I’m very concerned that James Wan’s new horror series ignores “99%” of the original novel

The film produced by James Wan Teacup was one of my most anticipated horror shows for 2024, but the showrunner’s claim that it essentially ignores the original novel makes me nervous. Peacocks Teacup Yvonne Strahovski and Scott Speedman star as a couple in Georgia who, along with their neighbors, are under siege from an otherworldly threat. The trailer for Teacup takes notes from Lost The script keeps things very mysterious, but those who have read the book adapt it – that of Robert R. McCammon sting – will have a clearer idea of ​​what is happening.

Stinger feels like an unmade sequel to The thing and is about an alien bounty hunter who traps a desert city in an impenetrable dome. This creature can also absorb other life forms and turn them into drones, with its signature attack being a spiked, barbed tail. I’ve found Stinger to be a pulpy, guilty pleasure that features both spine-chilling horror scenes and large-scale action. Even though I already knew it Teacup would remove most of these elements, I didn’t know exactly how much until now.

I hate that James Wan’s Teacup ignores “99%” from Stinger

Teacup takes the basic idea and little else from Robert R. McCammon’s book

To be clear: I don’t think so Stinger itself is high art; It reads like a cheesy Stephen King book that suffers from too many characters and subplots. Still, it’s a very entertaining read and full of great concepts. First message Teacup made it clear that there would be major changes from the novelincluding changing the setting from Texas to Georgia and foregoing most ensemble and action sequences in favor of more intimate horror. Not until showrunner Ian McCulloch spoke to him Fucking disgusting I realized that Teacup were “99.8“Different to Stinger.

It was about taking the basic idea of ​​the book and seeing if it would work. In my opinion the book exists. If you want to experience the book, read it. This is something completely different. To everyone’s credit, they let us, me and my writers, go as far as we wanted. I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find more than two or three things that remain from the book.

I understand that it was the central conceit that appealed to McCulloch more than the story itself, and that inspired him to go in a different direction. Still, it feels strangely disrespectful to change the premise StingerThen throw the book in the corner and do something completely different. It sounds Teacup could have easily been an original sci-fi series all its ownwhich could then have allowed other filmmakers to attempt a more faithful interpretation Stinger.

It also sounds like the Peacock adaptation is embarrassed to be associated with McCammon’s Stingerand wants to put distance between him and him Teacup. I was all for the series being more horror-focused and forgoing the more bombastic elements – like a chase between the titular monster and a helicopter – but it sounds like it Teacup just falls off Stinger complete,

Teacup’s approach to Stinger made me less excited for the show

I wanted to see Stinger in live action

Stinger was released back in 1988 and reads a lot like a 1980s monster movie, such as The blob or Aliens. It’s big and brash, featuring a showdown with “Stinger’s” terrifying true form in the final chapters. When the Peacock version was first announced, I doubted that the novel would be translated faithfully, but I was still excited to see what McCammon’s story would look like in reality.

Since reading about McCulloch’s approach, I’ve become far less enthusiastic about it Teacup. It sounds like the story is being reworked into a mystery box series in the style of… Lost or Out of. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that, but it’s fundamentally not what the novel was about. I would have been happier if producer James Wan had directed it with a big budget Stinger a film insteadand one that embraces the B-movie roots of the source material rather than running away from them.

Teacup could still surprise me in the end

Maybe it’s Stinger in name only, but Teacup has impressive talent

In defense of McCulloch’s approach, he stated: “We talked to Robert McCammon about it before we went ahead and he read the first script and approved it.” If Stingers author gave Teacup With his blessing, it’s at least worth a curious observation before discharge. Again, the book itself left room for improvement, and McCulloch’s previous work on series was similar Yellowstone And Deputy inspires trust. I highly doubt artists like Yvonne Strahovski or Kathy Baker would have signed on without feeling like the show had value.

I won’t deny it Teacup pretending Stinger “Doesn’t exist” didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for itbut in a way it made me curious about what it will actually be. It sounds like the best approach is to bet Stinger completely crazy and enjoy it Teacup for what it is instead of what I hoped it would be. Hopefully its changes will be justified and the remixing of the plot will result in one of the best new horror shows of 2024; However, a cameo with a scorpion monster would also be nice.

Source: Bloody Disgusting