Once again, Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy's planned mini-series version of Stephen King's THE TALISMAN has come to a halt, says THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Sources tell the trade paper that after scripts were turned in, the budget bloomed on the six-hour mini. Based on King and Peter Staub's novel, the project was set to air in the summer of 2008.
The story follows a boy's journey in a parallel universe called the Territories in search of a talisman that can save his mother's life.
DreamWorks TV and TNT are still committed to the project, but need to work out the unexpected price-tag increase first.
Spielberg and Kennedy optioned the rights to the novel nearly 25 years ago when they were based out of Amblin Ent. At first it was to be made as a feature written by Richard LaGravenese. In 2000, the project was at ABC as a four-hour mini-series to be written and directed by THE STAND helmer Mick Garris, but budget concern derailed that attempt as well. Then the project went back to the realm of features at Universal and DreamWorks. Writers circling the project at that stage included Ehren Kruger, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro, with rumored directors including Vadim Perelman and Ed Zwick. The project ended up at TNT after DreamWorks TV and TNT teamed up on the 12-hour mini-series INTO THE WEST.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
