye. It’s a brightly colored palette of flowing imagery, and if it’s not done well and at a level which will be exhausting to achieve, then it will most undoubtedly be a disappointment. Which is sad to say, because there’s very few movies which have done a novel justice (very few king novels especially) and i would hate for this to turn into another “Langoliers”. Well sh#t i guess i’ve rambled on long enough about crap i guess i really know anything about. I guess we’ll see when, and if, it ever comes out.
fulmoontat
Suz said
February 3 2009 @ 6:56 pm
This is one of the best books ever written by the “King”…As a matter of fact, I just started reading the book again last night for the 4th time. I’ve been waiting for this to be made into a movie, but was worried also about how they would bring this to “life” the way King brings his work to life. Everytime I read one of his books, I feel like I’m there; in the book. I’d like to see them use Wilford Brimley as “Ralph” (he’s a little heavyset for the character) & Gina Rowlands as “Lois”…
I just finished reading “The Cell” very weird and disappointed in the ending.