An Upcoming Stephen King Adaptation Adds To Its Cast

An Upcoming Stephen King Adaptation Adds To Its Cast

As a gamer with a soft spot for Stephen King adaptations, I must say that the upcoming TV series “The Institute” has me genuinely thrilled! The addition of Jason Diaz and Simone Miller to the cast is a brilliant move, especially since they’ll be playing characters at opposite ends of the moral spectrum.


It’s always thrilling when a new TV series or film adapts a book by Stephen King. Recently, the upcoming horror TV show adaptation of “The Institute” has added two fresh faces to its cast.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that Jason Diaz and Simone Miller have joined the cast of the upcoming MGM+ show! Diaz will bring an evil twist to his role as an orderly, while Miller will portray an inmate at the Institute. Joining them are Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker. The anticipation among fans for the adaptation of some underappreciated Stephen King novels has been building for a few years now, and with “The Institute” set to hit our screens soon, that wait is about to end!

By June 2024, Deadline announced that MGM+ had given the green light for The Institute to be developed as a series. Stephen King’s novel, “The Institute,” was published on September 10th, 2019, and focuses on Luke Ellis, a young boy who finds himself living at an institution after his parents pass away. This unique establishment is home to children who possess psychic abilities such as telekinesis or telepathy. Interestingly, this narrative bears some resemblance to the story of Firestarter‘s Charlie McGee, despite a less-than-satisfying reboot. Similar to Charlie, Luke is a lively and intelligent child who learns about evil far too early in life and deserves warmth, empathy, and understanding.

An Upcoming Stephen King Adaptation Adds To Its Cast

As reported by Deadline, King expresses his enthusiasm for the adaptation of “The Institute,” stating, “I’m thrilled and eager about the possibility of this suspenseful story coming to life as a series. With Jack Bender and Ben Cavell on board, I’m confident that the end product will be outstanding.” Both Cavell, who has previously worked on “The Stand” and “Justified,” and will serve as an executive producer and writer, and Bender, who has experience with “Mr. Mercedes” and “Lost,” will take on executive producer and director roles respectively in this project.

In the novel The Institute, not much is known about the other characters besides Parker’s role as Ms. Sigsby, who oversees the Institute and appears oblivious to its cruel nature. Luke encounters Tim Jamieson, played by Barnes, a retired cop, and they develop a connection. Given that Parker has portrayed morally ambiguous characters in shows like Nancy Botwin from Weeds, it’ll be intriguing to witness her performance as a truly wicked individual.

Among the numerous Stephen King novels that could make captivating films, The Institute would be superbly suited for an eight-episode television series. This format allows ample time to fully develop the narrative, yet leaves room for a nail-biting cliffhanger at the end of episode 8, potentially setting the stage for an exhilarating season 2. Moreover, this duration offers a perfect opportunity to delve into the intricate details and compelling backstories of each character, especially Luke, who is a morally good individual thrust into harrowing circumstances. Interestingly, many of King’s stories showcase terrifying teenage characters; however, Luke stands out as a unique figure among them.

Because many of King’s works have been adapted for different media, he has frequently discussed his experiences with this process. In an interview with Deadline in 2016, he expressed that he is content with alterations being made to his work. He explained, “I prefer to have approval over the screenwriter, director, and leading actors. Our goal is to ensure these individuals comprehend that I want to contribute positively, not create complications.

Read More

2024-09-06 19:23