CBS All Access Orders 10-Episode Series Adaptation of Stephen King’s THE STAND

While there had been rumblings of a potential movie adaptation and new miniseries based on Stephen King's The Stand, the news front on that project has been relatively quiet in recent years. Until now. After revealing the April 1st premiere date for the new Twilight Zone series, the streaming service CBS All Access has now revealed that they have ordered a 10-episode limited event series based on King's epic post-apocalyptic novel.

Josh Boone, who was previously working on The Stand movie adaptation (as well as an adaptation of King's Revival), will direct the new limited event series, and he'll also write and executive produce it with Ben Cavell (SEAL Team, Justified).

With The Stand adaptation ordered as a 10-episode event series, fans can rest assured that the adaptation of King's massive novel (the unabridged edition packs over 1,100 pages) will have enough installments to cover its sprawling, ambitious story about the ultimate fight between good and evil in a world ravaged by the lethal virus known as Captain Trips.

The Stand was previously adapted for the small screen as a four-part ABC miniseries that aired in 1994. Mick Garris directed the miniseries, which featured a cast including Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Jamey Sheridan, and Corin Nemec.

We'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on CBS All Access' The Stand event series when more details (including the cast and premiere date) are revealed, and we also have the official press release with more details below:

From the Press Release (via CBS All Access): "The Stand is a haunting apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil.

In this world, the fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors, with their worst nightmares embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.

"I'm excited and so very pleased that The Stand is going to have a new life on this exciting new platform," said Stephen King. "The people involved are men and women who know exactly what they're doing; the scripts are dynamite. The result bids to be something memorable and thrilling. I believe it will take viewers away to a world they hope will never happen."

"I read The Stand under my bed when I was 12 and my Baptist parents burned it in our fireplace upon discovery. Incensed, I stole my Dad's Fed-Ex account number and mailed King a letter professing my love for his work. Several weeks later, I came home to find a box had arrived from Maine and inside were several books, each inscribed with a beautiful note from God himself, who encouraged me in my writing and thanked me for being a fan," said Writer and Executive Producer Josh Boone.

"With over 400 million books sold around the world, Stephen King is one of our greatest living authors and The Stand is widely considered the crown jewel of his work. Millions of fans have been waiting for a modern interpretation that delivers on its depth, scope, and ambition," said Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President of Original Content for CBS All Access. "We are thrilled to be working with Stephen, Josh, Ben and a dedicated team working passionately to bring this brilliant material to life."

The Stand will be produced by CBS Television Studios. Josh Boone and Ben Cavell will write and executive produce, with Boone also directing. Roy Lee, Jimmy Miller, and Richard P. Rubinstein will also serve as executive producers with Will Weiske and Miri Yoon as co-executive producers and Owen King as producer."