Stephen King's Cujo Will Be Reimagined In New Netflix Adaptation

In the latest round of Stephen King adaptations—or, if you prefer a more optimistic view, another exciting Stephen King movie announcement—a new film version of Cujo is on the horizon. Netflix is set to produce this new adaptation, with Roy Lee, founder and producer of Vertigo Entertainment, attached as producer. While still in early development, the project currently lacks attached writers or directors, and casting remains completely unannounced.

King's novel, originally published in 1981, was first adapted into a cult classic horror film in 1983, directed by Lewis Teague and scripted by Don Carlos Dunaway and Barbara Turner. The story follows a mother (played by Dee Wallace in the original) fighting to protect her son from a rabid Saint Bernard. Trapped in a car with a dead battery, they face a terrifying struggle for survival against the increasingly aggressive Cujo, whose rabies-induced transformation from friendly dog to relentless killer, coupled with the threat of heatstroke, creates a heart-stopping scenario.

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Cujo is just one of many beloved King stories successfully adapted to film. Recently, there's been a noticeable resurgence of King adaptations. Oz Perkins' version of King's short story, The Monkey, was released in February. Further additions to this cinematic King renaissance include the Glen Powell-led The Running Man, JT Mollner's adaptation of The Long Walk (also produced by Lee and Vertigo), and the IT prequel series, Welcome to Derry, on HBO. Additionally, a Prime Video series adaptation of Carrie, directed by horror visionary Mike Flanagan, is in the works as an eight-episode series.

It's a great time to be a Stephen King fan, with even more exciting projects on the way.