Steven Spielberg and the Duffer brothers to make a series of Stephen King’s The Talisman 

Steven Spielberg and Stranger Things’ Duffer brothers are set to adapt a Netflix series from Stephen King and Peter Straub’s novel The Talisman

Steven Spielberg has found his next project: a series adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s 1984 fantasy novel The Talisman.

The 74-year-old director will be executive producing an adaptation of the book for Netflix along with the Duffer brothers, best known for creating Stranger Things for the streamer.

The series has been a long time coming, as Spielberg has been interested in bringing the novel to the screen since two years before it was even published, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

New project: Steven Spielberg will be working with the Duffer brothers to adapt Stephen King and Peter Straub’s 1984 novel The Talisman as a Netflix series, according to The Hollywood Reporter; seen in 2018

Although Spielberg never found his own way into the story, the rise of prestige television created a new, more expansive way to adapt the novel without chopping it to pieces.

Matt and Ross Duffer, usually known as the Duffer brothers, will be helping Spielberg executive produce the Netflix series for his Amblin Television company and Paramount Television Studios. 

The brothers will executive producer for their production company Monkey Massacre Productions, while Spielberg will collaborate with Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey at Amblin.

King will also take a hand in the adaptation as an executive producer.  

Hit creators: Matt and Ross Duffer, usually known as the Duffer brothers, are best known for creating the monster hit Stranger Things at Netflix; seen in January 2020 in LA

Hit creators: Matt and Ross Duffer, usually known as the Duffer brothers, are best known for creating the monster hit Stranger Things at Netflix; seen in January 2020 in LA

Taking charge: King will also take a hand in the adaptation as an executive producer; seen in 2013

Taking charge: King will also take a hand in the adaptation as an executive producer; seen in 2013

Fantasy: The series likely appealed to the Stranger Things alumni, as it follows a 12-year-old boy named Jack Sawyer as he travels to an alternate dimension in search of a talisman to save his mother's life; still from Stranger Things

Fantasy: The series likely appealed to the Stranger Things alumni, as it follows a 12-year-old boy named Jack Sawyer as he travels to an alternate dimension in search of a talisman to save his mother’s life; still from Stranger Things

Curtis Gwinn, who wrote and executive produced on their series Stranger Things, will write The Talisman and serve as its showrunner.

The series likely appealed to the Stranger Things alumni, as it follows a 12-year-old boy named Jack Sawyer as he travels to an alternate dimension in search of a talisman to save his mother’s life. 

Stranger Things is known for having an alternate dimension, The Upside Down, that may give the collaborators an idea of how to present the new world. 

The book was written with King’s friend, the acclaimed novelist Peter Straub.

He has his own well-regarded horror novels, including the popular Ghost Story, which was adapted into a film in 1981.

The two later collaborated on a sequel, Black House in 2001, and King has talked about a potential third volume in the series, so Spielberg and the Duffer brothers may have plenty of material for additional seasons.

High profile: The book was written with King's friend, the acclaimed novelist Peter Straub. He has his own well-regarded horror novels, including the popular Ghost Story

High profile: The book was written with King’s friend, the acclaimed novelist Peter Straub. He has his own well-regarded horror novels, including the popular Ghost Story

More to come? The two later collaborated on a sequel, Black House in 2001, and King has talked about a potential third volume in the series, so Spielberg and the Duffer brothers may have plenty of material for additional seasons

More to come? The two later collaborated on a sequel, Black House in 2001, and King has talked about a potential third volume in the series, so Spielberg and the Duffer brothers may have plenty of material for additional seasons

King adaptations have never gone out of style in Hollywood since he burst onto the scene in the 1970s, but his work has been particularly popular in recent years.

A miniseries adaptation of his epic novel The Stand was released on CBS All Access starting late last year, while HBO adapted his recent novel The Outsider earlier in the year.

That miniseries was a critical success and featured performances from Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo.

Early King novels The Running Man (written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman) and Pet Sematary are currently being developed as well. 

King's works have had plenty of recent adaptations, including the well-received HBO adaptation of The Outsider; Cynthia Erivo pictured in The Outsider

King’s works have had plenty of recent adaptations, including the well-received HBO adaptation of The Outsider; Cynthia Erivo pictured in The Outsider