Another Stephen King Novella Is Headed to the Big Screen
Stephen King’s novella Rat is getting a feature film adaptation, with a team of experienced producers and filmmakers at the helm.
Jay Van Hoy, known for producing The Witch and The Lighthouse, is leading the production alongside Fernando Ferro (The Birthday Cake) and Paul Perez (Father of the Bride).
The adaptation will be directed by Mexican filmmaker Isaac Ezban, who previously made Mal de Ojo and Párvulos. The screenplay is written by Jeff Howard, known for his work on The Haunting of Hill House.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ezban expressed his excitement for the project, saying, “Stephen King has always been my favorite writer, ever since I started reading horror as a teenager… Rat remains one of my favorite stories he’s ever created… a dark, intimate, bizarre, even humorous and deeply unsettling story that gets under your skin.”
Rat tells the story of Drew Larson, a writer haunted by his own ambition. Each novel he attempts ends in illness or misfortune.
Hoping to break the cycle, Drew isolates himself in a remote Maine cabin, but a violent storm traps him, and his mind begins to unravel. Amid the chaos, a mysterious visitor appears, promising success—but at a terrifying cost.
The novella originally appeared in King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, which has already inspired other adaptations, including Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck starring Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill, and Netflix’s Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.
Ezban described the story as a “survival movie about writer’s block… the ultimate tale of our craft vs. our people, our creations vs. our loved ones, our art vs. our family, a theme I can very personally relate to.”
The producing team also shared their enthusiasm for bringing King’s novella to life, stating, “Stephen King’s work has always been a touchstone for genre filmmakers, and with Isaac and Jeff steering this adaptation, we believe it will capture both the terror and humanity that make his stories timeless.”
This adaptation promises to explore horror, suspense, and the pressures of creative ambition in a way that is faithful to King’s storytelling. Fans of King and psychological horror are likely in for a tense and unforgettable cinematic experience.
What do you think about Rat being adapted into a movie? Do you think Isaac Ezban is the right director for the story? Share your thoughts in the comments.
