CBS has been rather aggressive with the marquee programming. Star Trek: Discovery and the upcoming Twilight Zone revival from producer Jordan Peele both leverage classic TV brands, while The Good Fight, just renewed for a third season, has brought over fans from The Good Wife, the show it spun out of. And now the subscription streaming service is looking to another well-known property as it has ordered a ten episode adaptation of Stephen King’s bestseller The Stand.
Taking the reins of the adaptation are The Fault In Our Stars writer/director Josh Boone and SEAL Team series creator/executive producer Ben Cavell. The pair have already written the series and Boone will handle directing the limited event.
Originally published in 1978, King’s apocalyptic novel tells the story of the world after a weaponized strain of influenza has wiped out 99.4% of the human population. Society has collapsed but small groups of survivors find themselves drawn by dreams to either a kindly old woman named Mother Abigail or to a powerful tyrant named Randall Flagg. And in short order, the two groups find themselves headed for conflict that could determine the fate of what remains of humanity.
Previously, The Stand was adapted as a four-part mini-series in 1994 for ABC. King himself handled the teleplay for the project, as well as had a small role on screen. The mini would receive six Emmy nominations and won in the sound mixing and makeup categories.
Boone is currently wrapping up work on the X-Men franchise film The New Mutants which is due in theaters in August.
So far, there has been no announced airdate for the series.
