Stephen King

Stephen King’s New Novel ‘Fairy Tale’ Already Headed To The Big Screen!

Home / Stars / Stephen King’s New Novel ‘Fairy Tale’ Already Headed To The Big Screen!

By Kristin Myers on September 15, 2022 at 2:15 PM PDT

Horror master Stephen King just released a new book and it’s already being turned into a movie.

On September 6, the “Carrie” author released his new dark fantasy novel, “Fairy Tale.” On September 15, Deadline reported that Paul Greengrass has been set to adapt, direct, and produce the movie adaptation of King’s latest bestseller!

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Stephen King’s New Book ‘Fairy Tale’ To Be Adapted and Directed by Paul Greengrass

Stephen King signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' at Borders on Oxford StreetLondon, England - 07.11.06Credit: WENN Newscom/(Mega Agency TagID: wennphotos422078.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
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Although “News of the World” director Paul Greengrass is going to direct the feature, it doesn’t yet have a studio attached to it. However, given how successful adaptions of King’s works have been in recent years, it seems like the bidding war over the rights to the film will be contention.

In a brief statement, King said, “Needless to say, I’m a Paul Greengrass fan and think he’s a wonderful choice for this film.”

Greengrass added, “Fairy Tale is a work of genius. A classic adventure story and also a disturbing contemporary allegory.”

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Stephen King signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' at Borders on Oxford StreetLondon, England - 07.11.06Credit: WENN Newscom/(Mega Agency TagID: wennphotos422079.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
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King reportedly got the idea for the novel early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, when he asked himself,  “What could you write that would make you happy?”

“As if my imagination had been waiting for the question to be asked, I saw a vast deserted city—deserted but alive,” he wrote. “I saw the empty streets, the haunted buildings, a gargoyle head lying overturned in the street. I saw smashed statues (of what I didn’t know, but I eventually found out). I saw a huge, sprawling palace with glass towers so high their tips pierced the clouds. Those images released the story I wanted to tell.”

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What Is The Book ‘Fairy Tale’ About?

Stephen King signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' at Borders on Oxford StreetLondon, England - 07.11.06Credit: WENN Newscom/(Mega Agency TagID: wennphotos422077.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
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Although it remains to be seen how faithful the adaption to the novel will be, the synopsis of the book reads as follows:

“Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was ten, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself—and his dad. When Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. Sometimes strange sounds emerge from it.”

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Stephen King signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' at Borders on Oxford StreetLondon, England - 07.11.06Credit: WENN Newscom/(Mega Agency TagID: wennphotos422078.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
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“Charlie starts doing jobs for Mr. Bowditch and loses his heart to Radar. Then, when Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe. What Bowditch knows, and has kept secret all his long life, is that inside the shed is a portal to another world.”

“King’s storytelling in Fairy Tale soars. This is a magnificent and terrifying tale in which good is pitted against overwhelming evil, and a heroic boy—and his dog—must lead the battle.”

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What Are Readers Saying About Stephen King’s New Book?

Stephen King signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' at Borders on Oxford StreetLondon, England - 07.11.06Credit: WENN Newscom/(Mega Agency TagID: wennphotos422078.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
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The book currently holds a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with almost two thousand reviews from satisfied customers who praised King as the master of storytelling.

“Having been nurtured on Stephen King Horror books growing up, I was surprised that he could dream up a 'Fairy Tale.' This seems out of character for him,” one fan wrote. “I found the book a page turner, very hard to put down. Luckily, I have the time to spending reading, so I didn't have to pause at any stage of this delightful tale.”

“A very entertaining novel about Fairy Tale characters gone bad----REALLY bad. The story revolves around a courageous teenager and his beloved dog,” another fan added. “The bond and friendship they share, as they travel through an alternate world filled with wonders and wickedness, just pulled me in and kept me there. There’s a surprise at every turn. Kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. Just couldn't put it down!”

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Stephen King signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' at Borders on Oxford StreetLondon, England - 07.11.06Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN Newscom/(Mega Agency TagID: wennphotos422017.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
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“It has been a while since I last read a King novel, but this one feels like coming home,” another customer wrote. “Immediately gripping, and (unfortunately) gobbled up the first 15% of the book in a couple of hours (which cost me a lot of sleep).”

Although there is no word on when the movie will be released, Stephen King fans can pick up a copy of "Fairy Tale" in their local bookstore.

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