Stephen King adaptations have been booming again in the film and series landscape for a few years now. No wonder, after all, “It” became the most successful horror film of all time in 2017! While there are currently more than 30 (!) projects in development based on the Master of Horror, the next adaptation, “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone”, is already in the pipeline.
This is a Netflix adaptation of the novella of the same name, which was published in 2020 in the anthology “Bloody News”. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” was directed by John Lee Hancock, who helped Sandra Bullock win an Oscar with “Blind Side” and also directed “The Alamo”, “Saving Mr. Banks” and “The Founder”. Hancock has already worked with Netflix on the thriller “The Highwaymen” in 2019. We’ll see if the collaboration bears fruit again on October 5, when “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” hits Netflix.
THIS IS MR. HARRIGAN’S PHONE
The adaptation centres on teenager Craig (Jaeden Martell), who lives in a sleepy small town and strikes up an unusual friendship with reclusive billionaire John Harrigan (Donald Sutherland), based primarily on their shared love of books and the desire to read. When Harrigan suddenly passes away, Craig discovers that he can still communicate with him via a telephone…
Even though “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” has supernatural elements (and is also reminiscent of “The Black Phone” with Ethan Hawke), this is a somewhat gentler horror story that also sees itself as a coming-of-age story and an examination of life, death and the things that take place between these two areas.
While Jaeden Martell (“It”) and Donald Sutherland (“The Tribute of Panem” franchise) will take on the leading roles in “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone”, supporting roles will feature Kirby Howell-Baptiste (“Sandman”), Joe Tippett (“Mare Of Easttown”), Colin O’Brien (“Wonka”) and Thomas Francis Murphy (“Terminator Genisys”), among others. The screenplay was written and directed by John Lee Hancock. The film was produced by “American Horror Story” creator Ryan Murphy and Jason Blum (“Halloween”, “Paranormal Activity”).
