UNEXPECTED: Stephen King’s new short story, Bad Little Kid, makes its debut to startled movie producers.
By Ruthie Farrell, Staff Writer
It seems that Stephen King has an unstoppable creative drive. Ever since he was seven years old, he has crafted short stories and novels that become every movie producer’s dream come true. From his first novel-turned-film, Carrie, released on the big screen in 1976, to his most recent adaptation, Mercy (2012), his production rate has been set on overdrive. Despite this, 2014 did not look like a breakthrough year for King. Most would agree that the peak of his success has come and gone; the 80’s and the 90’s were overflowing with Stephen King novels and films like The Shining (1980), Sleepwalkers (1992), The Shawshank Redemption (1994) etc. Now that the main course was served, it looks like we will receive dessert as well with the anticipated release of King’s new slightly out-of-the-blue short story, Bad Little Kid.
As of right now, Bad Little Kid is optioned for a feature film by the movie documentarian Laurent Bouzereau and his production company, Nedland Media Inc. Originally, the story was released exclusively to European fans in France and Germany as an e-story. Bouzereau thinks it is only fair to give the rest of the world a taste of the story that “centers on a man whose life changes forever when he realizes that a mysterious boy is causing the deaths of people he loves.” Bouzereau is not new to the expansive world of King’s creative genius. He is known for a number of documentaries including the 2011 TCM film, A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King, which features many interviews with King discussing his movies and their popularity. Now, he plans to direct Bad Little Kid.
With people already anticipating the release of Cell (another one of King’s films), no one could have predicted yet another adaptation. What was originally meant to be a reward for European hospitality has been picked up by more than a few excited French people. Over the years, Stephen King has seen over 50 of his novels and short stories recreated into films. This only leaves a single concern: producers better step up their game now because if he ever decides to stop, they won’t have anything left to make.
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