November 15, 2003 Updates
-Perelman delves into the world of THE TALISMAN
Source: SciFi
On October 15, it was reported that the long-gestating (since the mid-1980s) Steven Spielberg production of THE TALISMAN, which is based on a novel by Stephen King and Peter Straub, was finally moving forward with a 2005 release date for DreamWorks Pictures.
Steven Spielberg will be serving as executive-producer of the film, along with Kathleen Kennedy, while newcomer Vadim Perelman, fresh off his feature film debut for DreamWorks with the upcoming HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG will be taking on directorial duties.
Perelman recently talked with SciFi Wire about his involvement with the picture and revealed that his assignment on the film came directly from Spielberg himself.
"[Steven Spielberg] called me after he saw the movie for the first time," Perelman told SciFi, referring to Spielberg's screening of HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG. "I felt very honored."
Perelman will be adapting the screenplay from King and Straub's book personally, although it is unclear at this time if he will be developing the screenplay as writer (as he did on HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG) or if he is merely overseeing the writing of Ehren Kruger (THE RING) who was last associated with the project as screenwriter.
October 15, 2003 Updates
-HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG director believes in the power of THE TALISMAN
Source: Variety
It's a project that Steven Spielberg has been dancing around since the 1980s, and after a brief mention of life last year (it was said that DreamWorks was contemplating a mini-series of the property), Stephen King and Peter Straub's 1984 fantasy novel THE TALISMAN looks like its on the fast-track to hit the big screen after almost 20 years since its publication.
DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Studios and Kennedy-Marshall (Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall's production company) will be producing the tale of "a 12-year-old boy [who] goes on a quest in this world and in a parallel universe to acquire a mystical talisman that will save the life of his dying mother."
Most interesting is the news that new and soon-to-be hot director Vadim Perelman (if his upcoming DreamWorks' film HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG lives up to the hype of the phenomenal trailer, you'll be hearing about Perelman, methinks) will take on the film for his sophomore effort. Steven Spielberg will serve on the TALISMAN as executive-producer.
October 22, 2002 Updates
-Spielberg to finally adapt King's THE TALISMAN?
Source: Variety, thanks to Kostas
Ehren Kruger, writer of DreamWorks successful remake of the Japanese horror film THE RING (RINGU in Japan), has signed on to a two-picture deal with Universal that includes resurrecting a long-gestating Steven Spielberg production!
Back in the mid-1980's Spielberg bought the rights to Stephen King and Peter Straub's The Talisman, the tale of a 12-year old boy and his inter-dimensional quest to save his sick mother.
The project hasn't had any press for a very, very long time, but it looks like it has risen like a phoenix for a second life.
Whether the property will be developed as a feature film or a miniseries (something Spielberg has been having great success with lately, and something Stephen King has always had a good run of) is so far unclear.