James Marsden (Westworld) is in talks to play the role of Stu Redman in The Stand, the CBS Studios/CBS All Access adaptation to series of Stephen King’s 1978 horror novel, Deadline has learned. Josh Boone (The Fault In Our Stars) will serve as director of the series that has scripted with Ben Cavell (Justified, Homeland).

The series is based on King’s post-apocalyptic horror novel and tells the story of a society that is decimated by a virus that had been modified in order to be utilized for biological warfare. The survivors of the plague struggle between good and evil. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marsden is set to play Stu Redman, “a former military man who is immune to the virus” and becomes the leader of the survivors.

Boone is passionate about King’s novel. In 2014, he was selected to write a film adaptation, which became a four-film series, and he is currently producing this CBS All Access version.

“My Baptist parents burned [the book] in our fireplace upon discovery,” Boone said when the upcoming series was announced. “Incensed, I stole my dad’s FedEx 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. My parents, genuinely moved by King’s kindness and generosity, lifted the ban on his books that very day. I wrote King a cameo as himself in my first film and have been working to bring The Stand to the screen for five years. I’ve found incredible partners in CBS All Access and Ben Cavell. Together with Stephen King, Owen King, my longtime producing partners Knate Lee and Jill Killington, we plan to bring you the ultimate version of King’s masterwork,” Boone added.

Boone and Cavell will also serve as executive producers together with Roy Lee, Richard P. Rubinstein and Jimmy Miller. Miri Yoon and Will Weiske will serve as co-exec producers, and Owen King (King’s son), will produce.