39 years after the release of The Shining, considered to be one of the greatest horror films, a direct sequel to it “Doctor Sleep” was released in theatres. Both films are based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name.
With “Doctor Sleep” being the talk of the town, here are 5 facts you need to know about the film.
1. Five Actors Were Considered For The Leading Role
Before Ewan McGregor was cast as the role of adult Danny, 5 different actors were auditioned for the role. They were John Cusack, Jeremy Renner, Matt Smith, Chris Evans, and Dan Stevens. Eventually, Ewan won with Stephen King’s blessing.
His casting is particularly suitable because of his age. The Shining took place in 1980 when Danny (who was played by Danny Lloyd) was around 8. Ewan was around 9 when the film was released, giving it a suitable role.
2. This Book Was Asked/Inspired By A Fan
Stephen King, during a book signing in 1998 was asked by a fan of what happened to Danny. This sparked inspiration for King, which he started working on it. The book was released in 2013.
3. Subverted Horror Trope: Jump Scares
Mike Flanagan, who is the director of Haunting of Hill House said there will be no jump scares in this film.
4. The Movie Differs Greatly From The Book
The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick differs greatly from the novel with a lot of symbolism, ambiguities, and inconsistencies. (In the book, The Overlook is destroyed by a fire, in the film it remains intact). There has been a lot of speculation on the actions and symbolism from the film, with Stephen King criticizing the Kubrick.
The book’s sequel was more faithful to the prequel. Mike Flanagan, the director said that he will stick to Kubrick’s version. Because of this, Flanagan worked closely with King and he was satisfied after seeing the final cut.
5. The True Knot
This film will also cover The True Knot, a group of people who hunts and kills people who have special abilities to feed their abilities. In the film, Danny befriends a child, Abra Stone who has psychic powers and helps her being from hunted by The True Knot. However, Danny posses “The Shine” which makes being a target too.
What did you think about Doctor Sleep? Let us know in the comments.
Header Image Source: IMP Awards | IMDB