Netflix Cancels Long-Awaited Stephen King Fantasy Series After Years in Development Hell

Stephen King fans will be disappointed to hear that Netflix has canceled its long-planned adaptation of one of his novels.

The project, which had been stuck in development for decades, will no longer move forward on the streaming platform.

The Duffer Brothers, known for creating Stranger Things, had been attached to the series. In an interview with CBR, they explained that they are no longer involved.

Matt Duffer said, “I remember I was, I think it was probably naive of us to think we could break The Talisman.” Ross Duffer added, “It’s been in development forever, so I’m sorry that we were not the ones to break the curse.”

The Talisman has a long history of adaptations. It was turned into a short film in 2008 and a graphic novel, similar to The Stand and The Dark Tower.

The first issue of the graphic novel came out in October 2009. Del Rey had planned at least 24 issues, but only six were published. Over the years, a feature-length film version has been discussed and was at one point in development by Amblin Partners and The Kennedy/Marshall Company, with a script by Chris Sparling.

In 2021, it was announced that Netflix would develop The Talisman as a television series, with the Duffer Brothers helping in development. Now, that project is officially canceled.

This news shows how even high-profile adaptations can struggle for decades before they see the light of day, if at all. It’s a reminder of how challenging it can be to bring beloved novels to the screen. What do you think about long-delayed adaptations like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.