Stephen King Reveals the Three Directors He Wanted to Write Movies For

Stephen King has long dreamed of collaborating with some of Hollywood’s most iconic directors, but not just on adaptations of his books.

In the book Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror, authors Tim Underwood and Chuck Miller capture the legendary horror writer sharing his desire to craft original material alongside filmmakers he admires.

King revealed that while many directors prefer to shape adaptations their own way, he has always wanted to create fresh stories with talented filmmakers.

“I’d like to work with Spielberg. I think that would be fun. I came very, very close to writing Poltergeist,” King said, referencing the 1982 supernatural horror hit directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg, of course, is known for his blockbuster hits such as E.T., Jurassic Park, and Jaws, and King clearly felt that collaborating with him on an original concept would be exciting.

Another filmmaker King mentioned was Don Siegel, who directed the original 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Siegel, a master of suspense and action, is also known for directing Dirty Harry and Escape from Alcatraz. King added, “I’d like to work with Don Siegel… Another is Sam Peckinpah. There are a lot of directors I really like, but in most cases, the last thing filmmakers want is to work with an author.”

Peckinpah was a legendary director known for his revisionist Westerns, including The Wild Bunch and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, famous for their gritty realism and violent action sequences.

King also spoke fondly of George Romero, the “father of the zombie film,” who directed the classic Night of the Living Dead and its sequels. “I’d like to do originals, and I’d like to do some more with George Romero. It was a great experience. I’d like to work with long form on cable sometime. George really wants that mood to spread, y’know. Give that guy nine hours and he’ll give everyone in America a heart attack!”

King’s admiration for Romero reflects his love of building tension and horror slowly, something Romero mastered with his politically charged zombie films.

Throughout the interview, King emphasized that his interest in these directors wasn’t about adapting his novels but about creating something new together. His comments reveal the deep respect he has for these filmmakers and his own ambition to explore storytelling beyond his written works.

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